The original Ritz Theatre opening ad for November 29, 1934 is posted in photos. It burned down on May 8, 1947 and was replaced by a new Ritz Theatre that launched Sept. 16, 1948 with “Give My Regards to Broadway.” The Ritz closed permanently as a movie house on November 4, 1970 with “The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.” It hosted wrestling and music events for several years before becoming home to the Craddock Lounge and Nightclub in 1975.
J.B. Bryan bought the Strand Theatre in 1920 relaunching it on January 15, 1921 as the Liberty Theatre. The Liberty moves from College Street to new digs in its 105 East Cedar location doing business from 1925 to 1960. The Victor Theatre takes over the old Strand/Liberty location on College Street.
The Victor Theatre opened on College on the Square on January 9, 1925 with Buster Keaton in “The Navigator.” The Victor ends as a silent theatre on Sept. 20, 1930 with Bob Steele in “Western Honor” likely at the end of a 10-year leasing cycle. Hughes and Tiffany Hardware retrofits the space for its retail store weeks later. That building on the West Side of the square appears to have been razed.
Meanwhile, at the “new” Liberty Theatre at 105 East Cedar (this entry), it converts to sound on March 5, 1930 with “The Fox Movietone Follies of 1929” to remain viable. It closed for films on February 28, 1960 likely at the end of a leasing cycle with “But Not For Me ” and “Counterplot.” It housed sporadic church services through 1964 and then housed an auto parts store. The former theatre was vacant for a period and torn down in 1988 joining the former theatre parking lot club.
C J. Encohus and Charles A. McElravy opened the new-build Arcade Theatre in 1917. The theatre converted to sound to remain viable under the auspices of Dixie Theatres Corporation of New Orleans. The Arcade was a survivor finally closed in 1951 as the longest-running theater in the city’s history to that point at 34 years. The building was then retrofitted for a location of the Jitney Jungle Grocery Store chain.
The New Daisy Theatre launched on April 27, 1941 with “Tall, Dark and Handsome.” It exits as a movie theatre in 1978 showing chopsocky, blaxploitation and other action-oriented exploitation films. After a refresh, it returns as a live concert venue in June of 1984 and continues in live performance until early 2019. But it was taken over by the Downtown Memphis Commission in 2022 and reopened with live event programming in January of 2023 and is open as of the 2020s.
American Automated Theatres Inc. (AATI) of Oklahoma City already had a franchisee for The Movies! Mississippi Mall twin screen theater in town. That franchisee decided to go all in on a four-plex.The Movies! River Ridge Cinema IV opened on August 10, 1984 with “Ghostbusters,” The Karate Kid,“ “Red Dawn” and “Cloak and Dagger.
On February 2, 2000, O'Neil Theatres, Inc. of Slidell, Louisiana - the franchisee - took the theatre into the O'Neil portfolio. Thus, the location became officially known as the O'Neil River Ridge Cinema 4. O'Neil Theatres Circuit went into bankruptcy protection that same year and, by 2008, was winding down operations. O'Neil closed here October 12, 2008. In 2015, Acadiana Cinemas - which operated three Louisiana locations in Eunice, Natchitoches, and Opelousas, updated the former River Ridge to digital projection and new seating reopening on March 20, 2015 as the Acadiana Picayune Cinema 4. The theatre closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. It reopened and was still operating in the 2020s.
William Abbott opened the first Gem Theatre on February 27, 1913 with L. Rogers Lytton in “The Vengeance of Durand; or, The Two Portraits” supported by “A Busy Day in the Jungles.” It was housed a block from its future home in the Abbott Building with the Abbott Saloon. In its eight years, the Gem was doing well and a brand new theatre was built.
The New Gem moved a block away to its new home in the 200 block on January 26, 1921 with Gloria Swanson in “Something to Think About” on the new big screen. It was the secondary theatre in town after the Panida was build and, under the Gem moniker, it did not convert to sound. It continued with silent film through showtimes on November 13, 1930. It was then sporadically used as a live event house. Plays and political speeches occurred through 1944 under the Gem nameplate.
