Moss Point Cinema
520 Main Street,
Moss Point,
MS
39563
520 Main Street,
Moss Point,
MS
39563
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Lloyd Royal launched his 600-seat Royal Theatre at what was once 520 Main Street in Moss Point on August 1, 1963 with “Savage Sam.” It wouldn’t be long-lasting. However, with a new operator came a second chance with the venue reopening with Walt Disney’s “Wild Country” and “Bongo” on March 31, 1971. The Royal promised “G” rated fare each weekend.
That’s not what the folks of Moss Point wanted either. So new operators rebranded the venue as the Moss Point Cinema in 1973 and they went heavy in double features of Blaxploitation and Chopsocky films in the mid and late 1970s. Black Ceasar, Wattstax, Coffy, Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off, The Mack, Cleopatra Jones, Detroit 9000… these were just some of the opening titles. In 1974, Gulf States took on the venue keeping the Blaxploitation and Chopsocky programming going. But the fun lasted only until November of 1978 when the theatre closed permanently likely at the opt out at the end of a 15-year leasing agreement.
The theatre did not close until around 1979, very soon after Hurricane Frederick. When Gulf States Theatre merged with Royal Theatres out of Merdian, this theatre was renamed The Moss Point Cinema. There was a very kind and nice lady named Mrs. Bemer that managed the theatre and kept all in order.
The theatre was a prefab construction with metal siding. During the last years of it’s life, it was an urban action house and did very well with that programing. I believe that the theatre was converted into an Auto Parts store and was not demolished.