Happy Land Theater
3126 Burgundy Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70117
3126 Burgundy Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70117
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All I really know about this theater is that it opened sometime in the early 20th century and remained open off and on until the 1950’s. Before Katrina it was some type of warehouse. Today, it stands vacent and in disepair.
Contributed by
Barry Marion
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
A Moller organ opus 4035 size 2/6 was installed in the Happy Land Theater in 1924 so it dates back at least to 1924.
Here’s a pic of the Happy Land taken in August 2009.
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I possess a copy of the surveyor’s sketch dated April 21, 1924, which shows two small structures on the site of this theater. The one bearing the address 3130-32 is marked as “Happyland Pictureshow”. I’m guessing this drawing was made in preparation for the constuction of the current larger building named Happyland…
Opened in 1924 Last movie shown in 1961. At one time it was operated by Saenger Amusement and later by United Theatres.
Chuck1231-
From where do you get the date of 1961? Do you have access to any further information? According to my (limited)research, this theater probably closed in 1957/8. I also possess proof that it was the “Happyland Thriftstore” in 1961. In response to Barry Marion’s post, it is certainly far from abandoned, although the term “in disrepair” does currently fit.
Jeff, when I did a Bing search on New Orleans theatres this came up on one of the listed sites. When you do a street side search for this address the building does look abandoned. That might be what Barry is going by. Another thing that I found but failed to add was that a Moller 4035 Theatre Organ was installed in the Happyland in 1924. The article also said the a Mrs Lenora S. Cheek was the theatre manager when it closed in 1961.
Cool name.
A neighbor of mine purchased this property shortly after Katrina. I managed to get a tour of the place. At that time(2006)the stage was still intact and there was a HUGE speaker hanging over it. I saw some minor stenciling on ceiling directly behind the big sliding doors on the front indicating this was most likely the lobby.
United opened their Happyland On March 24th, 1940
Mike, the Happy Land opened in 1924. Your date may have been when United reopened it after a remodel but it does date back to 1924.