Ritz Theatre

Joe Vogel on October 16, 2009 at 12:22 am

Martin operated multiple theaters in Sylacauga, and the Ritz was opened by the circuit in 1934. They also operated a Sylacauga Theatre, which was closed when the Martin opened in 1951. The Ritz closed in 1955.

The Martin Theatre at Sylacauga was opened on June 5, 1951, according to Boxoffice magazine’s issue of July 28 that year. Boxoffice gave the seating capacity as 1,100, but an article in the June 9 issue had said it was 1,150. Though none of the items about this theater that I’ve found in Boxoffice give the name of the architect, it’s pretty much a certainty that it was designed by the circuit’s in-house architect for at least a quarter century, Rufus E. Bland.