It was finally converted to sound in a streamline moderne makeover and renamed as the Lake Theatre opening on August 8, 1946. Ten years later, it closed with “The Solid Gold Cadillac” on November 20, 1956. It again was used for live events and rummage sales very sporadically over the next nine years. In 1967, a campaign to save the theatre was launched though proved unsuccessful. After the campaign failed, in 1968, the floor was leveled and in 1970 all exterior elements were removed from the former Gem/ Lake Theatre.
The local paper reports that the Liberty Theatre was destroyed by fire on September 13, 1922. It was just one day after Moses Alexander made a campaign stop at the venue though finishing in third that November for regaining his governorship. That was the last event in the space as the Gem Theatre had become the main movie house in town.
Grand opening ad for the Cinema 4 West on March 21, 1980 is in photos. Opening films were “Star Trek,” “Going in Style” and “Electric Horseman.” It closed March 5, 2006 as the Sanpoint Cinema 4 with “Annapolis,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Duma,” “Freedomland,” and “Doogal.”
Officially closed as the ShowPlace ICON on June 30, 2024 as the 1909-created exhibitor left the theatrical space. It did find a home for this location, however, in a deal with Marcus Cinemas announced on June 28, 2024. It was renamed as the Marcus West End Cinema at its relaunch on July 8, 2024.
The Gem Theatre launched September 29, 1915 with “The Battle Cry for Peace.” It was located in a former meat market. The Gem competed against the Philip Opera House for about three years. Movies became the dominant entertainment form in town and the Gem not only outlasted the Opera House but would surpass its 100th year of operation.
On its way past 100 operational years, the Gem converted to Vitaphone to show sound films on January 12, 1930. It got a new front a year and a half later. The Gem came under the State Theatre Corporation Circuit in the 1950s. It converted to digital in 2013 to remain viable. Two years later it celebrated its 100th Anniversary and was still showing films in 2024. With a population of fewer than 750 residents, the Gem is a theater deserving of its name.
The Magic City purportedly installed sound on February 15, 1931 to remain viable. However, the capacity crowd reportedly saw no sound films that night. Its final show was scheduled for March 21, 1931. For its final trick, the Magic City burned to the ground on March 23, 1931.
Opening film for the Ritz on September 17, 1941 was “Argentine Nights” supported by Ted Lewis & Orchestra in “Is Everybody Happy” and the Walter Lantz cartoon short, “Syncopated Sioux.” Closing film “Three Tough Guys” on June 29, 1975. Demolition in 1990.
The Trackside Twin Cinema opened June 20, 1975 with “The Towering Inferno” and “Race with the Devil” independently by George and Judy Solomon at the Shopyard Square Shopping Center. At launch, it had two identical and automated 252 aqua-colored seat auditoriums. The color explosion included automate “Chinese Red” curtains in the auditoriums and two-toned wallpaper in the lobby that “one would not normally attempt to blend” according to a local reporter. The previous day’s open house offered, of course, free potholders to those who attended.
On December 21, 1975, George Solomon took over the entire Gulf States Theatre circuit under the Gulf International Cinema nameplate folding in the Trackside to that portfolio. They reverted to Gulf State Theatres moniker for the theatrical operations. On July 4, 1986, Gulf States added three screens to the cinema becoming the Trackside Cinemas 5. It stayed that way just six months when United Artists bought the circuit in December of 1986. The theatre became the UA Trackside 5 Theatres. UA dropped it at the end of lease in October of 1993. MI Theatres next took on the venue closing it in 1999.
It became the Magic Cinemas in October of 2001 under Tim Augustine and Robert “Spec” McClendon. The theatre closed in 2008 under their watch though finding new operators who closed it permanently on December 31, 2010. The theatre sat vacant for a very long period of time.
