Roxy Theatre

The Royal Theatre was the primary 1920’s silent era theatre of Quitman. John E. Hatcher was launched with a naming contest on April 10, 1920 and the film “Square Deal Sanderson” with Wm. S. Hart supported by the Fatty Arbuckle comedy, “Good Night, Nurse”, the Mutt & Jeff animated short, “Look Pleasant, Please”, and a live six-piece orchestra. The main floor was reserved for White patrons and the balcony had seating for persons of color with a separate entrance.

The Royal Theatre was purchased by J.M. Frye in 1922 and by J.C. Reddoch in 1924. Reddoch kept the theatre silent into 1930 operating four days a week and apparently sharing the space with the local Masonic Lodge. Reddoch programmed live vaudeville and played silent films including silent versions of Warner Bros. early Vitagraph sound releases. Reddoch sold the theatre in May of 1930 to the McNeill Brothers - Sam and Walter. The McNeils would build a new theatre next to the Quitman Mercantile Building (later Blair Brothers apartment Store).

While the McNeils awaited completion of their new Majestic Theatre on Main Street, they installed a sound system in the Royal Theatre and renamed the venue as the Majestic beginning on June 13, 1930 with Richard Arlen in the Vitaphone talkie, “Burning Up” supported by a short listed as, “College Darm”. The ‘old’ Majestic Theatre former Royal Theatre closed on August 23, 1930 with “The Devil’s Holiday”. The equipment was then moved to the New Majestic Theatre for its August 27, 1930 grand opening (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures)

The theatre was given one last shot as a move house reopening in June of 1951 as the Roxy Theatre by the operators of the Majestic Theatre. Based on little information, the Roxy Theatre may have become an African American theatre operating from 1952 to 1956 or may have just been discontinued after a year of use.

Sellers Furniture took over the Roxy Theatre relocating their Church Street retail operation there in 1958. On April 29, 1977, the former Royal/Roxy/Masonic Lodge turned Sellers Furniture Furniture & Appliance plus the Sellers Washateria were destroyed. The building was replaced by a new home for Sellers.

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