There are two Strand Theatres in Jennings, and this was the second one.
The second Strand Theatre opened its doors on July 12, 1939 with Bing Crosby in “East Side Of Heaven” along with the Barney Bear cartoon “The Bear That Couldn’t Sleep” and the MGM News Of The Day newsreel, which contains highlights of the U.S. Army testing machinery into the fog which include shots of an eight-inch railway gun ejected a projectile into the Chesapeake Bay, and a 600-pound bomb being dropped on an abandoned barn. What’s very strange about the grand opening advertisement is that the cartoon is listed as a Captain And The Kids cartoon for some weird reason, but it was just a plain MGM cartoon before Barney Bear received stardom.
The Strand Theatre originally housed 575 seats, with 375 seats in the orchestra pit and 200 seats for the colored in the balcony, and the entire auditorium measures 47x120ft. The original draperies were plum-colored and a second curtain was also used as well. There are four fire exits, with two in the rear and two in the front, as well as a fire escape secret for the colored. The projection booth is fireproof with devices which keeps the pictures on the screen from vibrating and fireproof shutters covers the windows throughout while the film was projected on the screen. Those shutters also automatically close whenever the temperature gets through triple digits. The rest is theater safety sealed. The projection also featured installations of giant multi-cellular loudspeakers that was installed by RCA Victor engineers.
I think they called it ABC just because of the first three letters of the alphabet. Its nothing related to the American Broadcasting Company or local businesses that were named ABC.
Opened with Louis Calhern in “Two Weeks From Love” and Dick Powell in “Right Cross” along with a fireworks show. Otherwise, unknown if any extras added. It was closed in 1957, and demolished right afterward.
This started life as the Riverlands Cinema I & II. One of its auditoriums has eight-track quadrophonic sound with a grand total of 74 speakers inside that auditorium. Unfortunately the Riverlands Cinema did receive a short closure in July 1981 because of lease disagreements. Owner Edgar Roussel immediately planned to build another movie theater elsewhere in LaPlace.
WRNO Theatres, named after then-rock station WRNO-FM in New Orleans (now a news/talk station), took over the theater, and the twin-screener reopened its doors as the LaPlace Twin Cinemas on January 21, 1982 with “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” in Screen 1 and “Neighbors” in Screen 2.
During its final years as a movie theater, Gulf States Theatres was its last operator. In September 1977, the Delta shifted its schedule to weekends and Mondays only. The Delta closed as a movie theater by the end of that year.
The actual opening date is February 5, 1947 with Van Johnson in “Till The Clouds Roll By” (unknown if extras added). The original seats are 32 inches from back-to-back and 20 inches from side-to-side.
Opened on September 1, 1949 with Sonja Henie in “Countess Of Monte Carlo” along with an unnamed musical short and an unnamed cartoon. It was still open in 1978.
The Joy Theatre launched on August 28, 1934 with Constance Bennett in “Moulin Rouge” and Bing Crosby in “I Surrender Dear” along with a Fox Movietone Newsreel. It was closed as a movie theater in mid-1965 but continued to operate as a music venue for another additional few more months.
Yeah, I forgot to do just that so I apologized. Special credit to the original guy who took this wonderful shot of the original GCC scheme. Thanks for the reminder Mr. Neff!
The Avalon Theatre was fully rebuilt in August 2021 under the original Avalon Theatre name. It had a soft reopening in May 2022, and officially reopened in August 2022. Its current functions are performing arts, classic films, first-run films, and special events.
Operating as early as 1921.
Opened on December 18, 1934.
Opened on September 15, 1938 with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Carefree” along with a few unnamed shorts and a newsreel.
There are two Strand Theatres in Jennings, and this was the second one.
The second Strand Theatre opened its doors on July 12, 1939 with Bing Crosby in “East Side Of Heaven” along with the Barney Bear cartoon “The Bear That Couldn’t Sleep” and the MGM News Of The Day newsreel, which contains highlights of the U.S. Army testing machinery into the fog which include shots of an eight-inch railway gun ejected a projectile into the Chesapeake Bay, and a 600-pound bomb being dropped on an abandoned barn. What’s very strange about the grand opening advertisement is that the cartoon is listed as a Captain And The Kids cartoon for some weird reason, but it was just a plain MGM cartoon before Barney Bear received stardom.
