Ritz Theater

Oxford, MS 38655

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m00se1111
m00se1111 on September 30, 2026 at 10:28 am

Someone called John Colfield posted on his FB page that the Ritz opened up Oct 27, 1936.

https://www.facebook.com/JohnCofieldOxford/posts/oxford-mississippi-the-ritz-on-van-buren-opened-on-oct-27-1936-oxford-eagle-ad/807364958986283/

It was located on VanBuren Avenue.

There’s no website for the Ritz Condos, but the address (according to a search) shows that the address for these condos to be 921 Van Buren Ave, Oxford MS 38655. Therefore it’s plausable that the theatres address was the same.

Darren_Snow
Darren_Snow on September 26, 2026 at 9:33 am

The Ritz is still standing in 2026, but it’s barely recognizable. It was gutted and turned into condominiums, and the marquee is gone.

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on April 8, 2021 at 10:07 am

According to an article in the Oxford Eagle, quoted in the June 25, 1955 issue of Boxoffice, the Ritz opened in 1936.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on August 23, 2010 at 4:37 pm

I second what Don wrote.More great stories from Allen.

ahollis
ahollis on September 24, 2008 at 11:39 am

My fond memories of The Ritz Theatre are early to middle 70’s only. As a student at Ole Miss this was one of three theatres in town. The others being Cinema 6, a one screen theatre located on Hwy 6, and The Rebel Drive-In. Cinema 6 played the first class films such as “Blazing Saddles”, “Kelly’s Heroes”, and “The Towering Inferno.” The Ritz was the one that played the films every immature college dude wanted to see. I remember standing in line for “Wilber and the Baby Factory”, “Midnight Plowboy”, “The Pig Keepers Daughter, and the great “The Stewardesses In 3D.” I do remember seeing the excellent film “Lady Sings the Blues” at this theatre and several other good films. All the theatres in town were operated by Martin Theatres, which eventually became Carmike. The City Manager always had a good time promoting the films at the Ritz, which I especially remember the Miss Baby Factory Contest for Wilber.

As time moved forward, and Cinemark opened a four-plex at the then new Oxford Mall, the Ritz Theatre along with the Cinema 6 (by then a twin theatre and just called Cinema Twin) was closed. The Rebel Drive-In was long gone. I believe this was around 1983 or 84. The four â€"plex is now the Oxford Studio Cinema.