Joy Theater

The Joy Theatre is located at 1200 Canal Street and originally had about 1,200 seats. It was the flagship of a Southern theatre circuit named for the owner's wife, Joy Houck. Joy's Theatres, Inc. was based in New Orleans, and owned theatres and drive-ins in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

The Joy Theatre first opened in February, 1947, with a reported seating capacity of 1,500. The first movie shown, "Lover Come Back," with Lucille Ball & George Brent, launched a long-time association with Universal Pictures, which previously had been treated harshly by New Orleans' "Big Three" of the RKO Orpehum, Loew's State and Paramount-operated Saenger. All the major Universal releases now debuted at the Joy, well into the "blockbuster" era of "Airport" and "Jaws." "The Sting" ran for 39 weeks, the longest engagement in the Joy's history.

Joy Houck was the man and not his wife. I knew him becuase he and my grandfather Jack S. Pope Sr. were partners. My grandfather along with Joy owned may screens in the south. He was a very quiet man but knew how to get his way. He passed away a few years back at almost 100 years of age. His wife is still with us and lives in New Orleans. I thought you might like the info...

Todd Lolley(Tampa,Fl.)

The Joy Theatre closed in the spring of 2003. Declining attendance over the many years and the operator not able to obtain a long term lease to ensure return for badly needed renovations was the reason. This was the last of the major theatres in downtown New Orleans. It was to be transformed into a live blues hall however, that has been dropped so it sits boarded up decaying as the new Canal Street streetcar rides past.

Jennie McRight Holt passed away on Sep 12, 2004. I quote from her obituary:
"Most people will remember her as the little blond who managed Mr. Joy Houck's Theaters, Joy Cinema 7 and Quail Creek Cinema [in Shreveport, LA]. She was his manager for over 30 years. When the theaters sold and closed"...she went to Willis Knighton South (Hospital) in Day Surgery in Patient Relations.

Another quote regarding the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children: " She also gave them free movies and concessions whenever they wanted to come."

There used to be a Joy's Theater in Shreveport and a Joy Drive-in.

I was in the theatre once, back in 1958.

The one thing about the theatre that I will always remember is that the orchestra floor sloped UP to the screen--not the usual downward slope of the floor.

Does anyone know if there were other theatres of this type? This has been the only theatre like this that I have been in.

The Joy Theater is a mess on the exterior.
When I was there in January the theater was open for a "Superbowl" party. The information was posted on the Marquee. I forgot how much it was to get in, but the game was to be played on the screen I assume. The next day when I walked by again, the theater was returned to it's boarded up state.

When did this theater close?

I spoke with Jennie Holts's husband today and he said Joy Houck lived in Texarkana. He drove to Shreveport Regional Airport every Sunday, left a car there, and flew to New Orleans where his main office was located. He flew back to Shreveport every Thursday, met with Mrs. Holt, and then drove home to Texarkana. Mr. Holt said that Mr. Houck died at about age 98 and was very active until about 2 yrs. before his death. He was married several times and twice married his own theater managers, who continued managing after their respective divorces.

Joy Houck Sr. was my Grandfather. He died in 2000 2 days before his 100th birthday. He was survived by my Grandmother Hazel who still resides in Texarkana. At one time she was not only a manager of his theaters but was his pilot as well.

He was also a pilot and met my Grandmother when he taxied up to the hanger at the airport where, at the time, my Grandmother was managing. He said it was love at first site. She really was a knock out.

Every weekend my Grandfather, or "Uncle Joy" as he insisted on being called, would pick me in Shreveport after flying in from New Orleans, then drive us to Texarkana where I would spend the weekend, and then I would hitch a ride with him back to Shreveport on Sunday where he would catch a flight back to New Orleans.

My Grandfather and I had a ritual whereby we would bet on how many oil wells would be pumping in the feilds between Texarkana and Shreveport. He would always let me win and give me a 20.00 bill as my cash prize.

I have just now learned through your bulletin board of Jennie Holte's passing. First let me offer my sincere condolences to her family. She was a very special and fun lady and one of two who could handle my Grandfather who could be feisty. Ok, make that three, I forgot to include myself!

Anway, he would drop me off at "Joy's Cinema City" where Mrs Holt was manager and she would declare to the concession help firm orders to "let Cheryl have anything she wants". I would then gorge myself on popcorn anc candy and wander from movie to movie.

I also sometimes spent the night with Mrs Holte so I could play with her daughter who close to me in age. She will be missed.