The Strand Theatre originally housed 575 seats, with 375 seats in the orchestra pit and 200 seats for the colored in the balcony, and the entire auditorium measures 47x120ft. The original draperies were plum-colored and a second curtain was also used as well. There are four fire exits, with two in the rear and two in the front, as well as a fire escape secret for the colored. The projection booth is fireproof with devices which keeps the pictures on the screen from vibrating and fireproof shutters covers the windows throughout while the film was projected on the screen. Those shutters also automatically close whenever the temperature gets through triple digits. The rest is theater safety sealed. The projection also featured installations of giant multi-cellular loudspeakers that was installed by RCA Victor engineers.
Opened on June 14, 1951 with William Carter in “I’ve Always Loved You” (unknown if extras added).
I think they called it ABC just because of the first three letters of the alphabet. Its nothing related to the American Broadcasting Company or local businesses that were named ABC.
Closed as a movie theater in June 1974 because of poor business.
The Fox Theatre opened its doors on November 15, 1946, and originally housed 700 seats.
Opened with Louis Calhern in “Two Weeks From Love” and Dick Powell in “Right Cross” along with a fireworks show. Otherwise, unknown if any extras added. It was closed in 1957, and demolished right afterward.
Likely opened on April 6, 1950 with George Brent in “Red Canyon” (unknown if extras added).
Opened in either June or July 1952, closed in the mid-1960s. It was already demolished in the early-1970s.
This started life as the Riverlands Cinema I & II. One of its auditoriums has eight-track quadrophonic sound with a grand total of 74 speakers inside that auditorium. Unfortunately the Riverlands Cinema did receive a short closure in July 1981 because of lease disagreements. Owner Edgar Roussel immediately planned to build another movie theater elsewhere in LaPlace.
WRNO Theatres, named after then-rock station WRNO-FM in New Orleans (now a news/talk station), took over the theater, and the twin-screener reopened its doors as the LaPlace Twin Cinemas on January 21, 1982 with “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” in Screen 1 and “Neighbors” in Screen 2.
Functions Update: First-run films are also presented.
As early as 1952. I cannot find its grand opening advertisement though.
This opened as the Opou Theatre. It was renamed the Lou Ana Theatre on February 15, 1948, and closed in 1960.
During its final years as a movie theater, Gulf States Theatres was its last operator. In September 1977, the Delta shifted its schedule to weekends and Mondays only. The Delta closed as a movie theater by the end of that year.
Edited from my August 30, 2021 (5:30 PM) comment:
The actual opening date is February 5, 1947 with Van Johnson in “Till The Clouds Roll By” (unknown if extras added). The original seats are 32 inches from back-to-back and 20 inches from side-to-side.
Opened on September 1, 1949 with Sonja Henie in “Countess Of Monte Carlo” along with an unnamed musical short and an unnamed cartoon. It was still open in 1978.
The Joy Theatre launched on August 28, 1934 with Constance Bennett in “Moulin Rouge” and Bing Crosby in “I Surrender Dear” along with a Fox Movietone Newsreel. It was closed as a movie theater in mid-1965 but continued to operate as a music venue for another additional few more months.
Closed on September 2, 1991 with “101 Dalmatians” and “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves”.
Damn! What a plaster!!
Yeah, I forgot to do just that so I apologized. Special credit to the original guy who took this wonderful shot of the original GCC scheme. Thanks for the reminder Mr. Neff!
Closed on November 30, 1986 with “One Crazy Summer” and “Head Office”.
The actual closing date is January 12, 1991 with “Quigley Down Under” in Cabana and “Ghost” in Phase 2.
The Avalon Theatre was fully rebuilt in August 2021 under the original Avalon Theatre name. It had a soft reopening in May 2022, and officially reopened in August 2022. Its current functions are performing arts, classic films, first-run films, and special events.