The Moonlite Drive-In opened on November 8, 1950 with “Peggy.” Taken over by Gulf States Theatre, the final night of operation turned out to be August 16, 1969 with a double feature of Alvy Moore in “The Witchmaker” and Mario Bava’s “Blood and Black Lace.” On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille destroyed the theatre.
The $60,000 drive-in was announced on a 30-year leasing agreement by Chester A. Knight in 1948. The ozoner opened to its 300-car capacity as the Gulf Coast Drive-In Theatre on May 18, 1948 with Dick Powell in “Johnny O'Clock.” Its 30x40' wood-framed screen was built by Dismuke Construction of Biloxi.
After a refresh, the theatre was doubled in size to accommodate 600 cars and became the Gulf Coast Do Drive-In Theatre in September of 1950. It then became the Do Drive-In. Though Gulf States Circuit took on operation of the Do, “Gulf Coast” was dropped from its name.
The Do Drive-In closed at the end of a 30-year lease on August 29, 1978 with Claude Brasseur in “Let’s Make A Dirty Movie” and Adam West in “The Specialist” claiming just that it was the end of season. Though negotiations for a new lease were perhaps entertained for a reopening, the Do didn’t and was done.
The original Joy Theatre in Moss Point was part of Joy Houck’s New Orleans Joy Theatre Circuit and launched on October 9, 1935 with the William A. Seiter directed film, “Orchids to You.” Within two months, fire destroyed both the theatre and the Spann-McRae Department store.
The Joy was rebuilt and relaunched as the New Joy Theatre on February 13, 1936 with Kay Francis in “I Found Stella Parish.” William M. Cook and his wife took over operation of the venue in the early 1950s equipping it for widescreen presentation of CinemaScope titles. The Joy burned down on December 31, 1958 just an hour after the final show played.
The Avenue was said to have closed January 2, 1977 due to code enforcement issues. The city essentially used eminent domain to condemn the property, order its demolition which was accompanied by a salvage sale. The property was used to make room for the Vieux Marché Mall / Shopping Center.
The Don Drive-In launches with Cornel Wilde in “Star of India” and Tony Martin in “Frontier Scout” on June 28, 1956. The Don closed gracefully with a super double feature of “Bad, Black and Beautiful” and “"Blood of the Dragon” on November 28, 1976 at the end of a 20-year lease and declining revenue. The former ozoner’s buildings were then hit by two fires in 1978 and 1979 followed by storm damage in 1985 that permanently ended things.
George W. Luce opened up his third theatre and this one was Aladdin’s Theatre in an existing space in the Harshman Building. The Aladdin appeared on August 27, 1931 with Laura La Plante in “Lonely Wives.” Just six months later, the Aladdin closed in February of 1932. On July 29, 1933, Gordon H. Cary took on the Aladdin. He equipped it with a Weber Synchrofilm Sound system for better audio fidelity and a Blizzard fan to better ventilate the venue. Its reopening film was Bob Steele in “The Fighting Champ.”
In 1940, it got a major streamline moderne makeover. On March 10, 1955, the theatre was equipped with widescreen projection to play CinemaScope titles beginning with “Knights of the Round Table.” But the combination of television and a 20% reduction in the town’s population that saw it sink to fewer than 900 residents led to the closure of the theatre. Cary closed the Aladdin on April 1, 1956 due to lack of patronage.
A new operator, Manuel Alvarez, reopened the Aladdin on August 3, 1956 with a sold-out sowing of Jack Palance in “Kiss of Fire.” But that outpouring of support was short-lived and Alvarez closed the Aladdin due to lack of patronage on December 30, 1957 with Shirley Jones in “Oklahoma!” in CinemaScope supported by a newsreel and a cartoon.
Prior to 1912, moving pictures were sporadically brought into to the town of Jet by traveling companies that furnished a generator. But that changed when a new build facility by W.E. George launched as the Wonderland Electric Theatre showing movies for a dime with a grand opening on September 12, 1912.
New operators refreshed the venue renaming it the Savoy Theatre featuring movies and a boxing vaudevillian kangaroo named “Battling Bob” Fitzsimmons, The Champion Boxing Kangaroo of the World on October 1, 1916. C.A. Hinshaw sold the venue to Roy Azbill in 1920 who closed the Savoy to extend the building and provide a better stage for vaudeville which would be programmed twice a month. Azbill’s grand opening of the Rex Theatre took place on June 10, 1920 with J. Warren Kerrigan in “Number 99.” The Rex closed April 7, 1923 with “Sylvia of the Secret Service.” The facility was retrofitted as a retail store likely on a 15-year lease.
In 1939, Nelson Smith and John Jordan took over the retail spot and relaunched it with sound as the new Rex Theatre. After the War, the town’s population decreased to under 400 residents and the advent of television posed a threat to the future of the Rex. Under operators James and Bob Henigman, the theatre got new projection and a curved screen to show CinemaScope films beginning after a refresh with “Ivanhoe” on February 18, 1954. The theatre closed April 19, 1955. The Henigmans relaunched the venue one last timein August of 1957 with theater closing permanently before year’s end.