Anyway, I might share more about my Grandfather some time if there is any interest, but for now I like to add to one of the above comments that while my Grandfather could be soft spoken, he was by no definition of the word, a "quiet man". He was affectionately what he would have called me when I was a girl, a "doodle."

All the best

Cheryl Houck

Joy Houck, Sr. was my father's older brother, and I knew him all of my life, until his death as described above by Cheryl. In most ways, he was more of a father to me than my natural father, and I worked for him back in the early 1960's as manager of the Aereon Theatre in Metairie (suburban New Orleans), where I also managed the Joy Bowl (a 48 lane bowling alley). There are some errors in the previous posts that I will comment on:

1. Warren's post doesn't "do him justice" regarding the breadth of Joy Theatres (it wasn't Joy's Theatres, but JOY Theatres). He owned or was part owner of theatres across the South from Texas to Georgia. He also produced and distributed movies through Howco International.

2. I don't think "The Sting" played at the Joy on Canal Street, since I recall seeing that movie across the Street at the Saenger Theatre, which was owned by Paramount. The longest running pictures I recall (though I don't have the actual records) at the Joy were "South Pacific" ... "Around the World in 80 Days" ... and "Oklahoma!"

3. Not an error, but Jack Pope was someone else I knew all of my life. Jack was a partner in several theatres with Joy, and in fact, taught me the basics of theatre management at his theatre in Rayville, La. Jack was a wonderful and delightful man.

4. Joy's widow, Hazel, lives in Texarkana, TX. .. not New Orleans.

5. There was no "Joy's" Theatre in Shreveport... It was the JOY Theatre, on Texas, Avenue (the main downtown street). There was also a Joy Drive-In. Joy owned other theatres in Shreveport, also, with other names.

6. Not an error, but interesting... Joy had a rather plush "apartment" in the Joy Theatre on Canal Street, and that's where he lived when in New Orleans. I recall several Mardi Gras' in New Orleans, as the marquee was a great place to watch the Canal Street parades. All of his family watched the festivities from that vantage point.

7. Joy Houck, Sr. died two days before his 99th birthday, not his 100th. He was born in 1900. I lived with his mother (my grandmother) until I married and left home, and certainly SHE knew when he was born, and he often told me that he was born in 1900, but that he had his birth date 'changed' on his birth certificate to 1901, so he could avoid being drafted into World War I military service.

8. Joy was married three times: 1. Minnie Chaffin (who didn't work in the theatres), 2. Lois Cooper (who was an employee, but not a manager), although in later life she became a manager, and in fact managed the Aereon after I left. She was also the "concession manager" of the 12-screen theatre that was in the old Joy Bowl building after the bowling alley shut down on Airline Highway, and 3. Hazel, who is still living. He had one child by each wife. His second child, Joy Jr. went into the movie business as an actor and director.

9. The Joy Theatre on Canal Street was at the same intersection with Paramount's "flagship" theatre, the Saenger. There is an interesting anecdote that my Uncle Joy told me several times over the years. The president of Paramount Pictures had an office in the Saenger facing Canal Street. When Joy established his headquarters office in New Orleans, he made a "courtesy call" to introduce himself to the man. He was treated rudely, and was told, "I don't need to know who you are. I've have you run out of town within two months." Joy was NOT a man to take such treatment lightly, and he bought the corner lot across from the Paramount office windows, where he built the Joy Theatre under discussion... the sign, saying simply "JOY" was about 80 feet high... HUGE... He remarked often, "Every time that son-of-a-bitch looks out his window, he'll know I'm STILL in town!"

Randy Houck

Here is a photo of the Joy and its impressive marquee. I took the picture in August 2001.

Great photo Gerald. It sure went downhill when I saw it in in 2004. Hard to believe in just 2 or 3 years it deteriorated so much. I hope something moves into it. Perhaps with the restoration of the new Canal Street Streetcar route past the old theater, tourism will start to move further along Canal Street past Bourbon Street, which may make it feasible to open it into a live theater venue.

The Joy plays a central part in No More Joy, a new documentary about the rise and fall of the movie theaters of New Orleans. A review (with a small picture of the Joy) here:
http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/balc_seats.html

Not sure of the current state of the Saenger but a CNN report was done from a boat which floated past the boarded up JOY theater and its heavily flooded street.
posted by edward1 on Sep 7, 2005 at 8:30pm

I visited New Orleans in July 1993 and can remember certain mental pictures of areas (mainly tourist parts of the city) that have stuck with me since. Most of my fondest memories are from Canal street and the Joy Theater. I always notice buildings with "joy" on them, as it's an uncommon business name, but mainly because it's my first name.

