The Algiers Drive In opened July 17, 1950 with “Streets of Laredo.” Gulf States closed it one day after closing the Airline Drive In. It’s last night was Aug. 31, 1981, with “The Jade Claw” and “Brotherhood of Death” on one screen and “For Your Eyes Only” and “Escape From Alcatraz” on the other.
The property became a flea market for a couple of years before it was turned into a subdivision of cheaply built homes by Butch Ward in 1984.
Opened Nov. 14, 1949 with “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” The last listing was Jan. 25, 1976 for “Happy Hooker” and “Linda Lovelace For President.”
The closure was the result of a fire that burned the concession stand and projection booth. By March, Masterpiece Pictures was suing the drive-in for rental of movie films. The owner, James Jenner, moved to Laurel, Miss. after the closure.
The Royal opened Jan. 15, 1936 with “The Big Broadcast of 1936.” It was operated by Ed Thomassie. The address is incorrect above - the theater was at 6005 Fourth Street near the corner of Meyers Blvd. It was torn down in the late 90’s.
The Grand opened Oct. 7, 1942 with “Maisie Gets Her Man.” It was part of the United Theaters chain.
According to the N.O. States, “The exterior is of white stucco but the central section over the box office lends a yellow background of reflecting structural glass for the varigated neon lights on the marquee. Instead of the usual lighting under the marquee, the illumunation is provided by a vivid neon floral pattern.”
In 1968, the floundering United Theaters closed the Grand. It was reopened by Johnny Breeland showing pornographic films. The Grand was raided three times for obscenity in 1971, resulting in the sheriff padlocking the theater after the last raid in September that year.
Sena Mall Cinema opened December 29, 1966 with Elvis in “Spinout.” The last listing was May 4, 1989 with a schedule through May 7th, with “Mississippi Burning” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” being the last features. “Rocky Horror…” was run every Friday & Saturday nights at midnight at Sena Mall for some years - Lakeside Theatres took over those showings March 12, 1989.
The last movie listing I can find for Joy’s Aereon 3 was December 6, 1981 showing “Superman II,” “The Great Muppet Caper” and “Mommie Dearest.” All shows were $1.00. The building was razed in April 1982.
The Crescent Drive In opened July 27, 1950 with Gary Cooper in “Task Force.” It’s last night was October 16, 1955. It was torn down for the construction of the Crescent Airline Shopping Center (which contains Celebration Church today.) The sign on the Crescent’s marquee for Maison Blanche was for a smaller store that was about 30 feet off Airline Highway in front of the drive-in; it too was razed and MB opened a much larger store in the shopping center upon completion.
Joy Houck opened the Westgate Drive In on April 29, 1965, with what was claimed as “the world’s largest drive-in screen” and a 2000-car capacity. The Westgate closed after a tornado damaged the screen and buildings on February 12, 1978. It became a go-kart track and a Christmas tree lot until the site was razed in late 1983 to begin construction on the shopping center.
The last movie listing I can find in the newspaper for the Jeff was on October 31, 1982 - “Roaring Fire” and “Strange Things Happen At Night” for $4.00 admission per carload.
Opened January 26, 1950 as the Patio Theater, which operated at least through mid-1959. In July 1960 Joy Bowling Lanes was opened by Joy Houck and that operated until about January 1967. Reopened August 17, 1967 as the Joy’s Panorama I & II. The only illustration I was able to find of the Patio bore no resemblence whatsoever to The bowling lanes and Panorama theater - how accurate that was I don’t know, but I haven’t been able to find a photograph of the Patio thus far.
Closed Oct. 27, 1996. They tried offering 55 cent matinees the last few months they were in business. I remember going there in 1993 or 1994 and the place was in pretty sorry shape and dirty - they hadn’t mopped the aisles in so long I remember my sneakers sticking and peeling off with each step…lol…
From memory Joy’s Cinema City 6 expanded to 8 screens in 1983.
MI Theatres took over from Joy’s in early 1994.
In early 1997 Silver Cinema took over operating the theater.
Cinema City 8 closed September 14, 2000 amid Silver Cinema’s bankruptcy.
