David Corlew spoke no malice toward Randy Parton, the former headliner of what is now the Roanoke Rapids Theatre.

“Mr. Parton had a vision for what he wanted to do,” said Corlew, who has been in the music business for 40 years, 38 of them as Charlie Daniels’ manager.

What concerns Corlew, he told city council today at a retreat on the theater, is the overage of equipment. “There’s a lot of equipment. You have to make sure you have everything that provides an act the necessary equipment. Most B and C acts need a basic sound and lighting system.”

The theater, Corlew noted, has 32 moving lights. “I don’t believe Reba McIntire has 32 lights.”

Corlew is going to help the city sell equipment which is not needed. “I see a lot of theatrical equipment not many facilities have. I feel strongly there’s a market for that equipment. The first decision is to have my associate evaluate to maintain this better than nice facility. You have an excessive amount of equipment.”

Corlew told council he believes there has to be activity in the theater. “If you leave a house vacant for too long it drops its market value. You want to keep the doors open. You want it to continue to look good.”

Corlew said he knows one person interested in buying the venue. “The only way to sell it is to put it out there. The person I know interested would want to see it operational. The venue has broad appeal. It would not make sense to lock the doors.”

It will take Corlew 30 to 60 days to identify equipment brokers, he said. “This is the time to make a move. I would have to get a ballpark dollar figure of what you have here. You don’t want to appear desperate to get rid of it. You might want to take some of that money to put a positive spin on this facility. The music business and entertainment business needs this facility.”

Corlew said it will take 10 days to two weeks to put together a plan.

Corlew believes the theater should be used for anything imaginable — weddings, Bah Mitzvahs and funerals. “A car is going to sell better when it is polished and washed. There is a lot of wasted space here. There is an opportunity to generate enough income to pay the overhead. Locking the doors and closing the windows is not the way. There’s too much here.”