Colonel George F. Baltzell’s Batzell Opera House opened on July 8, 1907 with two live performances of “Denver Express.” The Batzell appears to have closed with movies in 1936. The building got a makeover in 1945 becoming home to W.L. Mosely’s new Ritz Theatre on March 15, 1945. The opening film was “Two Girls and a Sailor.”
After another refresh, the theatre relaunched on October 15, 1954 with widescreen projection to play CinemaScope titles. First up was “Rose Marie.” After yet another makeover, the venue became the Ritz Cinema in 1968 operating for 20 more years. The City of Hammond took on the dormant theater in the 1980s. In 2007, with the theatre in unrestorable condition, architectural firm Holly & Smith saved the facade of the theatre in an award winning, adaptive reuse of the space for townhouses.
Gulf States appears to have closed the Columbia Theatre after the September 26, 1974 showing of “The Education of Sonny Carson” and “Legend of Charlie”
The Rialto was a silent era movie house in downtown Hammond. Christine Foltz ran it for many years. It converted to sound to remain viable though closed during the Depression. After years of dormancy, the Columbia Amusement Company took on the theater after Foltz’s death and gave it a streamline moderne makeover. It also renamed the venue as the Rex Theatre opening on March 23, 1940 with George Raft in “Invisible Stripes.“The Rex ceased operation in November 30, 1953 with "Hangman’s Knot” and “Voodoo Tiger.” The building was later converted for other retail purposes.
The Joy launched November 7, 1968 with “Angels from Hell” and “It’s a Bikini World.” It became a Twin on December 6, 1974 with “Serpico” and “Superfly TNT” on Joy 1 and adult films, “X” and “Robin Hood,” on Joy 2.
The original Ritz Theatre opening ad for November 29, 1934 is posted in photos. It burned down on May 8, 1947 and was replaced by a new Ritz Theatre that launched Sept. 16, 1948 with “Give My Regards to Broadway.” The Ritz closed permanently as a movie house on November 4, 1970 with “The Good Guys and the Bad Guys.” It hosted wrestling and music events for several years before becoming home to the Craddock Lounge and Nightclub in 1975.
J.B. Bryan bought the Strand Theatre in 1920 relaunching it on January 15, 1921 as the Liberty Theatre. The Liberty moves from College Street to new digs in its 105 East Cedar location doing business from 1925 to 1960. The Victor Theatre takes over the old Strand/Liberty location on College Street.
The Victor Theatre opened on College on the Square on January 9, 1925 with Buster Keaton in “The Navigator.” The Victor ends as a silent theatre on Sept. 20, 1930 with Bob Steele in “Western Honor” likely at the end of a 10-year leasing cycle. Hughes and Tiffany Hardware retrofits the space for its retail store weeks later. That building on the West Side of the square appears to have been razed.
Meanwhile, at the “new” Liberty Theatre at 105 East Cedar (this entry), it converts to sound on March 5, 1930 with “The Fox Movietone Follies of 1929” to remain viable. It closed for films on February 28, 1960 likely at the end of a leasing cycle with “But Not For Me ” and “Counterplot.” It housed sporadic church services through 1964 and then housed an auto parts store. The former theatre was vacant for a period and torn down in 1988 joining the former theatre parking lot club.
Became the 31 West Drive-In on July 23, 1969 with “Angel in my Pocket”
C J. Encohus and Charles A. McElravy opened the new-build Arcade Theatre in 1917. The theatre converted to sound to remain viable under the auspices of Dixie Theatres Corporation of New Orleans. The Arcade was a survivor finally closed in 1951 as the longest-running theater in the city’s history to that point at 34 years. The building was then retrofitted for a location of the Jitney Jungle Grocery Store chain.
Previously operated by Lomo Theatre Circuit.
Previously operated by Lomo Theatre Circuit.