I'm excited about learning the information posted here, and surprised to find out that the "Joy" of the theater was a man! How cool! I haven't found my name to be too popular in general, but to find a man named "Joy", that's something else!! I tried to find photos of either Sr. or Jr. but found no more than Jr.'s movie reviews and the like.

I've aged into an adult since my visit, and I've often thought of the theater and have wanted to revisit New Orleans. Now, with the flooding, post-hurricane situation that Katrina started last week, I have managed to piece together the New Orleans layout with my memory, an atlas, Google maps, and various websites' info. I wanted to see if the Joy Theater was spared, but according to Patsy, above, (and Google Katrina maps) I assume that's unlikely. I would be interested in seeing the CNN report Patsy is referring to. I would like to see what it looks like and if it still has a chance to survive. I hope someone will save the Joy Theater and restore it back to its potential. It would be nice to visit again.

If you know something of interest in regards to either the theater or how I could see the CNN report, you may email me at joyfulness at hotmail dot com. Thank you. - Joy

Joyfulness: I haven't seen the CNN report as I read that fellow CT members post on another theatre link and transferred it to the Joy Theatre link. I don't think the Joy Theatre was mentioned..only seen in the background when that member happened to notice it during that particular CNN broadcast. They may show it again as much footage has been repeated. BTW, I have a neighbor named Joy.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2005-05-10/balc_seats.html

Updated link for the May 12th post. Good history of other theaters in New Orleans as well.

Thank you for your replies, Patsy & TC! I have been almost obsessively watching CNN since Sunday, Aug. 28th in regards to the hurricane. I have been trying to make out landmarks in the images and videos they show, trying to recognize something, especially the Joy Theater- as it has been so prominent in my memory.

Unfortunately, for all the hours I've spent watching CNN, I have missed that shot of the theater. Bummer. :(

BTW, Patsy, tell your neighbor, Joy, that I say "hi"! ;)

TC: The Best of New Orleans website is very good! I haven't read the entire article, but did read that the Joy had a crying room. I visited a former theatre/Ace Hardware in Hartwell GA and the hardware owner showed me the room that once had a window to view the movie from inside. The name of that theatre was the Judy Theatre named after one of the owner's daughters. The owner had a drive-in on the outskirts of Hartwell that he also named after another daughter. Great theatre stories whether they be in small town America or in big cities.

A report on the Joy, the State Palace, and other New Orleans theatres, including exterior flood photos.

Ron: So glad that you posted this report here as CT member, Joyfulness asked about the Joy Theatre and a CNN photo which is included with others in the report.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Uc=14ewb3ap.b147fdut&Uy=nyvoby&Ux=1

This above website shows 197 New Orleans photos with captions. I found them on www.andrewsullivan.com

Wow, thank you. Those were very helpful. I copied the link to the kodak gallery and forwarded it via email to some family and friends of mine. I thought it was more personal than say, MSNBC or CNN or the like. I also checked out the andrewsullivan.com link and read some more there and through its links.

this photo puts the huge marquee into perspective against a car:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/178838173/178838173HyYaVb

This is an interesting and important thread. Rarely do we get get family stories about the people who built chains. More postings would be greatly appreciated.

The DVD mention in the news story two weeks ago NO More Joy is wonderful. All us theater buffs should support Hurricane Katrina victims by purchasing this DVD. I only widh they would do one on NYC and Phila theaters that closed.

Here is a photo of the former Joy theater.

Lost, it looks just like I remember it. I wonder how bad it must be inside after the flood. That part of Canal St was flooded pretty bad, as I have seen newscasts from in front of the theater. it wasn't that good to begin with, so I can't even imagine after the auditorium filled up with water. Like I said above, they were having a superbowl part in there a couple years ago when I went by (even though the theater was abandoned, it was still "usble"). I guess the had the football game on the screen.
Anyway, with mold and stuff, I doubt it is even usable for little things like that now. If they are having trouble with the beautiful Orpheum, I can gaurantee no one is paying attention to the Joy.

This aerial view has the State, Saenger, and Joy all in one shot! You can click on the larger version to get in even closer. This must be pre-Katrina.


http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=nzs91f7gtgs4&style=o&lvl=1&scene=2790604

As someone pointed out in the State Palace section, you can also see the Orpheum on the left. FOUR theaters all in one shot!

