This is a photo of Chef Hwy in the early 50’s with the Skyvue marquee far off on the right.
Each time you click on the pic, it will zoom in. http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/u?/CLF,8329
Another Tiger photo, this one from before Hurricane Betsy. Not the best photo, but you can see the large vertical sign on the front of the building: View link
Here’s a couple of Pitt Theatre photos…more to come as soon as I locate them:
Glowing neon: View link
Neon under marquee and entrance: View link
By the way, Pittman also built and operated a Pitt Theatre in Lake Charles, La.
Here are some Tiger Theatre photos:
Front of the theatre after it closed, at bottom of balcony looking at screen, and at bottom of the balcony looking at projection booth: View link
Here’s some Tiger Tickets: View link
And a 1974 photo from the days when it was the Riget: View link
Here’s some Paris Theatre photos:
The front of the theatre taken in about 1986: View link
Posters in the lobby probably about 1982: View link
And an ad probably from the late 70’s for the Paris & Cine' Royale: View link
Here’s some more Coliseum photos:
The projection booth, taken in 1975 while I was working there: View link
and the neon celling light fixtures that had deep blue & green neon: View link
Hi Don:
The Walgreens at 900 Canal St. did get damaged in the hurricane, but from what a relative who still lives in New Orleans tells me, it’s back open, and all of the nostalgic neon sign is lit again.
Here is a link to a photo of the Cine' Royale in the late 70’s. View link
The St. Bernard Drive-In was owned by George Wiltse, a retired sound tech, and Deacon Bell. According to the newspaper article from the Times Picayune when the theatre closed, it had only one manager, Bob Ricourd, from the day it opened in 1949 until it closed in January 1982.
The original screen of this theatre had animated neon on the side facing the street, but it was blown down in 1965 during Hurricane Betsy, and was replaced.
Bob’s wife, Mary, managed the concession of the St. Bernard, and that snack bar was spotless. I recall seeing the staff wiping the painted cinderblock walls down inside of the snack bar after the theatre closed. When you ordered a burger at the St. Bernard, it was cooked fresh no matter how busy the theatre was.
I worked releif projection at this theatre…vacations and an occasional day off for the full time projectionist. The very last time I went to the St. Bernard, I bought a ticket to see “For Your Eyes Only”. I parked near the projection booth to see who was going to be projecting. At showtime, no projectionist had arrived. I saw Mrs. Mary come out of the snack bar, and head toward Mr. Bob’s office. I jumped out of my car and called her. She said “Your’re late!”. I said, “No I bought a ticket, but I’ll get the show going for you”. I ran the first 4 or so reels until the projectionist who was caught in traffic arrived. To this day, I’ve not seen “For Your Eyes Only”, but I had a ball at the drive-in that night!!!!
This is a photo of Chef Hwy in the early 50’s with the Skyvue marquee far off on the right.
Each time you click on the pic, it will zoom in.
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/u?/CLF,8329
Here’s a very nice photo of the Center:
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/u?/CLF,6009
Here is another photo of the Pitt probably from the early 50’s.
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/u?/CLF,8396
Although not the best view, the Lakeview Theatre can be seen on the left in this photo:
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/u?/CLF,8643
Here’s an ad from 1963 when this theatre was called the Gentilly Art:
View link
Here’s an ad for the Tiger and Pitt (sister theatres) from 1963:
View link
Here’s an ad for the Pitt and Tiger (sister theatres) from 1963:
View link
Here’s an ad for a the Center Theatre in 1963:
View link
Here’s an ad for a movie playing at the Airline in 1963:
View link
Here’s an ad for a movie playing at the Coliseum and other theatres in 1963:
View link
Here’s an ad for a movie playing at the Do and other theatres from 1963:
View link
Here’s an ad for a movie playing at the Jeff Drive-In, and other theatres from 1963:
View link
This is a photo of the original Skyvue marquee. It was destroyed in a storm in 1968, if my memory serves me correctly.
View link
Another Tiger photo, this one from before Hurricane Betsy. Not the best photo, but you can see the large vertical sign on the front of the building:
View link
Here’s a couple of Pitt Theatre photos…more to come as soon as I locate them:
Glowing neon:
View link
Neon under marquee and entrance:
View link
By the way, Pittman also built and operated a Pitt Theatre in Lake Charles, La.
Wanna go to the St. Bernard drive-in? Here’s a couple of tickets:
View link
Here’s a couple of Jeff Drive-In photos:
View link
and:
View link
Here are some Tiger Theatre photos:
Front of the theatre after it closed, at bottom of balcony looking at screen, and at bottom of the balcony looking at projection booth:
View link
Here’s some Tiger Tickets:
View link
And a 1974 photo from the days when it was the Riget:
View link
Here’s some Paris Theatre photos:
The front of the theatre taken in about 1986:
View link
Posters in the lobby probably about 1982:
View link
And an ad probably from the late 70’s for the Paris & Cine' Royale:
View link
Here’s some more Coliseum photos:
The projection booth, taken in 1975 while I was working there:
View link
and the neon celling light fixtures that had deep blue & green neon:
View link
This is a city archive photo from April 11, 1968 of firefightere fighting a fire at the theatre.
View link
Here is a photo of Al Viola in front of the Coliseum box-office in the 70’s pointing to his low admission prices.
View link
Hi Don:
The Walgreens at 900 Canal St. did get damaged in the hurricane, but from what a relative who still lives in New Orleans tells me, it’s back open, and all of the nostalgic neon sign is lit again.
Here is a link to a photo of the Cine' Royale in the late 70’s.
View link
Here is a photo of the Coliseum Theatre from 1975, showing a classic double feature. Photo by Joe Grillot.
View link
The St. Bernard Drive-In was owned by George Wiltse, a retired sound tech, and Deacon Bell. According to the newspaper article from the Times Picayune when the theatre closed, it had only one manager, Bob Ricourd, from the day it opened in 1949 until it closed in January 1982.
The original screen of this theatre had animated neon on the side facing the street, but it was blown down in 1965 during Hurricane Betsy, and was replaced.
Bob’s wife, Mary, managed the concession of the St. Bernard, and that snack bar was spotless. I recall seeing the staff wiping the painted cinderblock walls down inside of the snack bar after the theatre closed. When you ordered a burger at the St. Bernard, it was cooked fresh no matter how busy the theatre was.
I worked releif projection at this theatre…vacations and an occasional day off for the full time projectionist. The very last time I went to the St. Bernard, I bought a ticket to see “For Your Eyes Only”. I parked near the projection booth to see who was going to be projecting. At showtime, no projectionist had arrived. I saw Mrs. Mary come out of the snack bar, and head toward Mr. Bob’s office. I jumped out of my car and called her. She said “Your’re late!”. I said, “No I bought a ticket, but I’ll get the show going for you”. I ran the first 4 or so reels until the projectionist who was caught in traffic arrived. To this day, I’ve not seen “For Your Eyes Only”, but I had a ball at the drive-in that night!!!!