Foley Theatre
119 N. Alston Street,
Foley,
AL
36535
119 N. Alston Street,
Foley,
AL
36535
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: McLendon Theaters
Previous Names: Palm Theatre, New Foley Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Palm Theatre was opened in Spring of 1923. On September 22, 1938 it was renamed New Foley Theatre. By 1950 it was operated by McLendon Theaters. By 1957 it was independently operated. It closed as a movie theatre on September 2, 1963 with Dean Martin in “Toys in the Attic”. From then it was only open for special events.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Palm Theatre began advertising in 1923, very likely its first year of operation. Ownership change in December of 1929 led to the first sound films being shown there on December 26, 1929.
The Peoples Theatre Circuit of Alabama purchased the theatre in September of 1938. They changed the name to the “new” Foley Theatre on September 22, 1938 with “The Texan. The “new” was dropped not long after. Regular features at the Foley Theatre stop on September 2, 1963 with “Toys in the Attic.” Since that times out with two 20-year leasing agreements, it is likely what transpired. Sporadic events take place in the venue thereafter.
A May 1923 article stated that the Palm Theatre is open to the public, meaning that it opened around that same time.
Appears there were three Palm Theatres in Foley. Because no one ever used address in advertising, I don’t have the address but, do have clippings for openings.
Palm 1 1923-1927
Palm 2 November 1927 - August 1937 - This Palm was part of the Foley Hotel building. Same owners as the Palm 1. Couldn’t find any articles about the Palm 1 closing. Appears to be a seamless hand off to Palm 2.
Palm 3 opened in August 25, 1937. Don’t have a closing date yet. It was leased by the same people who ran Palm 2. Located on Alston Street, “across the street from the new telephone exchange.” Was owned by and attorney. September 1938 bought by People’s Theatre,(McLendon) as noted above. First ads I have for the Foley Theatre (“formerly the Palm” is December 1938.
Palm Theatre, con’t (yes, the Palms probably need their own listing)
In May of 1941 the NEW Palm Theatre (independently operated) opened. No indication where it was or if it was in the Foley Hotel. There was a show in “The Old Palm Theatre” in 1940, but that was a one-off.
The New Palm Theatre operated until April 1942, when it appears to have been taken over by “same company as Foley Theatre,” and just called the Palm Theatre. Doesn’t say it was formerly the New Palm, but have to assume so.
The opening day ad says “It is operated for White People Only…”. There are a couple of indications, that will have to be looked into, that the New Palm may have been letting Black people in, and then had to explicitly advertise movies were for white people only.
So, at this point, possibly 5 Palm Theatres in Foley.
The 1941 edition of Film Daily Yearbook listed only a New Foley Theatre with 357-seats. The 1943 edition lists a Foley Theatre with 450-seats and a Palm Theatre (Closed) with 210-seats. The 1950 edition has only the Foley Theatre with 450-seats.
Does that mean that there are two Foley Theatres?