With recent news that the Plaza Theatre building in downtown Canton was set to be demolished this past week, many have expressed both nostalgia and interest in what lies ahead for a strong piece of Canton’s history.

The Plaza Theatre was constructed in 1946 by Joe Marshall Hackney. Hackney moved to Canton in 1939, bringing along a wife and two sons to the Van Zandt County area.

According to an article originally published in the Feb. 28, 1946, edition of The Canton Herald, upon settling down in Canton, Hackney would purchase “a lot located on North Buffalo St from Z.W. Moore.”

Construction swiftly progressed over the Spring, and the Plaza Theatre officially opened in the summer of 1946, immediately becoming one of the premier attractions of Van Zandt County.

Another excerpt from the June 27, 1946, edition of The Canton Herald painted a picture of the sheer impressiveness the theater represented upon opening: “Joe Hackney, theater operator, has constructed the most attractive amusement building in the county. The architecture, the lighting effect, equipment and building arrangement has complete harmony in every detail. In addition to the theater department, the structure includes three private business offices and like the theater is air conditioned and has effective lighting equipment. These offices will be occupied by Addis’ Beauty Shop, Emmett Sneed Real Estate and the Elliott and Waldron Abstract Co.”

The Plaza featured a single screen theater, with approximately 150 seats. Locals raved about the amenities the building offered inside.

“It was so much nicer than neighboring theaters,” one local noted. “Mr. Hackney always ran a tight ship.”

“We all had such great memories going to the movies in Canton,” another added. “Mr. Hackney was always dressed in a suit and watched over the movie with pride. He walked up and down the aisles as there was no misbehaving going on. He was truly respected by all attending.” The Plaza saw great success and flourished for the next three decades, becoming a staple for children and families across Canton. In 1965, The Plaza caught fire, suffering minor damages that were soon repaired.

The Plaza Theatre would endure a changing of the guard in 1979, as Hackney became ill and passed away in August of that year. However, his son, Don Hackney, would step into his role and continue operating the Plaza throughout the next decade.

In 1996, after 50 years of operation, the Plaza closed its doors for the final time.

In said 50 years, the Plaza Theatre would debut what would become iconic films, including: Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), E.T. (1982), Gremlins (1984), Forrest Gump (1994), The Lion King (1994), and Mission Impossible (1996).

Following the close, the Plaza building would be converted into the Plaza Museum, featuring historic items from the Theatre, the City of Canton, as well as First Monday Trade Days. Various organizations in Canton would also use the building as an office space in the early portion of this century.

In late 2022, the City of Canton announced plans to accept a bid regarding the demolition of the Plaza building after reports surfaced of the building being deemed ‘unsalvageable’ due to issues within the infrastructure.

Plans to demolish the building were enacted during the first weeks of 2023, as construction crews began gutting the inside of the building, and on Wednesday, Jan. 11, took down the front façade.

Canton Mayor Lou Ann Everett touched on details of the demolition and issues that arose with the project over the past week.

“After demolition began, workers found major unknown problems behind the paneling and water trapped between two old roofs. The city is very fortunate that the building did not fall in on our workers. Even the façade could not safely be saved. The marquee was saved and is currently in storage.”

Regarding the future of the former Plaza Theatre site, the city remains uncertain at the time of press.

“No plans for the future have been decided but I hope the marquee can be put back on a new building with a similar front,” Everett said.