Famous Theatre
1538 Marigny Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70117
1538 Marigny Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70117
1 person
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The Famous Theater originally was built in 1913 and stood on Marigny Street near Claiborne Avenue. The theater was later demolished and rebuilt in 1926. It sat over 1500 (though seating in 1945, according to the Film Daily Yearbook from that year, was reduced to 1000).
After turning to Spanish-language movies in the 70s, it was later converted into a nightclub before closing. The Famous was demolished in the early 90s to make way for a parking lot.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
Ewing,
I hope my description of your grandfather’s theatre is pretty accurate. I really liked going there. My grandmother won a dance contest there in the 20’s doing the Charleston and the Big Apple.
Yes, your description was very accurate. I’m sure your memories of the Famous are probably better than mine. My grandfather died on my 8th birthday, but the Famous was a hugh part of our lives — it was the family business. I was very happy to read that it still held such wonderful memories for you. My grandfather loved it very much. Thank you for writing such a wonderful piece on it. It brought back a lot of memories for me.
Back in the sixties, when we lived in the neighborhood, my brother and I and all of our cousins would walk to the Famous Theater on a Saturday, armed with six RC Cola bottle caps each, to get into the Saturday Matinee for free. Not only did the bottle caps pay our way in, but we got a ticket as we entered for the prize drawing during intermission! My ticket was picked once, and I was able to go up onto the stage and choose my prize: a large inflated rubber ball. We loved that theater, and I cried when it was finally torn down. Whenever I pass that ugly corner now, I imagine the Famous still standing there. Thank you so much for adding the history here.
The Famous Theatre was playing “GODZILLA ON MONSTER ISLAND” rated G plus a second hit “BLOOD ON THE SUN” admission $1.00 and fifty cents for kids.
How Famous was the FAMOUS THEATRE?
It was popular with locals with low admission prices even for the 70’s.
Announcing a book about New Orleans Movie Theaters
THEREâ€\S ONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
The History of the Neighborhood Theaters in New Orleans
is being written by 89-year-old Rene Brunet, the dean of the motion picture industry in Louisiana, and New Orleans historian and preservationist Jack Stewart. The 160-page,coffee table book will be released in November and is being published by Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc. Attention will be focused on 50 major neighborhood and downtown theaters, culled from a list of nearly 250 that have dotted the cityâ€\s landscape since the first “nickelodeon†opened in 1896 at 626 Canal Street. The book will be divided by neighborhoods and will open with a map and a narrative about each area. Each major theater will feature “then and now†photographs, historic information, and a short series of quotes from famous New Orleanians and from regular citizens who will share their recollections.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
We are trying to acquire memorabilia and additional photos of this theater for this publication. (deadline July 1.) You will be credited in the book and receive a free autographed copy if we publish the picture that you supply. Please contact Arthur Hardy at or call 504-913-1563 if you can help.
From Boxoffice ,June 1992.The Famous Theatre burned down March 15.A case of suspected Arson.Rene Brunet ran it until 1972 when it was sold and became the FAMOUS DISCO, The building had been vacant since 1991.
what radio station brodcast @ the famous diso in the 1980’s ?
For a time in the 1980s, this was a disco.