Grand Opening- Roxy Theatre -Thursday September 15, 1949
Ground was broken in September of 1948 for the building of the Roxy Theatre on Jackson Street in downtown Russellville, Alabama with an estimated cost of $200,000. The Rockwood Amusement Company of Nashville commissioned Daniel Construction Company to start the project. Local union laborers were employed for the many construction jobs needed to complete the Roxy. The theatre was planned to seat 825 people. A block veneer finish was planned for the outside with a streamlined front and inside. The lobby held a concession area for a popcorn machine and candy. A soundproof “Crying Room” was built to the left of the inner lobby for mothers to take their babies while still being able to view the movie screen. The inside of the theatre had a modern tone to the architecture with a tinge of Egyptian design. Soft rose, neon lighting was placed along the walls. The color scheme was rose and beige with a touch of gold and blue pattern on a rose background. Four sets of draperies with a mingled color scheme hung from the stage. The theatre was heated with a hot water heating system in the winter and cooled with air conditioning in the summer. The theatre sat on Jackson Street facing the Baptist Church and Hayes Auto Parts.
first Movies Shown at Roxy
The September 15, 1949 opening movie was a comedy called “My Dear Secretary” starring Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Keenan Wynn, and Helen Walker with appearances by Rudy Vallee. This movie was to run on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, September 17, “Strawberry Roan” starring Gene Autry and Jack Holt was shown. A new serial called Batman and Robin was to play as as a Three Stooges comedy. On Sunday and Monday, September 18 and 19, “Edward ,My Son” starring Spencer Tracy and Deborah Kerr was shown. Walt Disney’s “Pluto Purchase” was also shown.
Other Theatres in Russellville History
The Roxy was not the first theatre in Russellville. The first theatre appeared in Russellville in 1892. It was formed by a cooperative group called the Farmers Alliance. The theatre or hall was between Lawrence and Franklin Street on the east side of Carroll Street. In 1906, an Opera House opened for traveling vaudeville acts and movies. A movie was shown each weekday night until a theatre was opened on the east side of Jackson Street in downtown Russellville. The Lyric Theatre was built and owned by the same company as the Roxy, The Rockwood Amusement Company. At one time, Russellville had three movie theatres operating. Near-by Phil Campbell and Red Bay also have had movie theatres in operation in Franklin County. Russellville has the King Drive- In operating today as a local movie venue.
The theater, initially known as Cinema 3, opened on December 21st, 1979. Martin Theatres operated it and later renamed it to the Four Square Triple in early 1980. Subsequently, it became a Carmike Cinema in 1985 and unfortunately closed its doors in 1999
March 19th, 1982 theatre renamed Northgate 3 & 4
June 25th, 1982 theatre renamed Northgate 3, 4, 5 & 6 after an expansion
December 20th, 1991 4 more screens are added as the theatre became the Carmike Northgate 8
2005 closed.
It closed in 1964 and reopened as an adult cinema and burlesque on September 18th, 1975, and closed and demolished for parking in 1977. Grand opening ads posted.
The Cobert theatre opened on January 22nd, 1942. Grand opening ad posted.
Grand opening ad posted. It was built by the Muscle Shoals Theatres, Inc.
Grand opening ad posted.
Arrangements for colored patrons:
Colored spaces at the King Drive-In 11 Aug 1949, Thu Franklin County Times (Russellville, Alabama) Newspapers.com
Opened on June 6th, 1949.
02 Jun 1949, Thu Franklin County Times (Russellville, Alabama) Newspapers.com
Website is sadly now hijacked by scammers as this video below:
From the Archive.org website:
Grand Opening- Roxy Theatre -Thursday September 15, 1949 Ground was broken in September of 1948 for the building of the Roxy Theatre on Jackson Street in downtown Russellville, Alabama with an estimated cost of $200,000. The Rockwood Amusement Company of Nashville commissioned Daniel Construction Company to start the project. Local union laborers were employed for the many construction jobs needed to complete the Roxy. The theatre was planned to seat 825 people. A block veneer finish was planned for the outside with a streamlined front and inside. The lobby held a concession area for a popcorn machine and candy. A soundproof “Crying Room” was built to the left of the inner lobby for mothers to take their babies while still being able to view the movie screen. The inside of the theatre had a modern tone to the architecture with a tinge of Egyptian design. Soft rose, neon lighting was placed along the walls. The color scheme was rose and beige with a touch of gold and blue pattern on a rose background. Four sets of draperies with a mingled color scheme hung from the stage. The theatre was heated with a hot water heating system in the winter and cooled with air conditioning in the summer. The theatre sat on Jackson Street facing the Baptist Church and Hayes Auto Parts.
first Movies Shown at Roxy
The September 15, 1949 opening movie was a comedy called “My Dear Secretary” starring Laraine Day, Kirk Douglas, Keenan Wynn, and Helen Walker with appearances by Rudy Vallee. This movie was to run on Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, September 17, “Strawberry Roan” starring Gene Autry and Jack Holt was shown. A new serial called Batman and Robin was to play as as a Three Stooges comedy. On Sunday and Monday, September 18 and 19, “Edward ,My Son” starring Spencer Tracy and Deborah Kerr was shown. Walt Disney’s “Pluto Purchase” was also shown.
Other Theatres in Russellville History
The Roxy was not the first theatre in Russellville. The first theatre appeared in Russellville in 1892. It was formed by a cooperative group called the Farmers Alliance. The theatre or hall was between Lawrence and Franklin Street on the east side of Carroll Street. In 1906, an Opera House opened for traveling vaudeville acts and movies. A movie was shown each weekday night until a theatre was opened on the east side of Jackson Street in downtown Russellville. The Lyric Theatre was built and owned by the same company as the Roxy, The Rockwood Amusement Company. At one time, Russellville had three movie theatres operating. Near-by Phil Campbell and Red Bay also have had movie theatres in operation in Franklin County. Russellville has the King Drive- In operating today as a local movie venue.
Opened on August 3rd, 1949. Grand opening ad posted.
July 7th, 1973: Another transformation! The theater reemerged as Rivervue, now showcasing adult movies.
1976: Yet another name shift, this time to Riverveiw.
1983: The final curtain fell, and the theater closed its doors for good.
The theater, initially known as Cinema 3, opened on December 21st, 1979. Martin Theatres operated it and later renamed it to the Four Square Triple in early 1980. Subsequently, it became a Carmike Cinema in 1985 and unfortunately closed its doors in 1999
Grand opening ad posted.
Grand opening ad posted.
Ad posted.
Opened on December 23rd, 1996. Grand opening ad posted.
Opened on June 19th, 1992. Grand opening ad posted.
Grand opening ad posted.
Theatre outside the mall:
March 19th, 1982 theatre renamed Northgate 3 & 4 June 25th, 1982 theatre renamed Northgate 3, 4, 5 & 6 after an expansion December 20th, 1991 4 more screens are added as the theatre became the Carmike Northgate 8 2005 closed.
1982 and 1991 grand opening ad posted.
Theatre inside the Mall: March 19th, 1982 became Cinema 1 & 2 as it’s split up. December 19th, 1991 closed.
Renamed Brainerd Village theatre on July 8th, 1972 and closed in 1985.
Closed October 6th, 1984, for an office complex that never got built. A Sams Club got built later.
Closed in 1980.
Screen 3 opened on December 20th, 1975 and screens 4 & 5 opened on June 26th, 1981. 1981 grand opening ad posted.
Still open according to Google and Facebook.
Closed in 1978.
It closed in 1964 and reopened as an adult cinema and burlesque on September 18th, 1975, and closed and demolished for parking in 1977. Grand opening ads posted.