Show Palace Theatre
Laney-Walker Boulevard,
Augusta,
GA
30901
Laney-Walker Boulevard,
Augusta,
GA
30901
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Functions: Church
Styles: Quonset Hut
Previous Names: Harlem Theatre, Showcase Theatre
Nearby Theaters
This Quonset Hut style movie theatre was a theatre Blacks could attend and have a decent seat. There were other Negro theatres operating in Augusta in the late-1940’s (a time when Quonset style theatres were being built), for which no address’s are given, one being the Ritz Theatre which was open 1945-1948).
This theatre opened as the Harlem Theatre in 1948 and by 1952, had been renamed the Show Palace Theatre (aka Showcase Theatre), it closed in 1955.
It is still standing today as a church.
Contributed by
MikeRogers
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 14 comments)
Mike, If you haven’t yet searched the theatre listings on microfilm from Augusta’s major newspaper I would start there. If you have some extra time you may be able to find the name providing they advertised in the local papers. If not then this theatre’s name is destined to remain a mystery probably forever. I would began the search around 1935 and advance one year at a time from there. Good luck!
Yes, try the newspapers, in addition to the other ideas offered. I found recently in researching some of the theaters in South Florida, that in the very early ‘60s, there were a few theaters whose starting times were listed under the category “Negro Theaters”.
Nick, Bill Barkley would know,I will check with him.ChasSmith thanks for the advice, when i did check Augusta major papers about a year ago, i never spotted a Black theatre in the ads not even the classy LENOX THEATRE which was black was listed.
CINEMATREASURES EDITORS…….The name of the ‘colored theatre’ was the SHOW PALACE, Plez Change the name. Thanks,.
Albert Peters was the projectionist he ended his long career at NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE in Augusta.
Thanks Bill Barkley for the info,
Mike, Thanks for checking with Bill and solving the mystery! You’d think the lady you spoke with at the Laney Museum (of all people) would surely have known the name. You can always rely on Bill Barkley for answers to just about any question on Augusta’s theatre history. Now hopefully CT’s editors will update the theatre’s real name for this page.
Thanks CT editors for fixing the name,glad I got the right one,Thanks Nick for caring.
I posted the opening ad for the Show Palace from September 3rd, 1950. It was the Harlem theatre.
thank you rivest266!!!!!!!