Ideal Theatre

When W. Joseph Fornea opened the Fornea Theatre (later the Dixie Theatre) on November 17, 1927 with seating for 650 citizens, one might have considered twice before building another theatre in the fast-growing downtown of Picayune, Mississippi, that would move from about 2,500 folks to around 4,000 people in that timeframe. But Joseph D'Antoni thought that Picayune was going to be something much, much bigger. And he went all in on a new theatre in 1928.

The D'Antoni Building was a multipurpose building that held a variety of businesses including the Ideal Cafe and Fruit Stand, the Dixie Bargain Store, the Byrd and Walker Barber Shop, Corner Drug Store, and - of course - the Ideal Theatre. To one up Fornea, capacity was established at 900 seats. Presentation of silent films with a 2Manual-6Ranks Wicks Orchestra Pipe Organ Style 65, OPUS 837 and its Oak Theatre Console would stand out. Master organist Camille Alford was brought in from New Orleans and even John Hammond’s wife was brought in on opening night. D'Antoni even poached manager Lyle Shiell from the Magic City Theatre in nearby Bogalusa, Louisiana.

At the opening of the Ideal Theatre on November 12, 1928, the Southern Pipe Organ Company president made opening remarks prior to Mayor Barney Whitfield. The opening film was Clive Brook in “The Perfect Crime”. Unfortunately, with films moving to sound, Fornea would install talkies in 1929, beating the Ideal Theatre which installed talkie equipment later. But something far more disastrous was in the offing for the Ideal Theatre.

Three weeks prior to its first anniversary, the Ideal Theatre caught fire on October 21, 1929. Unfortunately, fire fighting equipment had not been on the minds of the City of Picayune and the entire D'Antoni Building was reduced to ash as the building’s core structure was local timber. The communication lines were decimated in the blaze making communication impossible. Word of the fire was spread telegraphically by a local engineer using his train whistle. And only minimal insurance was taken out on the building so there would be no “New Ideal”. The other businesses were damaged beyond salvation, and according to reports, virtually all salvaged materials from the building were taken by looters in the opening stages of the Depression. Not ideal.

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