Downtown New Orleans is definately coming back, but the Canal Street buildings need to be occupied above the street level. Lofts, condos, and such. This would bring the kind of customers great theaters need. The city government knows this, but since Katrina the safety from flooding concerns must come first. If a huge city like Los Angeles can bring gentrification back downtown New Orleans can do it too. Give it time.
Diana Ellis

Before the flood, Canal St was really on the mend. It was so improved in the few years between my first and last visit there, and the difference on Canal was noticable. Now with the shortage of housing there, perhaps they will be abble to rent the apartments above many of the stores. If anything, during the flood, while downtown flooded too a bit, it held up much better than the rest of the area.

Regarding aerial photo above:

Looks like the State and Saenger have brand new roofing. Looks like the Joy and the Orpheum are still waiting for assistance.

The Joy theatre has a large sign in front with a phone number saying it's for sale... maybe I can get a picture if I go downtown with my camera sometime. I've been eyeing it since a few months before the hurricane... I called once to see how much they wanted, but it was late and I got no answer/message. It's been a dream of mine to open a theatre some day, but I'm only 20 so financially I'm no where near ready.

My photograph of the JOY www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/213939281/

This is a 1/20/2003 article about the closing of the Joy Theater. Number of screens in the story is 3.


"Historic downtown movie theater closes doors.

Source: New Orleans CityBusiness
Byline: Keith Pandolfi

The closing of the Downtown Joy Theatre signaled the end of an era for historic downtown movie theaters. But some are eagerly anticipating a sequel for the theater's former home at 1200 Canal St.

"This is an instance of another landmark closing down, but, at the same time, it's a chance to augment some of the plans for downtown New Orleans," says Neil Kohlman, executive director of the Canal Street Development Corp.

With sidewalk improvements set to begin, an expanded streetcar line and other enhancements in the works for Canal Street, Kohlman says whoever occupies the Joy will anchor what many hope will be a revitalized downtown entertainment district. That district will also include the Saenger and State Palace theaters.

The Joy building's owner, ESE Enterprises, has yet to determine the building's future, says ESE co-owner Edith Andry. "As of right now, we are just talking amongst the owners and deciding which way to go with this," she says.

ESE would like to hold on to the building in light of efforts by the Downtown Development District and other organizations to revitalize that area of Canal Street. She did not know when the building would be made available to a new tenant.

In all likelihood the building will not become another movie theater, Andry says.

Zella May, commissioner of the Downtown Development District and chairman of Canal Now Task Force, says the Joy's building doesn't have to be a movie theater to fit into an entertainment district. "It could also be a comedy club or a performing arts theater," she says.

Though individual property owners will decide how their buildings fit into Canal Street development plans, the DDD plans to hire a master developer who will meet with the owners and discuss plans for improving the area, May says.

The Joy closed last week after the theater's manager, Rene Brunet, was evicted, Andry says. The reasons for the eviction were violations of Brunet's lease agreement, including late payments on rent, she says.

Brunet says he was not evicted and that breaking the lease was a mutual agreement.

"I voluntarily left and did not go to court," he says. "I told them I was leaving."

Brunet, who had managed the theater since 1978, admits lackluster ticket sales did lead him to fall behind on some of his bills. "This is all about a lack of business," he says.

The three-screen, approximately 1,000-seat Downtown Joy Theatre, which opened in 1947, officially closed on Jan. 7.

"I held on, hope against hope," Brunet says, "But we just weren't selling enough tickets."

Despite past efforts to make the theater more profitable, Brunet says closing was inevitable.

"We have done many things over the years to the Joy," he says. "We've spent a lot of money improving it, adding surround sound and hosting quite a few special events. But the handwriting has been on the wall as it has in every other major city in the United States. The downtown theaters have come to an end and the multiplexes have taken over."

Downtown New Orleans was once home to several opulent movie houses like the Saenger, Orpheum and Loew's State theaters. In its heyday, the Joy played host to dozens of Hollywood premiers, including the 1962 film "The Longest Day," starring Richard Burton and Sean Connery, and the 1955 film "The Strike," which was directed by JosE[umlaut] Ferrer.

Brunet says increasing competition for films from a growing number of suburban megaplexes proved an insurmountable obstacle to the Joy.

"There was once a time when, every week, the Saenger, Loew's, Joy and Orpheum opened with a first-run picture," he says. "Then, when Lakeside (theater) opened, we would open the films with them. But when we began competing against five or more other theaters with the same films, attendance at the Joy started going down."

