Beacon Theatre
871 Harrison Avenue,
New Orleans,
LA
70124
871 Harrison Avenue,
New Orleans,
LA
70124
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The Beacon opened in 1940, with seating for 750, and stood on Harrison Avenue at Marshall Foch Street. The theater lasted until 1972. It now serves as a bank.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
What is of this theatre now that the city has been devestated?
That area was hit really hard, I could take a drive by and take a photo if you’d like.
That would be an interesting picture. I’d love to see it.
Damaged by the flooding in Lakeview as a result of Katrina the building was recently razed. No real loss since the once thematic lighthouse architecture of the original building design was lost long ago in an effort to modernize the theater in 1968. No evidence this building was once a theater remained after becoming a bank.
Those who grew up in Lakeview in the 60’s will surely remember the unusual ticket lady we all called “The Bun.” Appropriately called so because she always sported the once popular “beetle” hair style of the 40s. She was a dead ringer for Joan Crawford.
Every Friday and Saturday nights in the 60s this place was a madhouse packed with neighborhood kids running wild. It was a blast.
The Beacon was simple neighborhood theater architecture boasting little interior decoration. Most memorable feature of the interior was a purple neon clock on the wall left of the screen.
Anyone have a picture to post or link???
Not from the best angle, but here’s a link with a photo of the Beacon.
Click on an area of the photo, and it will enlarge.
View link
Does anyone remember the melodramatic telephone recording? (“In the beginning, there was a Planet of Apes! Then a war Beneath the Planet of the Apes….”) I think this guy was some kind of frustrated entertainer. Sometimes his recordings were better than the movies. He’d always end with “The Beacon! Your guiding light to superb screen entertainment.” <SIGH> The just don’t make ‘em like that anymore.!
Announcing a book about New Orleans Movie Theaters
THEREâ€\S ONE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
The History of the Neighborhood Theaters in New Orleans
is being written by 89-year-old Rene Brunet, the dean of the motion picture industry in Louisiana, and New Orleans historian Jack Stewart. The 160-page,coffee table book will be released in November and is being published by Arthur Hardy Enterprises, Inc. Attention will be focused on 50 major neighborhood and downtown theaters, culled from a list of nearly 250 that have dotted the cityâ€\s landscape since the first “nickelodeon†opened in 1896 at 626 Canal Street. The book will be divided by neighborhoods and will open with a map and a narrative about each area. Each major theater will feature “then and now†photographs, historic information, and a short series of quotes from famous New Orleanians and from regular citizens who will share their recollections.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
We are trying to acquire memorabilia and additional photos of this theater for this publication. (deadline July 1.) You will be credited in the book and receive a free autographed copy if we publish the picture that you supply. Please contact Arthur Hardy at or call 504-913-1563 if you can help.
I used to work for the Muzak people, here in New Orleans. And can remember installing Muzak used in the auditorium during intermissions and in the lobby. This was probably about 1967 or so. I think this theatre was a part ot the United chain.