Ritz Theatre
302 N. Patterson Street,
Valdosta,
GA
31601
302 N. Patterson Street,
Valdosta,
GA
31601
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Closed in May 1973.
The Ritz opened on March 28th, 1927. Articles at:
An early notice about plans for the house that became the Ritz appeared in the May 1, 1926, issue of The Moving Picture World:
There does not appear to be a Jackson Avenue in Valdosta today. Perhaps it was an earlier name for Valley Street. The architecture of the facade of the Ritz definitely drew its inspiration from Venice, though, as can be seen by the row of windows on the second floor, and the ornate cornice and parapet.Three photos of the Ritz, including one interior shot and one taken at the time of its demolition can be seen on this page at Facebook.
The Ritz was the site of the 15th American Legion Convention in 1933. Meetings were held at the theater and evening events and dinners were held at the new post home at it’s current location on Williams St.
I have just posted in the Atlanta Chapter ATOS Dec. 2010 newsletter a brief story about some of the theatre’s in Valdosta, mainly the Ritz. Including then and now photo’s. Just google up the Atlanta Chapter ATOS and go to that newsletter. Hope you enjoy.
i visted the RITZ one time got a tour and took pictures .It was a playhouse at the time.
Indeed, the Ritz featured retail shops on its street facade, including Ritz Fashions. This shop moved to 2235 N. Ashley Street in May, 1973. The Ritz showed its final film (“Book of Numbers” at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30,1973. The day after, the Cinema I and II theatres opened at Valdosta’s five points as a replacement for the venerable Ritz.
The Ritz occupied a mixed-use building of the sort much favored in the 1920s. Flanking the theatre foyer on the ground floor were retail shop spaces facing Patterson Street. Also overlooking the street were office spaces above the shops. It was in many respects a typical small-town southern theatre of its time.
“American Theatres of Today” is available through the Theatre Historical Society as a new reprint. Also you might find the reprint that theVestal Press did back in the 70’s thru Amazon.com. or some online book sellers,the originals are hard to find.
The photo posted on 1/13/2010 is the photo of the the theatre published in “American Theatres of Today” which also features an interior shot of the theatre shortly after it opened.
On a note about the Alamo/Strand, on a recent visit to Valdosta it was discovered that the building is still standing, although there are retail spaces in the lower section of the building, it could be posssible that some remnants of the theatre remains in the upper sections of the building. Also there was for a time The Rex Theatre next door to the Alamo.
Here is a photo circa 1920s:
http://tinyurl.com/yf4f3uz
In reference to the comment by Lost Memory, The Alamo had become the Strand Theater by 1927. The Ritz theater is about two blocks to the right of the Alamo in the photograph and located on the same street. Hopeful in 2010 I will have an article on the Ritz to be published in the Atlanta Chapter ATOS newsletter.
The Ritz Theatre was built at a reported cost of $250,000 and opened around 1927. It immediately became a landmark for the art of the photoplay in South Georgia.
Among its treasures was a Robert Morton pipe organ, a 2/4 Style 16 Special, Opus 2305. The Ritz was featured in the book, “American Theatres of Today” and the photograph featuring the stage, proscenium, and organ grilles shows the extensive decoration by Benjamin. An outstanding feature was the scenic curtain which was elaborately painted.
The Ritz was demolished (sometime after 1970) for a bank addition. Its imsposing facade featured five large arched windows and an elaborate plaster frieze above them. The theatre accomodated about 1,200 patrons.