Liberty Theatre
210 Raleigh Avenue,
Sheffield,
AL
35660
210 Raleigh Avenue,
Sheffield,
AL
35660
1 person
favorited this theater
First theatre built and operated by Morris Aaron Lightman, founder of MALCO Theatres. Opened in 1916. It was built with a stage house for vaudeville acts. The building still stands vacant in 2022, following previous retail use.
Contributed by
William Dunklin
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
I’ve seen sources saying that the Liberty opened in 1915, and others saying it was 1916. The book Screening Room: Family Pictures, by M. A. Lightman’s grandson Alan Lightman says 1916, which is more likely correct. However, it appears that Lightman did not control the Liberty continuously, as the April 6, 1918, issue of The Moving Picture World carried this brief notice: “SHEFFIELD, ALA. — M. A. Lightman has taken over Liberty theater.”
Lightman had more than one iron in the fire around this time. In November 1918, Motion Picture News noted that he was President of the Criterion Film Service, a film exchange (distribution company) that had been opened in Atlanta in September.