Platte Theatre

The new-build Evangeline Theatre launched July 12, 1930 with Will Rogers in “They Had to See Paris”. The theatre had been built with plans to name it the Bailey Theatre but changed its name to the parish in which Ville Platte is located. The theatre went out of business on July 25, 1931 with financial issues. It was reopened in 1931 but closed in July of 1932 with the theatre equipment repossessed.

Under new operators, the theatre reopened on February 4, 1933 as the Roxy Theatre with Ralph Bellamy in “Below the Sea”. The Roxy Theatre appears to have closed November 1, 1933. In March 1935 it was reopened as the Joy Theatre but closed withing a year.

Emile Tate launched the Tate Theatre in September of 1940. Because that times out with the end of a 10-year leasing cycle of the Evangeline Theatre, it is assumed that the Tate Theatre was located in this same building (apologies if not correct). The Tate Theatre closed not long into its run but was opened from 1942 to 1944 during World War II.

Southern Amusement, which operated the competing Bailey Theatre, purchased the Tate Theatre and renamed it the Platte Theatre in 1945. The Platte Theatre stopped showing films there late in 1948.

The New Platte Theatre (which has its own page on Cinema treasures) launched at 146 E. Main Street in June of 1949 and an official grand reopening on July 1, 1949. That theatre was in operation through 1973 before becoming home to an electrical service shop.

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