Ritz Theatre
117 N. Commerce Street,
Natchez,
MS
39120
117 N. Commerce Street,
Natchez,
MS
39120
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Interior and exterior photos from 2012 here: http://opacity.us/site242_ritz_theater.htm
Plenty of RCA and Ballantyne equipment left in the projection room!
Here’s a photo I took back in April of 2010.. Enjoy!
RAC Photography
Aerial shot shows the back part of the roof gone. Sad.. ..
Randy A Carlisle Historical Photographer
I agree with FredSliman on the closing date. I worked for Gulf States Theatres in the 70’s, which operated the Clarke Theatre. During the early 70’s only the Clarke and Trace Town Twin (Why is that theatre not listed) were operating in the town. The Ritz was gone by 1971.
I was able to enter through the back a little way in this past April and waynebeau23 is correct: the floor had apparently fallen through to the basement area and the roof is long gone. Though some have stated that the theatre operated into the 70s or even 80s, the last trace of it in papers or phone books are 1968, closing shortly before the Baker Grand in downtown Natchez and leaving the Clarke the only downtowner til its 1980 closing.
To Chuck 1231. It is still there at this location you mention. Well, the front and the shell of the building
is, anyway!
I went around to the back of the Ritz building awhile back and am sad to report that there is no roof on it and nothing is left between the walls. (There is not even a floor as best I could see when looking through the cracks in the fence surrounding the building.) I understand that the location will never be a theatre again but that it’s possible that a restaurant could be build there from the ground up while keeping what’s left of the restored facade intact. Here’s hoping for at least that with help & thanks donations and the assistance of The Historic Natchez Foundation.
In watching for blogs about Natchez I came across your bit about the Ritz Theatre. The theatre is being renovated, and the facade is looking quite a bit better now. I took some shots of it today, one of which is on our NatchezMS.com website at http://www.natchezms.com/img/ritztheatre.jpg
The damage to the roof actually started quite a while before the ‘98 tornado (sorry, the “weather service” called it a “straight-line wind.”)
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/333alw
I was rewatching “The Ladykillers” (w/Tom Hanks) and noticed this theatre all in disrepair as the leading lady walked through town twice. Saw the location at the end as being Natchez, MS and lo and behold, found it on CT.
A 1998 photograph of the abandonded Ritz Theatre:
http://flickr.com/photos/gilesbooth/85773313/
A recent (2005) picture of the Ritz:
http://rushcreekeditions.com/lfop/