Mars Theatre

Gerard Bennett “G.B.” Mars opened the 600-seat Mars Theatre in the St. Roach neighborhood of New Orleans on April 20, 1913. A longtime conductor and parade music arranger / performer, Mars played the piano then organ and invited abnormally large bands to play interlude music. The showmanship worked because Mars celebrated the theater’s second anniversary by buying the property next door and expanding the Mars Theatre to 1,000 seats in 1915.

At the tenth anniversary of the Mars Theatre, the operators installed a pipe organ and new screen. Unable to convert to sound, the Mars Theatre was sold for $15,000 in June of 1929 after closing for the season. Rumors were that sound was going to be installed by new owner, Charles Tolmas. But, in fact, the Mars Theatre would simply disappear from the galaxy when Tolmas demolished the venue.

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.