Princess Theatre #2

This entry will encompass the original Princess Theatre (#1) and the new build Princess Theatre (#2). The original and its successor were housed at the corner of South Franklin Street and East Jefferson Street. In 1915, Charles J. and Rose Goodwin bought an existing retail building transforming it somewhat into a functioning movie theater.

It was primitive with non-sloping cinder floors and wooden benches as the seating. And apparently no fire exits which were added to some degree in 1916. The original Princess Theatre had a five year run ending with architectural plans showing a more modern and safer design. The Goodwin’s son, Charles J. “Bo” Goodwin replaced Princess #1 with a substantial three-story brick theatre - also called the Princess Theatre - in the same spots as its predecessor.

In 1927, Goodwin discontinued the Princess Theatre in favor of the far superior and wider Rose Theatre named after Bo’s mom. Hyman Selgiman and Seligman’s Haberdashery was thirty years old and decided to move into the former Princess building for retail purposes. Somehow, Seligman’s was going about 100 years later in the same spot. Bo’s Princess Theatre #2 building was built to last.

Goodwin then moved the equipment, seating, and the signage to Princess Theatre #3 on West Madison Street, apparently the first African American audience theater. (It has its own entry on Cinema Treasures).

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