Dexter, Mo. theater to reopen

DEXTER, Mo. -- Town and Country Cinema is shutting its doors, but only for a couple of weeks while the theater is being refurbished under new management.

The announcement came Wednesday from Ron Sells, the cinema building's owner, who said, "It's part of the Dexter community that we'd really like to see remain and so we've decided to do some repairs to the building and keep it open."

The area received word early in January that Kerasotes Theaters would discontinue operating the theater in mid-February, and Sells confirmed last week that their last day of movie showing would be Sunday. At that time, the theater will be closed for "about two weeks," Sells said, allowing time for some building improvements to take place.

The renovated theater will be renamed, and that information, as well as the new operation's manager, will be announced soon.

The local cinema has been a fixture on the west end of Dexter's Business 60 strip for more than 30 years. Recent news of Kerasotes Theaters shutting it down met with considerable unfavorable comments. Wednesday's news from Sells means that local moviegoers will not have to travel a distance of about 25 miles either east or west in order to attend theaters in Sikeston, Mo., or Poplar Bluff, Mo.