The New Daisy Theatre launched on April 27, 1941 with “Tall, Dark and Handsome.” It exits as a movie theatre in 1978 showing chopsocky, blaxploitation and other action-oriented exploitation films. After a refresh, it returns as a live concert venue in June of 1984 and continues in live performance until early 2019. But it was taken over by the Downtown Memphis Commission in 2022 and reopened with live event programming in January of 2023 and is open as of the 2020s.
American Automated Theatres Inc. (AATI) of Oklahoma City already had a franchisee for The Movies! Mississippi Mall twin screen theater in town. That franchisee decided to go all in on a four-plex.The Movies! River Ridge Cinema IV opened on August 10, 1984 with “Ghostbusters,” The Karate Kid,“ “Red Dawn” and “Cloak and Dagger.
On February 2, 2000, O'Neil Theatres, Inc. of Slidell, Louisiana - the franchisee - took the theatre into the O'Neil portfolio. Thus, the location became officially known as the O'Neil River Ridge Cinema 4. O'Neil Theatres Circuit went into bankruptcy protection that same year and, by 2008, was winding down operations. O'Neil closed here October 12, 2008. In 2015, Acadiana Cinemas - which operated three Louisiana locations in Eunice, Natchitoches, and Opelousas, updated the former River Ridge to digital projection and new seating reopening on March 20, 2015 as the Acadiana Picayune Cinema 4. The theatre closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. It reopened and was still operating in the 2020s.
VIP Cinemas reopened the former Regal as the VIP Moline 14 effective July 11, 2024.
William Abbott opened the first Gem Theatre on February 27, 1913 with L. Rogers Lytton in “The Vengeance of Durand; or, The Two Portraits” supported by “A Busy Day in the Jungles.” It was housed a block from its future home in the Abbott Building with the Abbott Saloon. In its eight years, the Gem was doing well and a brand new theatre was built.
The New Gem moved a block away to its new home in the 200 block on January 26, 1921 with Gloria Swanson in “Something to Think About” on the new big screen. It was the secondary theatre in town after the Panida was build and, under the Gem moniker, it did not convert to sound. It continued with silent film through showtimes on November 13, 1930. It was then sporadically used as a live event house. Plays and political speeches occurred through 1944 under the Gem nameplate.
It was finally converted to sound in a streamline moderne makeover and renamed as the Lake Theatre opening on August 8, 1946. Ten years later, it closed with “The Solid Gold Cadillac” on November 20, 1956. It again was used for live events and rummage sales very sporadically over the next nine years. In 1967, a campaign to save the theatre was launched though proved unsuccessful. After the campaign failed, in 1968, the floor was leveled and in 1970 all exterior elements were removed from the former Gem/ Lake Theatre.
The local paper reports that the Liberty Theatre was destroyed by fire on September 13, 1922. It was just one day after Moses Alexander made a campaign stop at the venue though finishing in third that November for regaining his governorship. That was the last event in the space as the Gem Theatre had become the main movie house in town.
Grand opening ad for the Cinema 4 West on March 21, 1980 is in photos. Opening films were “Star Trek,” “Going in Style” and “Electric Horseman.” It closed March 5, 2006 as the Sanpoint Cinema 4 with “Annapolis,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Duma,” “Freedomland,” and “Doogal.”
Officially closed as the ShowPlace ICON on June 30, 2024 as the 1909-created exhibitor left the theatrical space. It did find a home for this location, however, in a deal with Marcus Cinemas announced on June 28, 2024. It was renamed as the Marcus West End Cinema at its relaunch on July 8, 2024.
Closed June 30, 2024 along with all other ShowPlace ICON locations when the circuit ended operations.
Closed permanently with the rest of the Kerasotes ICON chain effective June 30, 2024.
The Gem Theatre launched September 29, 1915 with “The Battle Cry for Peace.” It was located in a former meat market. The Gem competed against the Philip Opera House for about three years. Movies became the dominant entertainment form in town and the Gem not only outlasted the Opera House but would surpass its 100th year of operation.
