The theatres operated for a very short period of time in the mall. The Mall Cinema closed because the Premier 16 was getting all of the first run movies.
The Princess was said to be the last word in moving picture show houses. It had the latest equipment and it was as comfortable as money could make it. It was air conditioned with an 80-ton ice machine and was heated with the most modern apparatus known.
The Princess enjoyed a long and successful life until 1937, when plans were announced to remodel and enlarge the theater.
The Princess reopened June 17, 1937, to a huge crowd in the totally rebuilt auditorium. The opening night feature, “Woman Chases Man,” was viewed by a capacity crowd of 1,500.
The Princess Theatre was originally known as the Imperial Theatre when it opened on Nov. 24, 1920. The first movie shown was “The Right to Love,” which starred Mae Murray and David Powell. A capacity crowd filled the 730 seats on opening night.
The Princess Theatre’s last movie was Nov. 4, 1963. Fewer than 100 people were enjoying the movie “All The Way Home.” It ended at 10:30 p.m., and the theater closed its doors for what would be the last time.
I have now lived in Gadsden for more than 57 years. The Grove Drive-in and later the Rebel Drive-in faced Van Courtland Street, later Vandell Blvd. Republic Steel was located across Van Courtland St. from the theatre.Forrest Avenue ran along the railroad. The drive-in was close to ½ block off Forrest Avenue.
I think you have the Liberty and Etowah confused. The photo from 1983 is the old Etowah Theatre. The Liberty was torn down in the early 1950s, shortly after the Etowah opened!
The Etowah Theatre was a beautiful theater in its hey days of the 1950s and 1960s. This photo is the way it looks now after it has stood abandoned for years.
The theatres operated for a very short period of time in the mall. The Mall Cinema closed because the Premier 16 was getting all of the first run movies.
The drive-in is gone. The screen is demolished.
The Princess was said to be the last word in moving picture show houses. It had the latest equipment and it was as comfortable as money could make it. It was air conditioned with an 80-ton ice machine and was heated with the most modern apparatus known.
The Princess enjoyed a long and successful life until 1937, when plans were announced to remodel and enlarge the theater.
The Princess reopened June 17, 1937, to a huge crowd in the totally rebuilt auditorium. The opening night feature, “Woman Chases Man,” was viewed by a capacity crowd of 1,500.
The Princess Theatre was originally known as the Imperial Theatre when it opened on Nov. 24, 1920. The first movie shown was “The Right to Love,” which starred Mae Murray and David Powell. A capacity crowd filled the 730 seats on opening night.
The Princess Theatre’s last movie was Nov. 4, 1963. Fewer than 100 people were enjoying the movie “All The Way Home.” It ended at 10:30 p.m., and the theater closed its doors for what would be the last time.
Looks like it! This theatre did not last long. A real unusual story!
Going east it was just outside of Gadsden in Hokes Bluff,less than a mile. I can just barely remember the old sign.
The address of the Capitol Theatre was 516 Broad Street.
This shows the drive-in on Van Courtland St. also! Forrest Avenue is the street in red!
Construction of the Pitman in 1947….
I have now lived in Gadsden for more than 57 years. The Grove Drive-in and later the Rebel Drive-in faced Van Courtland Street, later Vandell Blvd. Republic Steel was located across Van Courtland St. from the theatre.Forrest Avenue ran along the railroad. The drive-in was close to ½ block off Forrest Avenue.
The owner was C.S. Pitman who owned the Pitman Theatre on Broad Street in downtown Gadsden.
I think you have the Liberty and Etowah confused. The photo from 1983 is the old Etowah Theatre. The Liberty was torn down in the early 1950s, shortly after the Etowah opened!
The Etowah Theatre was a beautiful theater in its hey days of the 1950s and 1960s. This photo is the way it looks now after it has stood abandoned for years.
This drive-in is closed.
Here is a photo I made shortly before the historic theater was razed.
The Liberty Theatre was located at 432 North 4th Street in downtown Attalla. It closed shortly after the Etowah Theatre opened.
The Princess Theatre burned in 1963.
These theatres have been demolished.