Arts of the Pamlico is bringing movies back in style at the Turnage Theatre.

Patrons can pay $5 for matinees and evening performances of classics and documentaries, starting on Aug. 19 with Roy Rogers in “Sunset on the Desert.”

The choice of the classic film was a natural one because Rogers had a connection to the Turnage, according to Debra Torrence, AOP’s executive director.

“There is documentation that Roy Rogers performed onstage in the vaudeville theater and brought his horse, Trigger, up those steps,” said Stuart Lannon, the theater’s technical director.

On display the day of the screening will be a photograph of Rogers and Trigger, autographed by Rogers for the Turnage’s builder, Cat Turnage, which was found in a closet at the theater.

Also scheduled for the series are the sci-fi classic “The Indestructible Man,” on Sept. 2; “Storm!,” a documentary about the impact of three of the state’s most destructive hurricanes — Fran, Hazel and Floyd — on Sept. 9; Halloween movies on Oct. 8, with a horror movie playing at the evening performance; “State of Mine,” a documentary about the legacy of Gov. Jim Hunt, on Oct. 21; family movies on Nov. 4; “6,149 Days,” a documentary about a North Carolina man who spent 16 years in prison but was ultimately exonerated, on Nov. 18; another documentary, “The Perfect Tree,” that explores North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry, on Dec. 2; and “The Polar Express” on Dec. 10. The documentaries were donated to AOP by WRAL, Torrence said.

Torrence said many people have weighed in on what films they’d like to see on the big screen at the Turnage.

“We actually have had input from people stopping by, artists, people emailing us,” Torrence said. “It’s really the community’s theater — what do you want to see?”

For many, the historic downtown Washington theater represents the past: those who saw their first movie there; those who received their first kiss in the theater, Lannon said. Torrence said AOP is trying to recapture that special movie experience.

“It’s bringing back the nostalgia of going to a beautiful theater,” Torrence said. “They just want that feel of the black and white movie.”

Plans are in works for more films, with talk of a Murray Hamilton series in the future. Hamilton was a Washington native who starred in such classic films as “The Graduate,” “The Hustler” and “Jaws.”

“We’re actually looking into doing a Bogart series, too,” Lannon said.

The biggest turnout for a Turnage movie night, however, will be a reprise of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Last year’s screening was a huge success, according to Lannon.

“I think this year it’s going to be a sold out event. And it’s the film’s 40^th anniversary this year,” Lannon said.

“Rocky Horror” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 26; the other movies and documentaries will be screened at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on the listed dates. Popcorn and soft drinks will be available for purchase at the matinees, beer and wine, at the evening showings.

For more information about the movie series or to purchase tickets for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” call Arts of the Pamlico at 252-946-2504.