On its way past 100 operational years, the Gem converted to Vitaphone to show sound films on January 12, 1930. It got a new front a year and a half later. The Gem came under the State Theatre Corporation Circuit in the 1950s. It converted to digital in 2013 to remain viable. Two years later it celebrated its 100th Anniversary and was still showing films in 2024. With a population of fewer than 750 residents, the Gem is a theater deserving of its name.
Status: Demolished
The Magic City purportedly installed sound on February 15, 1931 to remain viable. However, the capacity crowd reportedly saw no sound films that night. Its final show was scheduled for March 21, 1931. For its final trick, the Magic City burned to the ground on March 23, 1931.
Opening film for the Ritz on September 17, 1941 was “Argentine Nights” supported by Ted Lewis & Orchestra in “Is Everybody Happy” and the Walter Lantz cartoon short, “Syncopated Sioux.” Closing film “Three Tough Guys” on June 29, 1975. Demolition in 1990.
The Trackside Twin Cinema opened June 20, 1975 with “The Towering Inferno” and “Race with the Devil” independently by George and Judy Solomon at the Shopyard Square Shopping Center. At launch, it had two identical and automated 252 aqua-colored seat auditoriums. The color explosion included automate “Chinese Red” curtains in the auditoriums and two-toned wallpaper in the lobby that “one would not normally attempt to blend” according to a local reporter. The previous day’s open house offered, of course, free potholders to those who attended.
On December 21, 1975, George Solomon took over the entire Gulf States Theatre circuit under the Gulf International Cinema nameplate folding in the Trackside to that portfolio. They reverted to Gulf State Theatres moniker for the theatrical operations. On July 4, 1986, Gulf States added three screens to the cinema becoming the Trackside Cinemas 5. It stayed that way just six months when United Artists bought the circuit in December of 1986. The theatre became the UA Trackside 5 Theatres. UA dropped it at the end of lease in October of 1993. MI Theatres next took on the venue closing it in 1999.
It became the Magic Cinemas in October of 2001 under Tim Augustine and Robert “Spec” McClendon. The theatre closed in 2008 under their watch though finding new operators who closed it permanently on December 31, 2010. The theatre sat vacant for a very long period of time.
Final date: June 30, 2024… likely at the lease opt out at the 15-year mark.
Colonel George F. Baltzell’s Batzell Opera House opened on July 8, 1907 with two live performances of “Denver Express.” The Batzell appears to have closed with movies in 1936. The building got a makeover in 1945 becoming home to W.L. Mosely’s new Ritz Theatre on March 15, 1945. The opening film was “Two Girls and a Sailor.”
After another refresh, the theatre relaunched on October 15, 1954 with widescreen projection to play CinemaScope titles. First up was “Rose Marie.” After yet another makeover, the venue became the Ritz Cinema in 1968 operating for 20 more years. The City of Hammond took on the dormant theater in the 1980s. In 2007, with the theatre in unrestorable condition, architectural firm Holly & Smith saved the facade of the theatre in an award winning, adaptive reuse of the space for townhouses.
Gulf States appears to have closed the Columbia Theatre after the September 26, 1974 showing of “The Education of Sonny Carson” and “Legend of Charlie”
The Rialto was a silent era movie house in downtown Hammond. Christine Foltz ran it for many years. It converted to sound to remain viable though closed during the Depression. After years of dormancy, the Columbia Amusement Company took on the theater after Foltz’s death and gave it a streamline moderne makeover. It also renamed the venue as the Rex Theatre opening on March 23, 1940 with George Raft in “Invisible Stripes.“The Rex ceased operation in November 30, 1953 with "Hangman’s Knot” and “Voodoo Tiger.” The building was later converted for other retail purposes.
The Joy launched November 7, 1968 with “Angels from Hell” and “It’s a Bikini World.” It became a Twin on December 6, 1974 with “Serpico” and “Superfly TNT” on Joy 1 and adult films, “X” and “Robin Hood,” on Joy 2.