Joy Theater
1200 Canal Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
1200 Canal Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
12 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 88 of 88 comments
Not sure of the current state of the Saenger but a CNN report was done from a boat which floated past the boarded up JOY theater and its heavily flooded street.
posted by edward1 on Sep 7, 2005 at 8:30pm
The Joy plays a central part in No More Joy, a new documentary about the rise and fall of the movie theaters of New Orleans. A review (with a small picture of the Joy) here:
View link
Great photo Gerald. It sure went downhill when I saw it in in 2004. Hard to believe in just 2 or 3 years it deteriorated so much. I hope something moves into it. Perhaps with the restoration of the new Canal Street Streetcar route past the old theater, tourism will start to move further along Canal Street past Bourbon Street, which may make it feasible to open it into a live theater venue.
Here is a photo of the Joy and its impressive marquee. I took the picture in August 2001.
Joy Houck, Sr. was my father’s older brother, and I knew him all of my life, until his death as described above by Cheryl. In most ways, he was more of a father to me than my natural father, and I worked for him back in the early 1960’s as manager of the Aereon Theatre in Metairie (suburban New Orleans), where I also managed the Joy Bowl (a 48 lane bowling alley). There are some errors in the previous posts that I will comment on:
Warren’s post doesn’t “do him justice” regarding the breadth of Joy Theatres (it wasn’t Joy’s Theatres, but JOY Theatres). He owned or was part owner of theatres across the South from Texas to Georgia. He also produced and distributed movies through Howco International.
I don’t think “The Sting” played at the Joy on Canal Street, since I recall seeing that movie across the Street at the Saenger Theatre, which was owned by Paramount. The longest running pictures I recall (though I don’t have the actual records) at the Joy were “South Pacific” … “Around the World in 80 Days” … and “Oklahoma!”
Not an error, but Jack Pope was someone else I knew all of my life. Jack was a partner in several theatres with Joy, and in fact, taught me the basics of theatre management at his theatre in Rayville, La. Jack was a wonderful and delightful man.
Joy’s widow, Hazel, lives in Texarkana, TX. .. not New Orleans.
There was no “Joy’s” Theatre in Shreveport… It was the JOY Theatre, on Texas, Avenue (the main downtown street). There was also a Joy Drive-In. Joy owned other theatres in Shreveport, also, with other names.
Not an error, but interesting… Joy had a rather plush “apartment” in the Joy Theatre on Canal Street, and that’s where he lived when in New Orleans. I recall several Mardi Gras' in New Orleans, as the marquee was a great place to watch the Canal Street parades. All of his family watched the festivities from that vantage point.
Joy Houck, Sr. died two days before his 99th birthday, not his 100th. He was born in 1900. I lived with his mother (my grandmother) until I married and left home, and certainly SHE knew when he was born, and he often told me that he was born in 1900, but that he had his birth date ‘changed’ on his birth certificate to 1901, so he could avoid being drafted into World War I military service.
Joy was married three times: 1. Minnie Chaffin (who didn’t work in the theatres), 2. Lois Cooper (who was an employee, but not a manager), although in later life she became a manager, and in fact managed the Aereon after I left. She was also the “concession manager” of the 12-screen theatre that was in the old Joy Bowl building after the bowling alley shut down on Airline Highway, and 3. Hazel, who is still living. He had one child by each wife. His second child, Joy Jr. went into the movie business as an actor and director.
The Joy Theatre on Canal Street was at the same intersection with Paramount’s “flagship” theatre, the Saenger. There is an interesting anecdote that my Uncle Joy told me several times over the years. The president of Paramount Pictures had an office in the Saenger facing Canal Street. When Joy established his headquarters office in New Orleans, he made a “courtesy call” to introduce himself to the man. He was treated rudely, and was told, “I don’t need to know who you are. I’ve have you run out of town within two months.” Joy was NOT a man to take such treatment lightly, and he bought the corner lot across from the Paramount office windows, where he built the Joy Theatre under discussion… the sign, saying simply “JOY” was about 80 feet high… HUGE… He remarked often, “Every time that son-of-a-bitch looks out his window, he’ll know I’m STILL in town!”
