Prytania Theatre

Prytania Theatre is a single screen movie theatre in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the oldest operating movie theater in New Orleans and the last operating single screen movie theater in the state of Louisiana. ^[1]

Prytania Theatre

Exterior of venue (c.2022)
Address	5339 Prytania St New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
Location	Uptown New Orleans
Coordinates	29°55′31″N90°06′47″W / 29.925183°N 90.11317188°W / 29.925183; -90.11317188
Owner	Brunet Family
Capacity	272
Screens	1
Construction
Built	1914
Opened	15 January 1915 (1915-01-15)
Closed	1926 (Old location)
Rebuilt	1927 (Current Location)
Years active	1915-1926, 1927-present
Construction cost	$100,000 ($1.81 million in 2024 dollars [2] )
Website
theprytania.com/uptown

History

Original Location

The Prytania Theatre originally opened in 1915 as an outdoor theatre. Quickly after opening however, a roof was added. A fire burnt the building to the ground in 1926. ^[3]

Current Location

The theatre moved to its current location on Prytania Street. The current structure was built in 1926 and was operated by M. H. Jacobs Theatrical Enterprises. The theatre proved very popular even but eventually encountered financial difficulties to the rise of suburban multiplexes in the 1970s. This caused the theatre to switch from showing current films to showing classics. Eventually, the building was sold to Chris Riley who renovated the space. Following Riley's death, it was sold to John & Gail Gish who leased it to the Brunet Family. The Brunet family has a 50-year lease on the property. ^[3]

References

1. Miller, Greg; Steckler, Melissa; Serota, Zachary; O'Dwyer, Kathyrn. "Prytania Theatre". New Orleans Historical. The Milo Center for New Orleans Studies. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
2. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
3. Esker, Fritz (January 16, 2015). "Prytania Theater Celebrates 100th Birthday". Where Y'at. Where Y'at Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2024.