Strand’s original box office booth headed back to theater

The Star Herald

By Leslie N. Dees

KOSCIUSKO — The City of Kosciusko will have a piece of history to put back into The Strand Theaters.

On September 14, Alan Ramsey of Yazoo Restorations, and others retrieved the orginal box office booth from Diane Boutwell-Grey’s home in Kosciusko. Ramsey said he will be refurbishing the booth to its original state with the help of Boutwell-Grey’s photographs.

The City of Kosciusko bought the theater in 2007 in hope of making it into a convention/multi-purpose facility with a regional museum. Work on the facade and the roof has been underway over the last several months.

Boutwell-Grey said she rescued the relic in the mid-70s, when the theater was remodeling and it was going to be thrown away.

Boutwell-Grey’s parents, Cleo and Lula Mae Boutwell, owned the theater for many years.  She said they would have been thrilled to have the booth back in the theater.

Diane Boutwell-Grey, third from the left, discusses her memories of The Strand Theater with Alan Ramsey of Yazoo Restoration and Craig Bjorgum and Ingrid Gonzalez-Featherston, of Belinda Stewart Architects in Eupora and others Friday. Boutwell-Grey returned the original box office booth, which is shown here as a makeshift work table outside The Strand. Ramsey will be restoring the box office booth with aid of provided photos. The City of Kosciusko bought the theater in 2007 in hope of making it into a convention/multi-purpose facility with a regional museum. Work on the facade and the roof has been underway over the last several months. Boutwell-Grey said she rescued the relic in the mid-70s, when the theater was remodeling and it was going to be thrown away. Boutwell-Grey’s parents, Cleo and Lula Mae Boutwell, owned the theater for many years.

On Friday, Diane Boutwell-Grey, left and Alan Ramsey of Yazoo Restoration, stand behind the box office booth used at the Strand Theater, which her parents, Lula Mae and Cleo Boutwell owned for many years. Ramsey is going to restore the booth to its original state. After Boutwell-Grey rescued the booth during the mid-70s during the Strand’s remodeling, she moved it into her dining room and later to the basement of her mother’s home. She said “Today, the Strand, that Grand Old Lady, finally has her belongings about her again. It was a touching moment for me.” She added her parents would have been thrilled.