Oakwood Cinema IV
197 Westbank Expressway,
Gretna,
LA
70056
197 Westbank Expressway,
Gretna,
LA
70056
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It closed in 1990 a later they demolished the cinema to make room for the mall’s expansion.
The band is the John Ehret Patriots, many parades either lined up and started or ended at oakwood during Mardi Graw back then. I can’t be specific about which parade or exactly what year, but its after its expansion to four screens so I would say sometime in the early to mid 80’s. I remember seeing a lot of great movies there.
The large auditorium, the left one was divided in 1975. I started working there in the summer, not long after the work was completed. When the cold weather came, we found out that the contractors had neglected to reconnect the heating system. It was a fun job.
I used to go to this theater as a child. I remember it being located off of Holmes Blvd., back when Dillards was still D.H. Holmes. This theater sat right next to Chi Chi’s mexican restaurant. That was a good place. I saw Superman & Star Wars here. I remember the screen was always blue before the movie started. Does anybody know the school band that’s in the photo above? It looks like my elementary school band’s uniform (Aurora Gardens Academy, which is now torn down, like everything else in Algiers). Great memories.
It became a 4-plex in late 1980/early 1981, closed in 1990.
This opened on August 4th, 1967 along with the Lakeside Cinema. The grand opening ad has been posted here.
Thanks Bob.
PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:
197 WESTBANK EXPRESSWAY, GRETNA, LA 70056
That’s a better address than Oakwood Shopping Center, New Orleans, because it’s not in New Orleans. I’ve been in Gretna many times being at the close by U.S. Naval Support Activity in Algiers and the U.S. Naval Air Station JRB New Orleans in Belle Chasse. They are all across the Mississippi from New Orleans. I ought to know, I took the ferry lots of times to get across the river to New Orleans. I got a lot of “sea duty” that way.
I know it was open in 1967 as Oakwood I & II owned by General Cinema Corp.
~Late 1970’s 3 screens approximate?
~Early 1980’s 4 screens approximate?
~Early 1990’s closed approximate? Michael Coate or anyone else is welcome to verify and come up with exact dates. See all the extra typing I have to do Michael, and I’m not a good typist?
Anyone have more info or photos?
Mike Rogers, your Skyway/Skyland Drive-In in Anderson, SC was deleted because it was alredy on CT.
Chief Jensen
This was a triplex by the timeframe described in the intro write-up. Its location may have been in Gretna.