Sliman Theater for the Performing Arts
129 E. Main Street,
New Iberia,
LA
70560
129 E. Main Street,
New Iberia,
LA
70560
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Update on sign restoration.
https://www.iberianet.com/news/theater-sign-restored-to-glory-nearly/article_d22c02a0-d871-11ea-aff3-63be8b11c88f.html?fbclid=IwAR2ogM1gcpKhBNcUf2WZ8SdOv77sCFQ3EVgRj5mJa3eHS4-D6Ep4lP1DF4w
Sign removal for restoration.
https://www.katc.com/news/local-news/iberia-parish/iconic-piece-of-new-iberia-main-street-being-restored-to-original-glory?fbclid=IwAR3wrtzp05R-K5Wmy25K77ji98RtWiHafq267FQ-E-wKwxpVJX6FIw5Xpbo
One film in the current Lifetime Christmas movie series, “Christmas in Louisiana”, purports to be in New Iberia. A number of scenes in the film actually include various views of the exterior of this theater.
The tall blade sign of this theater is prominently featured in the opening scenes of the 2009 film “In the Electric Mist.”
Some history from this website:
http://www.cityofnewiberia.com/site402.php
The Evangeline Theater started its life as a wholesale grocery building in the late nineteenth or twentieth century. Remodeled for a movie house in 1929, the building gained its current Art Deco façade and other characteristics during a 1939/40 renovation. The two story brick building’s façade is clad in stucco and pigmented structural glass.
The Sliman family donated this theater to the City of New Iberia in 1994. State Representative Bo Ackal initiated efforts to acquire funding to preserve this “Art Deco” gem and restore it to its useful purpose for the community. As a result of these efforts, the City received a State Capital Outlay Grant in 1995 for the proposed project and work began in 1997. The doors of The Sliman Theater for Performing Arts opened in 1998, since then the theater has established itself as a quality venue for performance art.
It’s nice to see that some people still donate to worthy causes. Now the city has a live venue for generations to come if they can maintain it.
Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook; 1941 edition as the Evangeline Theater with 600 seats.