The Joy employed about 20 people. Brunet says he is doing his best to find work for them at other theaters around town.

The theater's equipment, such as projectors and sound equipment, has been moved across the street to the State Palace Theatre, which is managed by Brunet's son, Robert Brunet. The younger Brunet says he might start presenting films occasionally at the State Palace, though the concept is still in the beginning stages.

"We have several ideas," he says. "We could show some classic and art house (movies)."

Robert Brunet says a small room located within the State Palace may be transformed into something vaguely reminiscent of Movie Pitchers, a Mid-City art-house theater that closed in 2000.

Along with the Joy and the State Palace theaters, the Brunet family also manages the Prytania Theatre, 5339 Prytania St., which is for sale.

Rick Tusson, the building's listing agent with Tommy Crane Realty, says the Prytania is under contract to a potential buyer who wants to keep it as a theater, albeit under new management.

"They are looking to do a total renovation of the property," he says. He would not disclose the name of the potential buyer.

Along with using the Prytania to present first-run motion pictures, Tusson says his client also plans to run classic films and use the building for theater workshops in collaboration with local universities.

The building's price has been reduced from $499,000 to $475,000, Tusson says.

Tusson says the building's owner, Poseidon LLC, has been trying to evict the Brunets to make way for the sale of the building, but Brunet says he has no plans to vacate.

"I'll continue to run the Prytania," Brunet says. "I'm an old-time showman, and the Prytania is still doing very well".

Wow, great article! Heaven only knows what the inside of the Joy looks like now after the flood. My hotel was just a few blocks up from the Joy when I stayed in New Orleans las, but it was already closed. We would pass it a few times a day to and from the hotel, on the walk down Canal St to Bourbon St or the River. I haven't been back to New Orleans since the flood. The Saenger across the street was heavily damaged in the flood, and that was an in use theater. I had seen photos of the outside of the Joy during the flood, and the water was quite high in front of the theater,. ANd the big problem with any of the theaters (the Orpheum was also damaged), is that by design, theaters slope down from street level towards the stage....which makes it a nightmare, as if the street level is flooded, just picture all that water cascading towards the stage, so a theater would have much higher waterline from the floor, as even if it was just just a few feet on the street, the slope of the floor in a theater would be several feet below street level, making a bad situation worse.

This photo of the Joy Theater is dated May 15, 2007.

Just ordered that DVD. I photographed the Joy just a couple of weeks after Gerald at the end of july, 2000: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/847686416/in/set-72157594343161371/

There is an article about the Joy Theater of Shreveport (owned by Joy Houck) on www.texasescapes.com

Here is a recent photo of the Joy Theater. There is a for sale sign on the marquee with a "Sold" sticker or decal.

This is a vintage photo of the Joy Theater. The movie title on the marquee, "The Red Menace" was released in 1949.

Wow, it's amazing seeing the Joy looking so good. The last time I stood in front of it was before the katrina hurricane...it couldn't have gotten any better......

Hi, I was just made aware of this link and am amazed of my grandfather's legacy. I am sure there will be more postings from my siblings, but I wanted to bring all up to date. Our grandmother, Hazel Houck, widow of Joy, has passed away on Thanksgiving Day. Although, I have not seen my grandmother in a few years as I live in California, I will always remember her as a very fine lady. Memories of her in my childhood, staying overnight in the big house in Shreveport (with the built-in projector room and hugh living room used for private screenings on the far wall with movie screen), watching Uncle Joy (as we called our grandfather), sit in his reclining chair with Nannie Hazel, eating his cornbread and buttermilk and trying to watch cartoons with him constantly changing the channels :))). Nannie helped me get my Social Security Number as it was needed when I started working at the Joy Theater in Texarkana during the summers starting even at 9 earning money for school clothes each year. Nannie made sure I had charm school lessons (Loved), piano lessons (which I hated). Uncle Joy always seemed a big man in my eyes and kind of scary, but he was really a pussycat. After moving to California in the late 60's, Nannie and Uncle Joy would fly out often for screenings of his movies (which we attended and Nannie would never miss taking us to Disneyland. Could go on and on, but tears are welling up now. God bless both and rest in peace....Will miss you Nannie....

I did know Ms. Hazel had passed. My mother and grandmother called to let me know last month. Joy & my grandfather Jack Pope Sr. were partners and I knew Joy as a child and teenager. My grandmother(Dorothy H. Pope) & Ms. Hazel knew each other for many years. I only met her a couple of times and it was many many years ago. My mother Dianna Pope-Lolley remembers Joy & Hazel very well growing up and that big house in Shreveport. She said the house had 7 1/2 bathrooms!

