Joy Theatre
713 Harrison Street,
Rayville,
LA
71269
713 Harrison Street,
Rayville,
LA
71269
No one has favorited this theater yet
This Joy Theatre (the 2nd with that name in town) was opened on November 23, 1949 with Anne Baxter in “You’re My Everything”. It was closed on May 18, 1980 with Pam Grier in “Foxy Brown” & “Lips and McCain”.
Contributed by
Billy Smith / Don Lewis / Billy Holcomb
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Need to tear that mess down… Looked like that for 30 years
This theatre goes back into the early 1920’s as the 451 seat Mecca Theatre, In 1931 it was the Richmond Theatre, in 1932 the Shea Theatre and finally the Joy Theatre in 1937.
Joy Houck’s Joy Theatre Circuit built this New Joy Theatre as a post-War venue announced in 1948. The New Joy opened on November 23, 1949 with Anne Baxter in “You’re My Everything” supported by the MGM cartoon short, “Señor Droopy.” Grand opening ad is in photos. The previous Joy Theatre exited the night before on November 22, 1949 with “Triple Threat,” “Talking Turkey” and “Lost City of the Jungle.”
The second Joy Theatre ceased operations on May 18, 1980 as an independent with a double feature of “Foxy Brown” and “Lips and McCain.” It was offered for sale at $14,000. The city bought it in 1981 but decided against a renovation at that time. In 1982, it became the Rayville Gun & Pawn Shop. When they left, the building fell into disrepair. Two renovation projects were launched - the first in 1999 and the second in 2003 - but neither were completed as the building’s roofline deteriorated more than anticipated during its dormant period making restoration nearly impossible.