The theater and shopping center were torn down in the summer of 2004 to make way for Ray Brandt Toyota dealership.
There was nothing on this property before the development of the Cinema City Shopping Center in 1973. Joy Houck had the SBA guarantee the 15-year lease on the land in 1972.
The Mecca opened as the Trocadero in 1914. In late 1917 it bacame the Mecca. Sept. 11, 1955 appears to be it’s last showing, “Captain Lightfoot” starring Rock Hudson. At it’s closing it was owned by United Theaters.
Costello ran the Abalon from November 1978 through at least the summer of 1988. In August 1994, Lloyd Montrueil (owner of Movie Pitchers) reopened the Abalon showing art films and stuff from Zeitgeist Theater. It appears that only lasted a month or so and by 1999 the building was a church.
The Abalon opened on December 14, 1949 with “Red, Hot and Blue.”
It’s last night was December 2, 1967 with “Clambake.”
By March 1968 the building was listed for sale
The Ace began as the Othello Theater for colored people, opening October 23, 1921.
On Feb. 14, 1926 the opening of the Charleston Theatre under new management was announced.
By March 22, 1929 the building was leased as a dance hall for negroes.
On Dec. 1, 1937 renovations were announced by the Othello Theatre Corporation to reopen a movie theater.
The Ace burned in the early morning of April 6, 1939. It was rebuilt and back in operation by the fall of 1940.
The Othello Theatre Corporation purchased the property in March 1942.
The last references I could find to it in the Times-Picayune archive were a holdup in June 1954 and a death there in November 1955. The Othello Theatre Corp. was dissolved in November 1957.
The Avalon was on East Scenic Drive near Market Street. It was one of few structures which survived Hurricane Camille along there.
Opened by United Theaters October 23, 1940. Closed by United Theaters April 1, 1956.
The Algiers Drive In opened July 17, 1950 with “Streets of Laredo.” Gulf States closed it one day after closing the Airline Drive In. It’s last night was Aug. 31, 1981, with “The Jade Claw” and “Brotherhood of Death” on one screen and “For Your Eyes Only” and “Escape From Alcatraz” on the other.
The property became a flea market for a couple of years before it was turned into a subdivision of cheaply built homes by Butch Ward in 1984.
Opened Nov. 14, 1949 with “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” The last listing was Jan. 25, 1976 for “Happy Hooker” and “Linda Lovelace For President.” The closure was the result of a fire that burned the concession stand and projection booth. By March, Masterpiece Pictures was suing the drive-in for rental of movie films. The owner, James Jenner, moved to Laurel, Miss. after the closure.
The entrance was in the back corner of Oak Ridge Plaza shopping center. The space is climate-controlled storage units as of 2024.
The Royal opened Jan. 15, 1936 with “The Big Broadcast of 1936.” It was operated by Ed Thomassie. The address is incorrect above - the theater was at 6005 Fourth Street near the corner of Meyers Blvd. It was torn down in the late 90’s.
Westside was owned by Cobb’s Theatres, who also had Lakeside I - IV in Metairie. The last listing I found was May 13, 1984 for “The Bounty”
The Grand opened Oct. 7, 1942 with “Maisie Gets Her Man.” It was part of the United Theaters chain.
According to the N.O. States, “The exterior is of white stucco but the central section over the box office lends a yellow background of reflecting structural glass for the varigated neon lights on the marquee. Instead of the usual lighting under the marquee, the illumunation is provided by a vivid neon floral pattern.” In 1968, the floundering United Theaters closed the Grand. It was reopened by Johnny Breeland showing pornographic films. The Grand was raided three times for obscenity in 1971, resulting in the sheriff padlocking the theater after the last raid in September that year.
Sena Mall Cinema opened December 29, 1966 with Elvis in “Spinout.” The last listing was May 4, 1989 with a schedule through May 7th, with “Mississippi Burning” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” being the last features. “Rocky Horror…” was run every Friday & Saturday nights at midnight at Sena Mall for some years - Lakeside Theatres took over those showings March 12, 1989.
The last movie listing I can find for Joy’s Aereon 3 was December 6, 1981 showing “Superman II,” “The Great Muppet Caper” and “Mommie Dearest.” All shows were $1.00. The building was razed in April 1982.
