Ritz Civic Center
306 W. Main Street,
Blytheville,
AR
72315
306 W. Main Street,
Blytheville,
AR
72315
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Originally opened in the early-1900’s as an opera house, the Ritz Theatre was remodeled in 1936 to the plans of architect Uzzell S. Branson. It gained its current late-Streamline Moderne style in 1951. In the early-1990’s, the Ritz Theatre was restored to its 1951 appearance, and today functions as a venue for live entertainment, as well as movies. The Ritz Theatre, now the Ritz Civic Center, is also home to the Arts Council with displays in the theatre’s lobby area.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
There is no plain Main St it is either E. Main or W. Main, the theatre is listed at 306 W. Main as previously noted.
Two blocks east of the Ritz there was a Gem theatre at 124 W. Main, anyone have information on the Gem?
Come to find out there was another theatre called the Roxy at 108 W. Main St. also, anyone have info on the Roxy so it can be added to CT? The address would put it in the same block as the Gem but across the street.
I was about to write up the Roxy and add it until I came across something interesting. See the Home Theater listing for what I found.
I understand what your saying LM, the Roxy/Home are the same theatre.
All we need to find out now is the name of the theatre located on So. Broadway. The archives that I went through didn’t mention the Roxy but gave a Home Theatre on S. Bdway. But in any case not destroyed by fire.
Here is an older photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ltb42g
Google search for Ritz? LOL
This is one result of a Google search for Ritz Theater. :)
I grew up in Blytheville and I worked for the RGR theater chain while attending high school in the 1960s. During the 1950’s the town had 5 theaters. The Mox on West Main st was a second run theater operated by Mr. Moxley, the Ritz was about the 500 block of Main and was the premier theater, the Gem was a second run theater located at the corner of Main and Broadway and the Roxy was on East Main St. We had another called the Savoy which was a colored theater… By the time I worked in the movies in 1960 the Mox and Gem were closed. I think the Gem may have been the “Home” theater at one time. The lease on the Roxy was allowed to expire and the theater was run for awhile by the building’s owner Mr. Simon. The Ritz burned in 1949 or 1950 and I remember the opening night of the rebuilt Ritz (Feb 1951) We had high school bands, search lights and the movie star Ward Bond attended. The marquee loads of neon including chase red, blue and green tubes. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the excitement.
Opening night at the Ritz (Three Guys Named Mike) with photos, plus article on the theatre from Boxoffice magazine, March 19, 1951:
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