Hollywood Theatre
225 Newton Street,
Gretna,
LA
70053
225 Newton Street,
Gretna,
LA
70053
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The Hollywood Theater appears to have opened on April 11, 1923 with a benefit screening. It was converted to sound to remain viable. A June 7, 1933 fire gutted the theater. Diboll & Owen (Allison Owen and Collins C. Diboll) created the architectural plans for the renewed venue for owner Edward H. Thomassle.
With the theater reopening four months later, it is assumed foundational if not structural elements of the original were in place for its reopening. Its last ad was July 1, 1951 for “Highway 301.” The building was converted to a restaurant with the upper floors remaining for apartments.
Louis A. Livaudais died in 1932, so I don’t know if he had anything to do with designing this 1933 project, but apparently the firm’s name remained unchanged. Much earlier in their careers, Favrot & Livaudais had designed the Rapides Opera House in Alexandria, Louisiana, which house was later renamed the Paramount Theatre. Charles Allen Favrot’s son, Henri Mortimer Favrot, later became a partner in the firm of Favrot & Reed, who designed at least three theaters.
The Hollywood Theatre in Gretna was completely rebuilt in 1933 after the original house was destroyed by a fire. New Orleans architects Favrot & Livaudais designed the new theater, according to the September 23, 1933, issue of Motion Picture Herald.