Coliseum Theatre

Photo:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/359286522/359286522dXvRWJ

Coliseum pics post Katrina found on the net:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snujiins/45142680/in/pool-51035770480@N01
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snujiins/45142679/in/pool-51035770480@N01

A color photo of the Coliseim that you can compare with the Post-Katrina. Looks like the upper portion of the theatre on the second photo from SNWEB is in the medium in front of the theatre.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/359286577/359286577SLiyyj#

Sadly, the Coliseum burned to the ground in February of this year.

Here is another photo of the former Coliseum Theater after hurricane Katrina.

This is the Coliseum Theater before hurricane Katrina.

In the late 1960s, my best friend was the projectionist at The Coliseum. Much to the manager's shagrin, he would get me in free and I would sit in the balcony next to the projection booth door and watch him do change overs and curse the vintage carbon arc projectors.

This was the theater that turned off the water fountain in the lobby, and put extra salt in the popcorn. (Thirsty patrons buy more Coke.)

I loved this creepy theater. It was the quintessential neighborhood theater, and a wonderful step back in time.

The post Katrina fire shook the entire city up. Almost every media outlet covered the story, and mourned the passing of another historic theater.

The burned theater was eventually knocked down except for the steep front steps that went up to the old lobby. For some strange reason, there is a type of odd "shrine" on these steps. Stuffed animals now cover the entrance, and I have no idea why. Only in New Orleans...

In 1963, the Coliseum was operated by Mrs. Henry Lazarus, president of Lazarus Theaters, 912 Canal Street, New Orleans. Others under her command at that time were the Center, Circle and Carver, all in New Orleans.

Here are some demolition photos of the Coliseum Theater.

As a child in the late 60's, I was a regular patron of the Coliseum. This theatre had an atmosphere like no other I've ever been to. The inside of the theatre had the most beautiful neon fixtures on the celling that were deep blue & green, and remained lit while the movie was on. There was also cove neon lighting along the side walls, that could be turned on as blue, or red. This theatre was quite fancy in it's day, and had probably the largest screen of any indoor theatre, except for the Cinerama.
There was also a blue neon clock that read HARTFORD INSURANCE, 800 HOWARD AVE. which remained on during the film.
Above, it states that seating was 600 in 1945, but in 1949, a balcony was added, making a total of 1100 seats.
The theatre was operated by the Lazarus family from 1919 until the early 60's when it was operated by United Theatres for a short time.
At the time I attended, the business was owned and operated by Alfred J. Viola, a veteran theatre manager, and this theatre was truly one of a dying breed. Mr. Viola told me that United was going to close the Coliseum, and he announced that he was going to lease it. The GM of United told him that he wouldn't last for a year. He remained open until 1976, when the theatre was sold.
This theatre was Al Viola's baby. It was a true mom & pop neighborhood theatre, featuring double features, 3 program changes each week, cartoons, and occasionally old tyme serials!
Mr. Viola was the type of guy that would allow a kid short of money to have a piece of candy. As a regular customer, I got to know him & Mrs Sophie Morales, who worked the concession 7 nights a week for as long as I can remember.
I became a projectionist, and in October of 1975, I was hired at the Coliseum, and remained there until it closed on April 20, 1976.
Til the day it closed in 1976, Al Viola was proud that he was able to keep the admission prices the lowest in the city. Adults 75c, Children 35c. This was when first run theatres were charging $3.25.
Concessions were also the lowest prices in town...featuring 10c popcorn til the day it closed.
About 6 months after the Coliseum closed, Mr. Viola had a stroke, and then in 1980, he died of another stroke. We remained close friends until he passed.
Sadly, on Christmas day 2007, Joe Grillot, Al Viola's nephew, who had the same love for theatre & movies as his uncle, passed away at age 62.
The Coliseum was one of my all time favorite theatres, and I am so sad that it is gone now.

Here is a photo of the Coliseum Theatre from 1975, showing a classic double feature. Photo by Joe Grillot.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z105/moviemike/Coliseum1975.jpg

Here is a photo of Al Viola in front of the Coliseum box-office in the 70's pointing to his low admission prices.
http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z105/moviemike/?action=view¤t=AlViola.jpg

Here's some more Coliseum photos:
The projection booth, taken in 1975 while I was working there:
http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z105/moviemike/New%20Orleans%20photos/?action=view¤t=Coliseumbooth0003.jpg
and the neon celling light fixtures that had deep blue & green neon:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z105/moviemike/New%20Orleans%20photos/Coliseumneoncellingfixture.jpg

Here's an ad for a movie playing at the Coliseum and other theatres in 1963:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z105/moviemike/New%20Orleans%20photos/MondoCane2.jpg

This is a photo of a Coliseum Theater in New Orleans. The photo is probably from the late 1940s.

Here is another pre-Katrina photo of the Coliseum Theater.

Drive-in-mike and I spent many a fun night in this old movie house. I remember when we did some work for our school principle, he took us to the Coliseum to see a double feature of The Hellfighters and Anne of a Thousand Days.(Wasn't that an odd pairing?)