CAIRO — The Zebulon, located at 206 N. Broad St., is more than just a theater.

“It’s part of our community,” said Shelton Singletary, main projectionist for the theater. “There are very few movie theaters like this left in operation.”

It is also a place that holds memories for many of Cairo’s citizens.

“I love the Zebulon because it is a place I grew up in,” said Jenna Jones, director of the Regional Community Center (RCC), which is in charge of operating the theater. “I went there every Friday night when I was in middle school. A lot of people who come in say the same thing. They dated at the Zebulon or had their first kiss here. I think it holds a lot of memories for our community.”

The Zebulon, built by Ethel Blanton and named after her husband Zebulon, opened on April 15, 1936.

It has 165 seats on the main floor, one screen and a large stage in front of it with a full curtain system that allows the theater to be used for live performances a few times each year.

The Web site www.cinematreasures.org — which provides information on historic theaters — lists the Zebulon as “a single screen Adams-style building with a seating capacity of 350.”

The Blanton family, in the history of the theater on the site, sold the Zebulon in 1950 to The Dunn Family Theatre’s Inc, which operated it until 1973 when Larry Bearden purchased it. Bearden ran it successfully until he retired in 2000.

The Community Foundation of South West Georgia purchased the theater on Dec. 15, 2000. It is currently operated by the non-profit RCC.

Another charming fact about the Zebulon is — except for one paid projectionist — it is entirely run by volunteers.

“We have one paid employee and everyone else is a volunteer,” said Jones. “The person at the ticket booth and the one behind the concession stand making your popcorn are all volunteers.”

The structure has undergone a few renovations since 1936, said Jones. One of those was required during segregation.

“The Zebulon has a balcony that was reserved for blacks, and whites sat on the main floor during segregation,” she said. “I do school tours and some adults will come in and say, ‘I’ve never been on the main floor. I was always in the balcony.’”

Jones said the community is working on putting the theater through another restoration to get it “up to date.”

“It will remain a one-screen theater,” she said. “The balcony is currently closed as part of the restoration and we’ve had seats donated to put in the balcony. We’ve got to do some other things to bring it up to code before reopening it.”

The Zebulon is also a place for young adults and families. It only plays G to PG-13 rated movies.

“It offers an avenue for people to bring their children and a safe environment for the youths to come and meet their friends,” said Singletary.

Jones said she loved the fact that parents are bringing their children to the Zebulon and sharing their love of it with their families.

Thurman Sadler, a volunteer for almost five years, agreed with Jones and Singletary on the theater’s importance and character.

“It’s one of the few one-screen theaters left in southwest Georgia still in operation,” he said. “It gives kids someplace safe to go and is a haven for the community. The atmosphere is friendly, as are the volunteers, and the building itself is friendly. We need to try to raise all the money we can without having to pay someone to run it so we can keep it open for the community.”