Tower Theater
122 Huey P. Long Avenue,
Gretna,
LA
70053
122 Huey P. Long Avenue,
Gretna,
LA
70053
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: United Theaters Inc.
Architects: Andrew M. Lockett Jr.
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Tower Art Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located ½ block from the Mississippi River in downtown Gretna. The Tower Theater was opened by the Berenson Brothers on July 30, 1942 with Sabu in “The Jungle Book”. Hurricane Betsy on August 27, 1965 caused the lower part of the orchestra level of seating was roped off due to being flooded, but the theatre remained open. In May 1968 it went over to screening adult movies as the Tower Art Theatre. It closed on December 31, 1973 with Zita Marlowe in “Meeting on 69th Street” & “Eddy”. It reopened on January 16, 1974 as a $1 discount double feature house which lasted 1 month closing on February 14, 1974. New operators Gay Times Inc. took over on July 31, 1974 operating as an adult film center which closed on December 8, 1974.
The building was given to to city and they demolished it in 1977.
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grassy
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Berenson Brothers Circuit contracted with Architect Andrew M. Lockett, Jr. who designed the Tower Theatre in 1941. The streamline moderne venue opened with 1,100 seats on July 30, 1942 with Sabu in “The Jungle Book.” It featured a balcony for African American customers. Gretna Mayor Charles F. Gelbke welcomed the full house. It would later become a part of the United Theatres Circuit.
An April 18, 1968 grand reopening as the Tower Art Theatre came and went after the City Council misunderstood the programming endeavors as adult. So that opening didn’t take place until May of 1968. The Tower Art closed with Zita Marlowe in “Meeting on 69th Street” and “Eddy” on December 31, 1973.
It reopened on January 16, 1974 as a discount, double-feature $1 house with “Naked Angels” and “The Walking Major” open four days a week. That policy lasted one month closing February 14, 1974. Gay Times Inc. was next up to open the venue as an Adult film center on July 31, 1974 through December 8, 1974. The building was given to the City as it was trying to rid the city of pornography. And they had it bulldozed in 1977