My copy of "No More Joy" arrived today. Watched it and really enjoyed the movie...It's a must watch...

Another recent photo of the Joy Theater can be seen here.

I am going to be in New Orleans next week....I'll see if I can get some current photos of some of the theaters.....

The Joy looked pretty sad about 4 years ago when I last saw it, but as I expected, it has fallen even further into decline. At least 4 years ago, it was still usable, as although it was closed, they used it for a Superbowl party back then when I was there, where the Superbowl was projected onto the screen. However, after the flood, it's not so great condition before, only got exponential worse.
Here's a photo I took of the Joy Theater about two weeks ago when I was in New Orleans for Mardis Gras. New Orleans looked good...at least the touristy areas like the French Quarter, Downtown, and the Garden District looked as beautiful as usual.... They need our tourist dollars desperately, so please visit New Orleans, they are ready and waiting, and there's nothing wrong with the areas anyone would visit as a tourist.

But since they did get some water along Canal St during the flood, the theaters along Canal suffered greatly. Even though it wasn't terribly flooded like other areas, remember a foot of water on Canal St is brutal for the theaters, which remember, you enter at ground level into, but SLOPE down to the stage...so a foot of water may not seem like much outside....but as it rushes into a theater towards the stage, it inundates an orchestra level.... All four of the theaters along Canal, the Saenger, the State, and the Joy are now closed (the Joy was closed prior to the flood, but usable). The Orpehum alos had serious damage, but I forgot to check the place out to see if it reopened.

Anyway, here's a photo of the sad Joy Theater, which certainly saw better days. It's status can also be changed to closed until further notice too....it even had a for sale sign on it....
Excuse the quality as I took it with from the Canal St Streetcar:

Click here for some current photos of the Joy Theater:

Click for Photo 1

Click for Photo 2

Click for Photo 3

This is a photo of Joy N. Houck Sr. in the lobby of his new Joy's Panorama Theatre in the 1960's:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z105/moviemike/New%20Orleans%20photos/JoyHouck1960s015.jpg

Here is another recent photo of the Joy Theater.

my pics of the joy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/anthonyturducken/sets/72157603772693109/

I grew up in Texarkana and Joy Cinema City was one of my first experiences with my life-long love of movies. I remember going to the drive-in and watching movies as a young child. I went on my first "real" date to the indoor theater with Jerry Page. We saw "Something Wicked This Way Comes". It was very interesting to learn that "our" Joy was such a big play in the movie theater industry. I thought we were the only theater that he owned. LOL. Thanks for all of the great memories and God bless your families.

Any one know if its for sale, whom to contact, have a few bucks that am willing ti invest on a great old theater

any interior photos of the Joy. Would be interested in seeing some

I don't know if the Joy is still available, but here is the real estate that is/was handling the sale for $2.1 million.

Very interesting webpage Lost. Thanks.

Here are some pictures from 2/4/2008 which I had forgotten to post.

Threatened. City is considering demolition.

http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1231914211231780.xml&coll=1

Also: please note that the architects of record were Favrot and Reed. Plans are at City Archives, New Orleans Public Library.

I don't know. Should we care? I think this place was in bad shape before Katrina hit.

If they can get the State, Orpheum and Saenger running again it wouldn't bother me to see this theatre redeveloped, maybe while retaining the Joy sign on the outside of the building.

1980 photo of the Joy Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c18%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&ProductID=27899

1982 night photo of the Joy Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c18%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=8&ProductID=27902

Oh wow, it's so nice to see the Joy's marquee all lit up in happier days.

Been a long time since it looked like that though Bway.

The Sting did play at the Joy. I saw it there,

There's an April 23, 1949, Boxoffice article about the Joy Circuit which mentions an official of the company named B.W. Stevens who was in charged of exploitation (which I believe was Boxoffice's term for advertising and publicity.) I wonder if this B.W. Stevens was somehow conflated by the authors of No More Joy with the New Orleans architect B.W. Stevens who designed Fiske Theatre in Oak Grove? As Francine Stock noted in a comment of Jan. 14, 2009, above, the architects of record for the Joy Theatre were Favrot & Reed.

Incidentally, Cinema Treasures has mistakenly called the firm Favrot, Reed & Fred. If you check the Teche Theatre web site, you'll see that it says that the Teche was designed by Favrot & Reed, with architect Fred Nehrbass associated.