Show Palace Theatre

Laney-Walker Boulevard,
Augusta, GA 30901

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Additional Info

Functions: Church

Styles: Quonset Hut

Previous Names: Harlem Theatre, Showcase Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Grand opening ad

This Quonset Hut style movie theatre was a theatre Blacks could attend and have a decent seat. There were other Negro theatres operating in Augusta in the late-1940’s (a time when Quonset style theatres were being built), for which no address’s are given, one being the Ritz Theatre which was open 1945-1948).

This theatre opened as the Harlem Theatre in 1948 and by 1952, had been renamed the Show Palace Theatre (aka Showcase Theatre), it closed in 1955.

It is still standing today as a church.

Contributed by MikeRogers

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on November 20, 2011 at 1:01 pm

Mike, If you haven’t yet searched the theatre listings on microfilm from Augusta’s major newspaper I would start there. If you have some extra time you may be able to find the name providing they advertised in the local papers. If not then this theatre’s name is destined to remain a mystery probably forever. I would began the search around 1935 and advance one year at a time from there. Good luck!

ChasSmith
ChasSmith on November 20, 2011 at 1:34 pm

Yes, try the newspapers, in addition to the other ideas offered. I found recently in researching some of the theaters in South Florida, that in the very early ‘60s, there were a few theaters whose starting times were listed under the category “Negro Theaters”.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 27, 2011 at 5:24 pm

Nick, Bill Barkley would know,I will check with him.ChasSmith thanks for the advice, when i did check Augusta major papers about a year ago, i never spotted a Black theatre in the ads not even the classy LENOX THEATRE which was black was listed.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 13, 2011 at 12:51 pm

CINEMATREASURES EDITORS…….The name of the ‘colored theatre’ was the SHOW PALACE, Plez Change the name. Thanks,.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 13, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Albert Peters was the projectionist he ended his long career at NATIONAL HILLS THEATRE in Augusta.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 13, 2011 at 12:57 pm

Thanks Bill Barkley for the info,

Nick DiMaggio
Nick DiMaggio on December 14, 2011 at 6:32 am

Mike, Thanks for checking with Bill and solving the mystery! You’d think the lady you spoke with at the Laney Museum (of all people) would surely have known the name. You can always rely on Bill Barkley for answers to just about any question on Augusta’s theatre history. Now hopefully CT’s editors will update the theatre’s real name for this page.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 20, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Thanks CT editors for fixing the name,glad I got the right one,Thanks Nick for caring.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 19, 2012 at 10:33 am

I posted the opening ad for the Show Palace from September 3rd, 1950. It was the Harlem theatre.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on February 25, 2012 at 6:06 am

thank you rivest266!!!!!!!

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