The Howell Theatre in downtown Smithfield, one of the Triangle's oldest movie theaters, has been sold.

Chuck and Amy Kirkman, who moved to Wake Forest from New Jersey a few years ago, bought the Howell from Mickey Buffaloe for an undisclosed amount. The Kirkmans plan to keep the Howell's strategy of showing second-run movies for $2.50 per ticket.

The Howell opened in 1935 and has gone through several rounds of renovations over the years. Buffaloe mostly avoided "R" rated movies and worked to attract school and church groups to the four-screen theater with hardwood floors.

"We really like the operation and the family feel to the place," Chuck Kirkman said in a phone interview. "We're not going to raise prices just to make profit-profit-profit."