Joy Theater

Last updated
Joy Theater
Joy Theater (New Orleans) Grand Opening 1947.jpg
The Joy Theater, in downtown New Orleans, opening day, Feb. 7, 1947.
Joy Theater
Location1200 Canal Street
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Coordinates 29°57′23″N90°04′26″W / 29.956403°N 90.074008°W / 29.956403; -90.074008
TypeIndoor theater
Seating typeOrchestra, balcony
Capacity 1,200
Construction
Opened1947
Renovated2011

The Joy Theater, named after owner Joy Houck, is a theater and historic landmark built in 1947 on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. Renovations in 2011 transformed the former movie palace into a multi-purpose theater for live music, stand-up comedy, private functions, and corporate events. The theater's iconic marquee sign was restored, as was the building's original art deco architecture. [1] [2]

Contents

History

On February 7, 1947, the Joy Theater opened at a cost of $275,000, with seats for 1,250 patrons. Hailed as "New Orleans' newest and most modern film temple," [2] the theater was equipped with a crying room, a glass-enclosed area behind the back row that enabled parents with young children to enjoy the show without disturbing the other patrons. [3] [4] The Joy was built by long-time theater operators Joy Houck (the theater's namesake) and Levere Montgomery, Sr. The architect was B. W. Stevens. Lover Come Back , starring Lucille Ball, was the opening feature. [4]

In 2003, "finally succumbing to the competition from megaplexes with stadium-style seating and a dozen or more screens," the Joy Theater closed. [2]

In August 2005, the flood following Hurricane Katrina inundated the structure. [4]

The Joy reopened in December 2011. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Orleans</span> Consolidated city-parish in Louisiana, United States

New Orleans is a consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 according to the 2020 U.S. census, it is the most populous city in Louisiana, third most populous city in the Deep South, and the twelfth-most populous city in the southeastern United States. Serving as a major port, New Orleans is considered an economic and commercial hub for the broader Gulf Coast region of the United States. New Orleans is also a region of French Louisiana, along with the Cajun Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammond, Louisiana</span> City in Louisiana, US

Hammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States, located 45 miles (72 km) east of Baton Rouge and 45 miles (72 km) northwest of New Orleans. Its population was 20,019 in the 2010 U.S. census, and 21,359 at the 2020 population estimates program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canal Street, New Orleans</span> Street in New Orleans, Louisiana

Canal Street is a major thoroughfare in the city of New Orleans. Forming the upriver boundary of the city's oldest neighborhood, the French Quarter or Vieux Carré, it served historically as the dividing line between the colonial-era (18th-century) city and the newer American Sector, today's Central Business District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Orleans Central Business District</span> Neighborhood of New Orleans, United States

The Central Business District (CBD) is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas W. Lamb</span> 20th-century Scottish-American architect (1871-1942)

Thomas White Lamb was a Scottish-born, American architect. He was one of the foremost designers of theaters and cinemas of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rialto Theatre (Tucson, Arizona)</span> Historic performance venue

The Rialto Theatre is a performance theater and concert venue located on Congress Street in downtown Tucson, Pima County, southern Arizona. The cinema−theater and surrounding Rialto Building commercial block were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saenger Theatre (New Orleans)</span> Theatre

Saenger Theatre is an atmospheric theatre in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Once the flagship of Julian and Abe Saenger's theatre empire, today it is one of only a handful of Saenger movie palaces that remain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith-Albee Theatre</span> United States historic place

Keith-Albee Theatre is a performing arts center located along Fourth Avenue in downtown Huntington, West Virginia, United States. The Keith-Albee was named after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation, one of the leading vaudeville performance chains at that time, to convince the directors of Keith-Albee-Orpheum to make the Keith-Albee a regular stop. At the time of its construction, The Keith Albee was the second largest theater in the U.S. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Downtown Huntington Historic District, and is currently being restored as a performing arts center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerville Theatre</span> Independent movie theater and concert venue in Somerville, Massachusetts

The Somerville Theatre is an independent movie theater and concert venue in the Davis Square neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts, United States. Over one hundred years old, the Somerville Theatre started off as a vaudeville house and movie theater. The theater has since transitioned and now operates as a live music venue and first-run movie theater. As a music venue, the theater has played host to many historic concerts, including the first of the two Last Dispatch concerts, two shows by Bruce Springsteen in 2003, and a performance by U2 in 2009. Recent live performances have included Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Cursive, Norah Jones, The Jonas Brothers, Joan Baez, and the John Butler Trio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malco Theatres</span> American movie theater chain

Malco Theatres, Inc. is a movie theatre chain that has remained family owned and operated for over one hundred years. It has been led by four generations of the Lightman family. The company has 36 theatre locations with over 371 screens in six states. Malco also operates three bowling centers and a family entertainment center in southern Louisiana and a family entertainment center in Oxford, Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum Theater (New Orleans)</span> United States historic place

The Orpheum Theater is a theater in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landmark Theatre (Syracuse, New York)</span> Theater in Syracuse, New York

The Landmark Theatre, originally known as Loew's State Theater, is a historic theater from the era of movie palaces, located on South Salina Street in Syracuse, New York, United States. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb, it is the city's only surviving example of the opulent theatrical venues of the 1920s. The Landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts</span>

The Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts is a theater located in Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was named after gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was born in New Orleans. The theater reopened in January 2009, after being closed since the landfall of Hurricane Katrina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Palace Theatre (New Orleans)</span>

State Palace Theatre is a performing arts venue located in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. It is located at the uptown lake corner of Canal Street and Rampart Street. The Saenger Theater is directly opposite the State Palace on Canal Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlas Performing Arts Center</span>

The Atlas Performing Arts Center is a multiple space performing arts facility located on H Street in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, DC. Housed in a renovated Art Deco movie house, the facility is home to several arts organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levoy Theatre</span> United States historic place

The Levoy Theatre is a 696-seat operational performing arts center located in Millville, Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Rochester</span> Neighborhood in Rochester, New York, United States

Downtown Rochester is the economic center of Rochester, New York, and the largest in Upstate New York, employing more than 50,000 people, and housing more than 6,000.

The Utah Theatre was a historic theater in Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States. It opened in 1918 as the Pantages Theater, after the name of its owner, Alexander Pantages. The theatre was located at 148 South Main Street, Salt Lake City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of cinema in the United States</span>

This article delineates the history of cinema in the United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carver Theater (New Orleans)</span>

References

  1. Joy Theatre Has New Owners, Renovation Plans – New Orleans City Business Archived 2011-09-14 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 Joy Theatre in Downtown New Orleans has Happier Days Ahead – Times Picayune
  3. Canal Street: New Orleans’ Great Wide Way – Pelican Publishing
  4. 1 2 3 No More Joy: The Rise and Fall of New Orleans Movie Theaters – Rock Productions Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "About the Joy Theater | New Orleans Theatre". Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-05-01.