MARTINSVILLE A historic movie theatre was hiding in plain sight for decades in downtown Martinsville. Thanks to the city's investment, the rechristened Martinsville Entertainment Theatre is shining in the spotlight again.

The 300-seat theatre will reopen to the public with a concert on December 6. Executive director Kari Palma is confident the Martinsville Entertainment Theatre, colloquially known as The MET, will become a valuable community asset.

"I'm a public school music teacher, so I know the benefits of entertainment," Palma said. "We are hoping that this will be a legacy for decades."

The MET screened movies in Martinsville going back to at least 1912, but the theatre section was hidden away from the public starting in the 1950s.

"This was a Sherwin-Williams paint store, but the

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