Azar Theater
Ajdan Walk, Prince Turkey Street,
Greenville,
MS
38701
Ajdan Walk, Prince Turkey Street,
Greenville,
MS
38701
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On the drafting table, this was known as Buck’s Theatre and was taking the place of the legendary Brown’s Picture Tent - a photography studio and summertime movie venue. As the Buck’s Theatre project started, E.W. Brown didn’t give up, however, moving his Tent to new digs two blocks away at Washington Street between Broadway and Theobold. The project was still under the temporary Buck’s Theatre title even as the sound was being installed in March of 1937; but at the 11th hour, it opened as the Delta Theatre on April 5, 1937 with Anne Shirley as “M'Liss.”
Paramount dropped the theatre on April 14, 1950 with “Back Street” and “Give Out, Sisters.” Weeks later, 1Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Azar of the Harlem Theatre took over the venue independently almost undoubtedly on a subleasing agreement. They went all in with Lash LaRue not only on the screen for “Son of Billy, The Kid” but also with Lash on stage, in person on November 3, 1950 as the Azar Theater relaunched. It discontinued advertising in 1952 - likely at the opt out of its 15 year leasing agreement.
In March of 1953, McCullar Electric (later McCullar Appliance & Furniture) moved into the space followed by a children’s clothing store. It looks like it was demolished in 1977 which times out with a 25-year, post-theatrical leasing agreement.
I will try to get more info from my sister and a cousin. In Clarksdale MS, the theater was called the Savoy. Also, other theaters my father and uncle had were 3 drive ins located in Memphis and West Memphis, AR; respectively, Lamar Drive In on Lamar Ave, Sky Vue Drive In on Park Avenue and Sunset Drive In. The Sky Vue was built in 1952 or 3 or 4 and was closed by the City of Memphis via eminent domain after MLK’s assasination; a high school was built on the grounds and was attended by Anfernee ‘Penny" Hardaway, the NBA star; the drive way entrances could still be seen when I last drove by there a year or so ago. Finally, they may have had one more in Sardis, MS called the Tower.
My dad and his brother owned and operated this theater until it closed. They owned it plus the Ace and the Georgia and the Harlem in Memphis TN under the Ace Amusement Co. brand. They had a theater in Clarksdale MS in the black section which burned down sometime in the late 1950’s. One of my uncles managed it for them and had one of the original enlarged prints of one of the more famous Marilyn Monroe photos in his office which was lost in the fire.