Saenger's Bijou Theatre

In the early-1910’s, two early New Orleans cinema exhibitors tried to wrest control of the movie industry from local, Bernard “Bernie” Mulligan. Mulligan had opened the Lyric Theatre, the Theatorium, and the NuSho nickelodeons. Henry Fichtenburg of New Orleans opened the Alamo Theatre in 1911. Josiah Pearce and Sons Syndicate came next in November of 1911 buying Mulligan out of the Lyric Theatre and NuSho theaters. They then added the Bijou Dream Theater on March 15, 1913 doors away from their Dreamland (the renamed NuSho).

The opening films at the New Bijou Dream were D.W. Griffith’s “A Terrible Discovery”, “Broncho Billy’s Chirstmas Dinner” with Gilbert M. “Broncho Billy” Anderson, and “Fires of Driftwood” with Rose Tapley. The Pearces would sell out to Plaza Amusement Company, a subsidiary of Saenger Entertainment and hired Bernie Mulligan as its manager. Saenger re-upped for another five years on the lease at $250 per month in 1921 under the name of Saenger’s Bijou Theatre.

Berdon Bros. Confectioners (aka Berdon’s) was located between the Bijou Dream and Dreamland becoming the de facto concession stand for the operations. The Bijou Theatre did not make it to the end of its lease with Saenger retaining its Alamo Theatre and refreshing the Walnut Street Theatre as the renamed Saenger Theatre in 1922. The former Bijou Theatre became home to The House of Fashion in the first of two long-running locations for that retail store.

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