Don Theatre

1411 26th Avenue,
Gulfport, MS 39501

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Royal Theatre

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The first ad and program for the new Don Theatre, formerly the Royal Theatre from September 3, 1949.

The Royal Theatre was opened in 1940. It was a small theatre with stadium seating and no balcony. It was a second run house and played double features.

Later renamed Don Theatre, its marquee was silver aluminum with the name spelled out in red letters and neon. Its box office was round, aluminum and glass, that sat in the middle of the entrance and just large enough for the cashier.

The Don Theatre was closed in 1957, and was demolished in 1960.

Contributed by Wayne Saucier

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

wsaucier
wsaucier on May 10, 2009 at 3:10 pm

The Don Theatre was located at 411 26th Avenue in downtown Gulfport. It opened about 1940 as the Royal Theatre.

wsaucier
wsaucier on May 24, 2010 at 9:06 pm

Chuck1231, you are correct. The address was 1411 26th Avenue. The site is now located in the middle of a parking garage and bank that took over that entire block between 26th and 27th Avenues.

wsaucier
wsaucier on September 29, 2012 at 8:09 pm

The Royal opened at 1 pm on Monday May 6, 1940, and seated 498. The opening feature was Deanna Durbin in the Univesal Picture “It’s A Date”, along with a newsreel and cartoon.

wsaucier
wsaucier on September 29, 2012 at 8:49 pm

The Royal Theatre closed and reopened on September 3, 1949 as the Don Theatre after under going some remodeling and marquee changes. The opening picture for the new Don Theatre was a late show at 10 pm on September 3rd. The opening feature was the James Stewart and June Allyson picture “The Stratton Story”.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 2, 2013 at 4:12 pm

May 6th, 1940 grand opening ad for Royal uploaded here.

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