Grand Theatre

The Grand Theatre became just the eighth theatre owned and operated by an African-American in the United States at the time of its opening in 1946. Dr. A.H. McCoy built the Grand Theatre as a neighborhood movie house during World War II. The project was unveiled in 1944 and required that McCoy appear before the War Production Board to argue that the theatre was necessary to the War effort.

The 520-seat theatre was still delayed not opening until November 1, 1946 after being completed by contractor M.C. Dozier. The $21,000 Grand Theatre was nondescript but was in a building that housed the busy DeLuxe Barber Shop, the Lynch Street Ice Cream Store, and the Chambliss Shoe Shop. McCoy would sell the Grand Theatre and the Ritz Theatre also in Jackson to new operators in July of 1949 reducing the number of African American owned and operated theatres in the United States to just six.

The Grand Theatre was sold to Associated Theatres which converted the venue to widescreen in 1955 for the purpose of presenting CinemaScope films. It ceased operations during the 1960’s and became a nightclub in 1967/1968. As of the 2020’s, the building was still standing though appeared to be vacant for a prolonged period.

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