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Temple Theatre: Hidden secrets inside a century-old vaudeville house in Sanford

If you've ever seen a production in the restored Temple Theatre in downtown Sanford, you've walked past a few hidden rooms and secret remnants from roughly a century ago - without even realizing it.

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By
Heather Leah
, WRAL multiplatform producer
SANFORD, N.C. — If you've ever seen a production in the restored Temple Theatre in downtown Sanford, you've walked past a few hidden rooms and secret remnants from roughly a century ago – without even realizing it.

Ever since it was first built in 1925 as a vaudeville house, the theatre has been the beating artistic heart of downtown Sanford.

Its proximity to the railroad house put the small community of Sanford on the map for New York-based vaudeville troupes that even larger cities in North Carolina didn't have access to.

"Troops from Fort Bragg would often hop on the train to day trip to the theatre, where they could take in a live burlesque act," said Peggy Taphorn, the Temple Theatre's producing artistic director, who has worked there for more than a decade.

The original tin ceilings and 1920's decor are visible in the Temple Theater in Sanford.

However, the golden days ended in the 1960s, when mega-theaters and malls ushered in a new era – bringing about the death of downtowns around the country.

Like many small theaters, including the similarly iconic Cary Theater in downtown Cary, the building was converted into a nearly unrecognizable afterlife as a furniture store and men's clothing store.

Then, ultimately, the building became abandoned and fell into disrepair.

But today, hidden remnants of the glory days of vaudeville are still hidden in the Temple Theatre – if you know where to look.

Historic look inside the Temple Theatre in Sanford.

Raccoons and rats: Renovating the abandoned Temple Theatre

When renovations began in the 1980s, the theatre had been vacant for a couple of decades.

"It was really run down," said Taphorn. "It was full of raccoons, rats, nests, wildlife."

During renovations, great pains were taken to preserve parts of the original architecture.

Historic photo of the Temple Theater in Sanford.

The classic Art Deco architecture and stone-cut detailing still decorate the front wall.

The brightly-colored tile designs on the entryway floor are also original. Walking beneath the metal marquis and dazzling, original chandelier feels like stepping into the roaring 1920s.

The Temple Theater in Sanford was built in the 1920s.

The original tin ceilings, with intricate flourishes and design work, still fly high above the audience seating.

"Before we had modern sound equipment, those tin ceilings allowed actors' voices to carry across the entire room without the use of a microphone," said Taphorn. "I could speak at normal volume on stage, and the acoustics are so good, you'd be able to hear me all the way on the balcony."

Up-close view of the original tin ceiling and design, which has been there since the 1920s when the Temple Theater was built.

That same style of tin ceiling can be seen next door in the long-abandoned Masonic Temple, for which the Temple Theatre takes its name.

Secret rooms and hidden mysteries behind the walls

Just like any old theatre, the Temple is full of secret trap doors, mysteries and even ghost stories.

"This looks like an A/C wall grate, but it actually leads to a hidden bathroom," said Taphorn.

Prying the metal grate away from the wall reveals a secret room, where years of dust cover old tile floors where the women's restroom once was.

A secret tunnel disguised as an A/C wall grate reveals the original bathroom, which is now hidden inside the walls.

"We're created larger bathrooms since then," said Taphorn.

Taphorn's office is nextdoor, in a building that went up long after the Temple Theatre. During renovations to her office, workers revealed a piece of hidden history: The old Coca-Cola mural painted on the external wall of the threatre.

That external wall had been covered up when newer buildings were constructed around it. Taphorn requested they leave the brick mural visible. Only a small piece of it is visible today.

Old & New: The original external wall of the Temple Theater was revealed inside the newer office building next door. It has a historic Coca-Cola mural from when the theater's original owners also owned Coca-Cola distribution throughout the South.

"The theatre was owned by Robert Ingram, who was also the owner of Sanford Coca-Cola Bottling," said Taphorn.

Another remnant from the past is visible on the upper balcony in the audience seating.

"This is the original banister," said Taphorn. "If you look closely, you can see the wood is warped."

The black wooden banister waves up and down like a ripple in the water – decades of indentations created when audience members leaned on their elbows to watch shows.

Those warps are like a fossil record of generations of the theatre's guests.

Then & Now: The banister on the upper balcony is rippled and warped from decades of people leaning on their elbows and watching the shows at the Temple Theater.

The theatre's employees have also discovered imprints hidden beneath layers of paint, where some of the original Art Deco designs were covered during renovations.

"We plan to uncover these old designs and paint them so they will stand out once again," said Gavan Pamer, associate artistic director.

Hidden secrets in the Temple Theater: Some of the original art deco designs are visible beneath the paint.

Downtown Sanford's heart beating once again

When a building has changed roles so many times over the course of a century, it's not surprising multiple renovations would leave secret compartments and hidden doors. One crawl space in the dressing room revealed a manual from 1971.

Peeking inside a hidden tunnel in the Temple Theater changing room, which reveals an old manual from 1971.
In its heyday, this stretch of downtown Sanford held the active Masonic Temple, which held the theatre's ticket booth. The classic Cole's Pharmacy was also next door, complete with a vintage soda bar. Just down the road, the flourishing train station brought crowds to this active section of downtown.
Eventually, the Masonic Lodge moved away from their building, and the soda fountain vanished as well. The Temple Theater closed its doors, gathering dust and ghost stories.
Today, the Temple Theatre is flourishing once again – a historic treasure with modern productions that is bustling with visitors and life.

"We offer kid's shows all summer," said Taphorn.

The Carolina County Cabaret is coming to the stage April 29 - May 9.
Emma, a Pop Musical and As You Like It are also coming this summer.

The neighboring historic train depot has become a lush green park with a unique Art Deco Railroad House and plenty of picnic space.

Historic photo of the Temple Theater in Sanford.

Even the abandoned Masonic Temple is being renovated into modern apartments – and possibly an underground pub or shopping locale.

In short, downtown Sanford is growing into a tribute to historic sites with modern amenities.

And sitting right in the middle of all of this hustle and bustle is the Temple Theatre – just like it has been for the past century.

The Temple Theater in Sanford.

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