Saenger Biloxi Theatre

The Saenger Biloxi Theatre opened on January 15 1929 and was touted as the Pearl of the Gulf South. The $200,000 theatre was owned by Julian and A.D. Saenger of New Orleans and was designed by Roy A. Benjamin and built by Arthur Perry. The Saenger Biloxi Theatre was just one of more than sixty theatres the brothers owned in America, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.

With seating for 1,245 people, the theatre’s acoustics were built so that, as the local paper reported, even a whisper on stage could be heard by all. The theatre also featured 3 levels of dressing rooms, which were accessed by the use of a spiral staircase, and a backstage electric control panel that could control every light in the theatre.

The first movie to be shown in the Saenger was “Interference”, produced by Paramount and billed as a 100% all-talking picture and stared Clive Brooks, Evelyn Brent, William Powell, and Doris Kenyon. This was a first for Biloxi and during its early years, the Biloxi Saenger Theatre hosted talkies, travelling shows, and vaudeville performances. Eventually, though, moving pictures took over entirely and the fine Wurlitzer organ was replaced by a piano.

Over the next four decades, the theatre changed hands several times and last operated as a movie house under the ABC Theatres banner. On November 16, 1974, a fire closed the theatre and, in 1975, ABC deeded the theatre to the city of Biloxi. The brick and steel structure remained sound and quite ready for renovation and the first phase of which was begun in that same year. The year 1981 saw the addition of a green room, and, in 1983, the Biloxi Saenger Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the late-1990’s, the colorful electric sign was replaced with a duplicate of the original and in 2001 the lobby was restored. Further restoration was completed in November 2010.

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

teecee on September 19, 2005 at 11:30 am

Nice photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/g2223060/31275542/

Patsy on September 19, 2005 at 12:26 pm

TC: Nice photo. I fear that it has sustained Katrina damage.

crunchie on December 5, 2005 at 11:54 pm

I started my professional acting career on this stage. I did several plays, musicals, as well as an original rock opera here. Sadly, almost all of this area was swept away by Katrina. This old theater, was in the old part of Biloxi, fairly close to the beach. Although I don’t know for sure, I assume it’s gone. I would be pleasently surprised it it’s still standing. Although the chessy restoration efforts removed the classic feel it had, I hope something is left. Growing up in the 1970’s, they rarely showed films here, but like most old theaters, the Saenger had a full stage, with rigging a backstage and dressing rooms. It was really a cool old place. I got bitten by a monkey in “Inherit The Wind”, and fell in love in “Dracula”. My late friend David Lucas, put on many shows there in the late 1980’s, I was involved in them all. David passed away shortly after I moved to Hollywood, Ca. Now, I live just blocks from Graumann’s Chinese Theater, but the Saenger Theater in Biloxi holds a piece of my soul. Still standing or not.

Patsy on September 26, 2006 at 12:56 pm

Glad to read that this theatre has been restored and is back in operation since Katrina, but I’ve been wondering about N.O. theatres and any update on them?

Patsy on December 8, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Great before and after interior photos!

Don Lewis on July 18, 2008 at 9:53 pm

A 1986 view of the Saenger Theater in Biloxi here, here and here. Enlarged views here, here and here.

Eltejon1 on May 19, 2010 at 10:24 pm

December 25, 1961——as a young airman—-stationed at Keesler AFB at Biloxi and away from home at Christmas for the first time—on a rainy Sunday—-just before Christmas—-I went to the Saenger and saw Pocketfull of Miracles——Glen Ford and Bette Davis—-it remains one of my favorite films—flickerfan

spectrum on November 27, 2010 at 11:08 am

According to their website- they have finished restoring the auditorium and had their grand reopening in November 2010!

rivest266 on July 22, 2021 at 9:22 am

Grand opening ad: Saenger Theatre opening 14 Jan 1929, Mon Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi) Newspapers.com

50sSNIPES on August 24, 2025 at 10:06 am

On November 16, 1974, the Saenger Theatre suffered damage from a fire after a transformer exploded, destroying the theater’s roof. This happened during the 5:10 PM showing of “Impulse”, and the sprinkler system that was installed in the theater went off at 6:15 PM that evening. Harold “Odd Job” Sakata had just left the theater several hours beforehand after making a live appearance at the lobby earlier that afternoon.

Despite no moviegoer suffering any injury, this unfortunately turned into a disaster after one of the firemen’s air tanks attached to his back caught a high voltage line while climbing a ladder in route to the roof, injuring him but survived.