The Airline’s last night of operation was August 30, 1981 with “The Jade Claw” and “Arena.”
The Crescent Drive In opened July 27, 1950 with Gary Cooper in “Task Force.” It’s last night was October 16, 1955. It was torn down for the construction of the Crescent Airline Shopping Center (which contains Celebration Church today.) The sign on the Crescent’s marquee for Maison Blanche was for a smaller store that was about 30 feet off Airline Highway in front of the drive-in; it too was razed and MB opened a much larger store in the shopping center upon completion.
Joy Houck opened the Westgate Drive In on April 29, 1965, with what was claimed as “the world’s largest drive-in screen” and a 2000-car capacity. The Westgate closed after a tornado damaged the screen and buildings on February 12, 1978. It became a go-kart track and a Christmas tree lot until the site was razed in late 1983 to begin construction on the shopping center.
The last movie listing I can find in the newspaper for the Jeff was on October 31, 1982 - “Roaring Fire” and “Strange Things Happen At Night” for $4.00 admission per carload.
Opened January 26, 1950 as the Patio Theater, which operated at least through mid-1959. In July 1960 Joy Bowling Lanes was opened by Joy Houck and that operated until about January 1967. Reopened August 17, 1967 as the Joy’s Panorama I & II. The only illustration I was able to find of the Patio bore no resemblence whatsoever to The bowling lanes and Panorama theater - how accurate that was I don’t know, but I haven’t been able to find a photograph of the Patio thus far.
Closed Oct. 27, 1996. They tried offering 55 cent matinees the last few months they were in business. I remember going there in 1993 or 1994 and the place was in pretty sorry shape and dirty - they hadn’t mopped the aisles in so long I remember my sneakers sticking and peeling off with each step…lol…
From memory Joy’s Cinema City 6 expanded to 8 screens in 1983. MI Theatres took over from Joy’s in early 1994. In early 1997 Silver Cinema took over operating the theater. Cinema City 8 closed September 14, 2000 amid Silver Cinema’s bankruptcy. The theater and shopping center were torn down in the summer of 2004 to make way for Ray Brandt Toyota dealership.
There was nothing on this property before the development of the Cinema City Shopping Center in 1973. Joy Houck had the SBA guarantee the 15-year lease on the land in 1972.
The Imperial opened March 26, 1922 and burned down March 1, 1957. It was owned by Rene Brunet, Sr. during its entire operation.
The Mecca opened as the Trocadero in 1914. In late 1917 it bacame the Mecca. Sept. 11, 1955 appears to be it’s last showing, “Captain Lightfoot” starring Rock Hudson. At it’s closing it was owned by United Theaters.
Costello ran the Abalon from November 1978 through at least the summer of 1988. In August 1994, Lloyd Montrueil (owner of Movie Pitchers) reopened the Abalon showing art films and stuff from Zeitgeist Theater. It appears that only lasted a month or so and by 1999 the building was a church.
The Abalon opened on December 14, 1949 with “Red, Hot and Blue.”
It’s last night was December 2, 1967 with “Clambake.” By March 1968 the building was listed for sale
The Ace began as the Othello Theater for colored people, opening October 23, 1921. On Feb. 14, 1926 the opening of the Charleston Theatre under new management was announced. By March 22, 1929 the building was leased as a dance hall for negroes. On Dec. 1, 1937 renovations were announced by the Othello Theatre Corporation to reopen a movie theater. The Ace burned in the early morning of April 6, 1939. It was rebuilt and back in operation by the fall of 1940.
The Othello Theatre Corporation purchased the property in March 1942. The last references I could find to it in the Times-Picayune archive were a holdup in June 1954 and a death there in November 1955. The Othello Theatre Corp. was dissolved in November 1957.
NYozoner is correct. The Crescent was next to Borden’s on Airline east of Labarre Road. 3900 Airline was the Air-line Drive In.
From “for sale” ads in 1950-51 it appears the Town’s owner was Mr. Lombardo. Vic Howard was the proprietor of the St. Maurice in 1914.