Cinema Theatre

215 E. Tennessee Street,
Florence, AL 35630

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Crescent Amusement Co.

Styles: Spanish Renaissance

Previous Names: Princess Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Princess Theater

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. By 1941 it was operated by Muscle Shoals Theatres, a subsidiary of the Nashville, TN. based Crescent Amusement Co.

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

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 26, 2009 at 8:14 pm

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.

SethG
SethG on January 27, 2022 at 11:22 am

Definitely needs to be listed as demolished. Looks like the church put up that ugly addition sometime right after the theater closed, judging by the architecture.

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