I think the theatre was originally built by Joy (as was the one in Baton Rouge, also with the same name). Then National General Cinemas acquired it and opened the Cine Royale downtown. The Exorcist ran exclusively at both of these theatres for months. National General became Mann, and then there were other ownership changes. My first memory of this theatre was seeing Gone With the Wind for the first time ever, at this theatre, in a reserved-seat engagement.
I knew this only as “Trans-Lux” Cinerama. I saw Woodstock there in 1970 as a teenager visiting New Orleans, and was totally blown away. Went back twice by bus on weekends just to see it again. I remember that patrons were not allowed to take refreshments into the theatre (even items purchased at the snack bar).
No, it hasn’t been demolished. The shell of the building is still there, and it now houses apartments. In its latter days as a movie house, it was named the Plaza, and when the Plaza 4 cinemas opened in Lake Forest, there was some confusion. The “old” Plaza played foreign and art films mostly, roughly comparable to what the Gentilly Orleans showed. I am talking about late sixties and early seventies. I believe it had ceased operating as a cinema by around 1980.
I think the theatre was originally built by Joy (as was the one in Baton Rouge, also with the same name). Then National General Cinemas acquired it and opened the Cine Royale downtown. The Exorcist ran exclusively at both of these theatres for months. National General became Mann, and then there were other ownership changes. My first memory of this theatre was seeing Gone With the Wind for the first time ever, at this theatre, in a reserved-seat engagement.
My recollection of the Carrollton was as a revival house in the seventies. Maybe it later showed porn, but not for long.
I knew this only as “Trans-Lux” Cinerama. I saw Woodstock there in 1970 as a teenager visiting New Orleans, and was totally blown away. Went back twice by bus on weekends just to see it again. I remember that patrons were not allowed to take refreshments into the theatre (even items purchased at the snack bar).
No, it hasn’t been demolished. The shell of the building is still there, and it now houses apartments. In its latter days as a movie house, it was named the Plaza, and when the Plaza 4 cinemas opened in Lake Forest, there was some confusion. The “old” Plaza played foreign and art films mostly, roughly comparable to what the Gentilly Orleans showed. I am talking about late sixties and early seventies. I believe it had ceased operating as a cinema by around 1980.