The Pawnee Theatre neon signage was installed and ready to go but went unused when Fox bought the venue and changed its moniker to the Fox. The venue launched on November 24, 1929 with “Salute” as the Fox Theatre.
The Platte Theatre launched on the north side on May 3, 1925 with Johnny Hines in “The Early Bird” supported by a two-reel comedy, “The High Flyer” and a Pathé newsreel. On July 3, 1928, the venue under new ownership became the Alhambra Theatre.
Equipped for sound under new owners, the theatre relaunched on August 15, 1930, with Jack Oakie in “Hit the Deck” as the Luna Theatre. Taken over by Publix, the theatre was changed to the State Theatre on February 17, 1934 with Andy Devine in “Horseplay” supported by a Cubby, the Bear, cartoon, and two other short subjects. It closed as the State Theatre.
The theatre closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 for just over two months. It reopened May 29, 2020 but then closed, apparently for good, on September 15, 2020.
Cinemark closed its 9-screen discount house along with its other locations on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning in the Summer of 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed its Academy Cinemas - Pasadena 6 on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning in the Summer of 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
AMC closed its Classic Logan Valley 8 along with the rest of its locations for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. It reopened later in the year. AMC closed the location permanently in July of 2021 at the end of a 25-year lease.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed the Buenaventura 6 on March 18, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning on June 25, 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed the Towngate 8 on March 17, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning briefly in October of 2020 and then again on June 16, 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed the Norwalk 8 on March 17, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning on July 9, 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Apex Theatres Circuit closed the Village 8 on March 18, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. After having some weekend popcorns sales, the theatre reopened June 12, 2020 but closed six weeks later on July 31, 2020. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning with a grand reopening on July 1, 2021 playing sub-run discount films.
The Moonlite Drive-In opened on November 8, 1950 with “Peggy.” Taken over by Gulf States Theatre, the final night of operation turned out to be August 16, 1969 with a double feature of Alvy Moore in “The Witchmaker” and Mario Bava’s “Blood and Black Lace.” On August 17, 1969, Hurricane Camille destroyed the theatre.
The $60,000 drive-in was announced on a 30-year leasing agreement by Chester A. Knight in 1948. The ozoner opened to its 300-car capacity as the Gulf Coast Drive-In Theatre on May 18, 1948 with Dick Powell in “Johnny O'Clock.” Its 30x40' wood-framed screen was built by Dismuke Construction of Biloxi.
After a refresh, the theatre was doubled in size to accommodate 600 cars and became the Gulf Coast Do Drive-In Theatre in September of 1950. It then became the Do Drive-In. Though Gulf States Circuit took on operation of the Do, “Gulf Coast” was dropped from its name.
The Do Drive-In closed at the end of a 30-year lease on August 29, 1978 with Claude Brasseur in “Let’s Make A Dirty Movie” and Adam West in “The Specialist” claiming just that it was the end of season. Though negotiations for a new lease were perhaps entertained for a reopening, the Do didn’t and was done.
The original Joy Theatre in Moss Point was part of Joy Houck’s New Orleans Joy Theatre Circuit and launched on October 9, 1935 with the William A. Seiter directed film, “Orchids to You.” Within two months, fire destroyed both the theatre and the Spann-McRae Department store.
The Joy was rebuilt and relaunched as the New Joy Theatre on February 13, 1936 with Kay Francis in “I Found Stella Parish.” William M. Cook and his wife took over operation of the venue in the early 1950s equipping it for widescreen presentation of CinemaScope titles. The Joy burned down on December 31, 1958 just an hour after the final show played.
The Bayview Theatre launched on November 30, 1946 with Vivian Leigh in “Caesar and Cleopatra.”
The Avenue was said to have closed January 2, 1977 due to code enforcement issues. The city essentially used eminent domain to condemn the property, order its demolition which was accompanied by a salvage sale. The property was used to make room for the Vieux Marché Mall / Shopping Center.
The Don Drive-In launches with Cornel Wilde in “Star of India” and Tony Martin in “Frontier Scout” on June 28, 1956. The Don closed gracefully with a super double feature of “Bad, Black and Beautiful” and “"Blood of the Dragon” on November 28, 1976 at the end of a 20-year lease and declining revenue. The former ozoner’s buildings were then hit by two fires in 1978 and 1979 followed by storm damage in 1985 that permanently ended things.
The Don Drive-In launches with Cornel Wilde in “Star of India” and Tony Martin in “Frontier Scout” on June 28, 1956.
Great stuff… that certainly puts it on Main Street.
