Cinema Theatre
215 East Tennessee Street,
Florence,
AL
215 East Tennessee Street,
Florence,
AL
2 people
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The Princess Theatre in Florence opened on Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 1919, with a cost of $75,000 and a seating capacity of 1200. The ads referred to the theatre as the “$75,000 Opera House”. The theatre was fashioned in a Spanish motif, had a chadelier, and a cork linoleum floor.
On Monday April 13, 1925, the theatre was reopened after a remodeling and replacement of the roof. 500 balloons were thrown from the top of the theatre, each containing a pass. Professor George E. Hatch played the Wurlitzer organ for the opening that day.
On Wednesday April 30, 1958 the theatre was again remodeled and reopened as the Cinema Theatre. It had new seats and reconfigued with a total seating capacity of 700, new decorations. rest rooms, carpeting, lobby and cry room. The theatre was operated by Rosenbaum Theatres at this time, which also operated the Shoals, Tuscumbian, and Colbert Theatres at this time.
The Cinema Theatre’s last night of operation was September 24, 1966.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
This is a photo of the Princess Theater. Date given with photo is 1937.
Here is an interior view circa 1958 after the remodel.
There is a newer carpet store on the corner of Seminary and E. Tennessee, and next to that, where 215 E. Tennessee would be, a small building that bears no relation to the exterior view posted on 6/17/07. It looks like the theater was razed and a church built on part of the property.
The Florence Times reported in August of 1957, “The Princess Theatre, located at 213 East Tennessee Street in Florence, will be closed for an indefinite period as a result of an early morning fire which caused considerable damage to the ceiling and balcony in addition to smoke and water damage to the entire structure.”
That would explain why the Princess was remodeled and opened again in 1958.