Coliseum Theatre

1233 Coliseum Street,
New Orleans, LA 70130

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MaxTheMoviegoer
MaxTheMoviegoer on December 15, 2017 at 4:21 am

“fire destroys coliseum theatre” on YouTube

by Peter Petitfils

https://youtu.be/woFceQlM3Zk

danielmorales
danielmorales on January 27, 2011 at 8:26 am

Drive-in Mike and Others – I’m a creative writing student at the University of New Orleans and am putting together a story about the Coliseum Theatre. I was born in New Orleans but was too young to ever have experienced the theatre itself. I did a walking project in high school and came across Coliseum Square and the Theatre and was struck by the architecture and the whole neighborhood really – I grew up mostly Uptown.

I’d love to talk with anyone who knows more than me or with anyone who is willing to share photos for my project. I have several good photos I took in 2002 when I did a second walking project in college, but I have no photos of the inside of the building.

Any help would be much appreciated. Please contact me (Daniel Morales) at rupansansei at gmail dot com.

Thanks for all the great stories…it really makes the Theatre seem like a real gem.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on September 5, 2010 at 3:42 pm

A picture of the Coliseum taken in what looks like light snow (rare for the Big Easy); it was also obviously taken much later than 1915: View link

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on August 4, 2010 at 6:12 pm

Great Story,Drive-in Mike about a great theatre manager and owner.

ArthurHardy
ArthurHardy on June 11, 2010 at 12:27 pm

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 and preservationist 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.

BigEasyBarry
BigEasyBarry on August 9, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Drive-in-mike and I spent many a fun night in this old movie house. I remember when we did some work for our school principle, he took us to the Coliseum to see a double feature of The Hellfighters and Anne of a Thousand Days.(Wasn’t that an odd pairing?)

joysmovies
joysmovies on January 24, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Here’s an ad for a movie playing at the Coliseum and other theatres in 1963:
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joysmovies
joysmovies on January 21, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Here’s some more Coliseum photos:
The projection booth, taken in 1975 while I was working there:
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and the neon celling light fixtures that had deep blue & green neon:
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joysmovies
joysmovies on January 17, 2008 at 5:12 pm

Here is a photo of Al Viola in front of the Coliseum box-office in the 70’s pointing to his low admission prices.
View link

joysmovies
joysmovies on January 17, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Here is a photo of the Coliseum Theatre from 1975, showing a classic double feature. Photo by Joe Grillot.

View link

joysmovies
joysmovies on January 15, 2008 at 6:13 pm

As a child in the late 60’s, I was a regular patron of the Coliseum. This theatre had an atmosphere like no other I’ve ever been to. The inside of the theatre had the most beautiful neon fixtures on the celling that were deep blue & green, and remained lit while the movie was on. There was also cove neon lighting along the side walls, that could be turned on as blue, or red. This theatre was quite fancy in it’s day, and had probably the largest screen of any indoor theatre, except for the Cinerama.
There was also a blue neon clock that read HARTFORD INSURANCE, 800 HOWARD AVE. which remained on during the film.
Above, it states that seating was 600 in 1945, but in 1949, a balcony was added, making a total of 1100 seats.
The theatre was operated by the Lazarus family from 1919 until the early 60’s when it was operated by United Theatres for a short time.
At the time I attended, the business was owned and operated by Alfred J. Viola, a veteran theatre manager, and this theatre was truly one of a dying breed. Mr. Viola told me that United was going to close the Coliseum, and he announced that he was going to lease it. The GM of United told him that he wouldn’t last for a year. He remained open until 1976, when the theatre was sold.
This theatre was Al Viola’s baby. It was a true mom & pop neighborhood theatre, featuring double features, 3 program changes each week, cartoons, and occasionally old tyme serials!
Mr. Viola was the type of guy that would allow a kid short of money to have a piece of candy. As a regular customer, I got to know him & Mrs Sophie Morales, who worked the concession 7 nights a week for as long as I can remember.
I became a projectionist, and in October of 1975, I was hired at the Coliseum, and remained there until it closed on April 20, 1976.
Til the day it closed in 1976, Al Viola was proud that he was able to keep the admission prices the lowest in the city. Adults 75c, Children 35c. This was when first run theatres were charging $3.25.
Concessions were also the lowest prices in town…featuring 10c popcorn til the day it closed.
About 6 months after the Coliseum closed, Mr. Viola had a stroke, and then in 1980, he died of another stroke. We remained close friends until he passed.
Sadly, on Christmas day 2007, Joe Grillot, Al Viola’s nephew, who had the same love for theatre & movies as his uncle, passed away at age 62.
The Coliseum was one of my all time favorite theatres, and I am so sad that it is gone now.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 31, 2007 at 2:52 pm

In 1963, the Coliseum was operated by Mrs. Henry Lazarus, president of Lazarus Theaters, 912 Canal Street, New Orleans. Others under her command at that time were the Center, Circle and Carver, all in New Orleans.

Rouillier
Rouillier on February 19, 2007 at 4:58 pm

In the late 1960s, my best friend was the projectionist at The Coliseum. Much to the manager’s shagrin, he would get me in free and I would sit in the balcony next to the projection booth door and watch him do change overs and curse the vintage carbon arc projectors.

This was the theater that turned off the water fountain in the lobby, and put extra salt in the popcorn. (Thirsty patrons buy more Coke.)

I loved this creepy theater. It was the quintessential neighborhood theater, and a wonderful step back in time.

The post Katrina fire shook the entire city up. Almost every media outlet covered the story, and mourned the passing of another historic theater.

The burned theater was eventually knocked down except for the steep front steps that went up to the old lobby. For some strange reason, there is a type of odd “shrine” on these steps. Stuffed animals now cover the entrance, and I have no idea why. Only in New Orleans…

quartzcity
quartzcity on May 11, 2006 at 9:04 pm

Sadly, the Coliseum burned to the ground in February of this year.

sdoerr
sdoerr on October 23, 2005 at 11:33 am

Coliseum pics post Katrina found on the net:
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