Liberty Theatre

Joe Vogel on April 22, 2014 at 11:34 pm

The Arkansas Historical Society magazine cited in the introduction was mistaken about the location of the Park Hill Theatre, which was a few miles north of the Liberty. The Liberty Theatre was built in 1940. It is mentioned three times in issue of The Film Daily late that year. This item is from the November 8 issue:

“Little Rock, Ark.— C. C. Mundo, owner of the Rex, will open a new 300-seat house, the Liberty, at 313 Main St. in December. RCA sound will be installed.”

This is what the December 6 issue said:

“C. C. Mundo is going to manage the new Liberty Theater which E. W. Pickthome, prexy of Central Amusement Co., and his colleagues are building in North Little Rock, Ark.”

The Liberty had apparently opened by the time this item was published on December 20:

“Torch Is Held High

“North Little Rock, Ark.— C. C. Mundo, owner of the Rex in Little Rock, and general manager of the new Liberty Theater here, has not only given latter house a patriotic name but has symbolized ‘Liberty’ via a flaming red torch built on the center section of the marquee. The device is a constant reminder to the community of what Americans must defend in a topsy-turvy world.”

A photo of the Liberty Theatre, and two showing the front of the older and more elaborate Rialto Theatre a block away, can be seen on this web page. The rather plain Liberty looks as though it had been installed in an existing building.