George W. Luce opened up his third theatre and this one was Aladdin’s Theatre in an existing space in the Harshman Building. The Aladdin appeared on August 27, 1931 with Laura La Plante in “Lonely Wives.” Just six months later, the Aladdin closed in February of 1932. On July 29, 1933, Gordon H. Cary took on the Aladdin. He equipped it with a Weber Synchrofilm Sound system for better audio fidelity and a Blizzard fan to better ventilate the venue. Its reopening film was Bob Steele in “The Fighting Champ.”
In 1940, it got a major streamline moderne makeover. On March 10, 1955, the theatre was equipped with widescreen projection to play CinemaScope titles beginning with “Knights of the Round Table.” But the combination of television and a 20% reduction in the town’s population that saw it sink to fewer than 900 residents led to the closure of the theatre. Cary closed the Aladdin on April 1, 1956 due to lack of patronage.
A new operator, Manuel Alvarez, reopened the Aladdin on August 3, 1956 with a sold-out sowing of Jack Palance in “Kiss of Fire.” But that outpouring of support was short-lived and Alvarez closed the Aladdin due to lack of patronage on December 30, 1957 with Shirley Jones in “Oklahoma!” in CinemaScope supported by a newsreel and a cartoon.
Prior to 1912, moving pictures were sporadically brought into to the town of Jet by traveling companies that furnished a generator. But that changed when a new build facility by W.E. George launched as the Wonderland Electric Theatre showing movies for a dime with a grand opening on September 12, 1912.
New operators refreshed the venue renaming it the Savoy Theatre featuring movies and a boxing vaudevillian kangaroo named “Battling Bob” Fitzsimmons, The Champion Boxing Kangaroo of the World on October 1, 1916. C.A. Hinshaw sold the venue to Roy Azbill in 1920 who closed the Savoy to extend the building and provide a better stage for vaudeville which would be programmed twice a month. Azbill’s grand opening of the Rex Theatre took place on June 10, 1920 with J. Warren Kerrigan in “Number 99.” The Rex closed April 7, 1923 with “Sylvia of the Secret Service.” The facility was retrofitted as a retail store likely on a 15-year lease.
In 1939, Nelson Smith and John Jordan took over the retail spot and relaunched it with sound as the new Rex Theatre. After the War, the town’s population decreased to under 400 residents and the advent of television posed a threat to the future of the Rex. Under operators James and Bob Henigman, the theatre got new projection and a curved screen to show CinemaScope films beginning after a refresh with “Ivanhoe” on February 18, 1954. The theatre closed April 19, 1955. The Henigmans relaunched the venue one last timein August of 1957 with theater closing permanently before year’s end.
In reorganization during bankruptcy, the circuit promised the rebirth of this location in late summer or early fall of 2021.
The Pawnee Theatre neon signage was installed and ready to go but went unused when Fox bought the venue and changed its moniker to the Fox. The venue launched on November 24, 1929 with “Salute” as the Fox Theatre.
Publix launched its Paramount Theater on April 5, 1931 with “Honor Among Lovers.”
The Platte Theatre launched on the north side on May 3, 1925 with Johnny Hines in “The Early Bird” supported by a two-reel comedy, “The High Flyer” and a Pathé newsreel. On July 3, 1928, the venue under new ownership became the Alhambra Theatre.
Equipped for sound under new owners, the theatre relaunched on August 15, 1930, with Jack Oakie in “Hit the Deck” as the Luna Theatre. Taken over by Publix, the theatre was changed to the State Theatre on February 17, 1934 with Andy Devine in “Horseplay” supported by a Cubby, the Bear, cartoon, and two other short subjects. It closed as the State Theatre.
Opened May 18, 1991 with some free preview movies. Closed at the end of a 30-year lease.
The theatre closed for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 for just over two months. It reopened May 29, 2020 but then closed, apparently for good, on September 15, 2020.
Cinemark closed its 9-screen discount house along with its other locations on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning in the Summer of 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed its Academy Cinemas - Pasadena 6 on March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning in the Summer of 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
AMC closed its Classic Logan Valley 8 along with the rest of its locations for the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. It reopened later in the year. AMC closed the location permanently in July of 2021 at the end of a 25-year lease.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed the Buenaventura 6 on March 18, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning on June 25, 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed the Towngate 8 on March 17, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning briefly in October of 2020 and then again on June 16, 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Regency Theatres Circuit closed the Norwalk 8 on March 17, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning on July 9, 2021 resuming its policy of playing sub-run discount films.
Apex Theatres Circuit closed the Village 8 on March 18, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. After having some weekend popcorns sales, the theatre reopened June 12, 2020 but closed six weeks later on July 31, 2020. The theatre bucked the trend of discount houses that closed permanently during COVID-19 by returning with a grand reopening on July 1, 2021 playing sub-run discount films.
The local newspaper reports a 1952 opening that was delayed when the screen tower collapsed at construction.
The original Gem Theatre opened in the Keller Building on February 11, 1914 in Culbertson.