Randy Houck
Joy Houck Sr. was my Grandfather. He died in 2000 2 days before his 100th birthday. He was survived by my Grandmother Hazel who still resides in Texarkana. At one time she was not only a manager of his theaters but was his pilot as well.
He was also a pilot and met my Grandmother when he taxied up to the hanger at the airport where, at the time, my Grandmother was managing. He said it was love at first site. She really was a knock out.
Every weekend my Grandfather, or “Uncle Joy” as he insisted on being called, would pick me in Shreveport after flying in from New Orleans, then drive us to Texarkana where I would spend the weekend, and then I would hitch a ride with him back to Shreveport on Sunday where he would catch a flight back to New Orleans.
My Grandfather and I had a ritual whereby we would bet on how many oil wells would be pumping in the feilds between Texarkana and Shreveport. He would always let me win and give me a 20.00 bill as my cash prize.
I have just now learned through your bulletin board of Jennie Holte’s passing. First let me offer my sincere condolences to her family. She was a very special and fun lady and one of two who could handle my Grandfather who could be feisty. Ok, make that three, I forgot to include myself!
Anway, he would drop me off at “Joy’s Cinema City” where Mrs Holt was manager and she would declare to the concession help firm orders to “let Cheryl have anything she wants”. I would then gorge myself on popcorn anc candy and wander from movie to movie.
I also sometimes spent the night with Mrs Holte so I could play with her daughter who close to me in age. She will be missed.
Anyway, I might share more about my Grandfather some time if there is any interest, but for now I like to add to one of the above comments that while my Grandfather could be soft spoken, he was by no definition of the word, a “quiet man”. He was affectionately what he would have called me when I was a girl, a “doodle.”
All the best
Cheryl Houck
I spoke with Jennie Holts’s husband today and he said Joy Houck lived in Texarkana. He drove to Shreveport Regional Airport every Sunday, left a car there, and flew to New Orleans where his main office was located. He flew back to Shreveport every Thursday, met with Mrs. Holt, and then drove home to Texarkana. Mr. Holt said that Mr. Houck died at about age 98 and was very active until about 2 yrs. before his death. He was married several times and twice married his own theater managers, who continued managing after their respective divorces.
When did this theater close?
The Joy Theater is a mess on the exterior.
When I was there in January the theater was open for a “Superbowl” party. The information was posted on the Marquee. I forgot how much it was to get in, but the game was to be played on the screen I assume. The next day when I walked by again, the theater was returned to it’s boarded up state.
I was in the theatre once, back in 1958.
The one thing about the theatre that I will always remember is that the orchestra floor sloped UP to the screen—not the usual downward slope of the floor.
Does anyone know if there were other theatres of this type? This has been the only theatre like this that I have been in.
Jennie McRight Holt passed away on Sep 12, 2004. I quote from her obituary:
“Most people will remember her as the little blond who managed Mr. Joy Houck’s Theaters, Joy Cinema 7 and Quail Creek Cinema [in Shreveport, LA]. She was his manager for over 30 years. When the theaters sold and closed”…she went to Willis Knighton South (Hospital) in Day Surgery in Patient Relations.
Another quote regarding the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children: “ She also gave them free movies and concessions whenever they wanted to come.”
There used to be a Joy’s Theater in Shreveport and a Joy Drive-in.
The Joy Theatre closed in the spring of 2003. Declining attendance over the many years and the operator not able to obtain a long term lease to ensure return for badly needed renovations was the reason. This was the last of the major theatres in downtown New Orleans. It was to be transformed into a live blues hall however, that has been dropped so it sits boarded up decaying as the new Canal Street streetcar rides past.
Joy Houck was the man and not his wife. I knew him becuase he and my grandfather Jack S. Pope Sr. were partners. My grandfather along with Joy owned may screens in the south. He was a very quiet man but knew how to get his way. He passed away a few years back at almost 100 years of age. His wife is still with us and lives in New Orleans. I thought you might like the info…
Todd Lolley(Tampa,Fl.)