Ann Theater
6704 Scenic Highway,
Baton Rouge,
LA
70807
6704 Scenic Highway,
Baton Rouge,
LA
70807
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The Monte Sano neighborhood was part of a major post-World War II housing and industrial boom in North Baton Rouge as folks got more mobile with automobile ownership. E.G. Boehringer created Monte Sano Theatre, Inc. as he built a post-War suburban movie house, the Monte Sano, opening on January 11, 1947 with “Two Guys from Milwaukee.” The Monte Sano was a second-run, popular price house… but not too popular with audiences. The theatre was sold to S.J. Campisi and John J. D'Antoni who rechristened it the Ann Theatre on February 26, 1953 as the Ann Theatre with “Million Dollar Mermaid.” (Van Sant Wallace filled in for Mayor Webb in giving the reopening remarks.)
Strategic urban renewal in the 1960s designed to both speed traffic and to decimate the City’s African American neighborhoods severed places like Old South and Valley Park. Those projects reshaped many neighborhoods including Monte Sano as population shifts are brisk. The Ann Theatre closed as the combination of westerns and live Hillbilly music wasn’t cutting it any longer in the Monte Sano neighborhood. In 1968, the Ann Theatre reopened and became of the South’s most prominent African American-centered theatres spotlighting Blaxploitation film throughout the late 1960s and 1970s.
The Ann aggressively marketed Blaxploitation films and some chopsocky titles through full page ads and sporadic star appearances. A road show of the film, “Black is Beautiful” played a month on what was advertised as a “road show engagement.” Marriage licenses were checked for all under 18-married couples by police officers to ensure admission (!). “Wattstax” ‘southern premiere’ was there. “Cleopatra Jones” played for a month. Rosiland Cash, star of “Melinda”, appeared at that film’s opening. But when the desegregated suburban theatres and multiplexes offering multiple titles, free parking and more comfortable seating came along, they unseated the Ann Theatre. It closed in the 1980s and was converted to other retail purposes.
2018 photo as Big Brothers Meat Market added credit Mark Honey.
Circa 1954 photo added credit Frances Palmer, pictured.
This opened at 6704 Scenic Highway on February 26th, 1953. Grand opening ad posted here.
The Ann operated as one of the city’s prime showcases for African-American cinema in the 1970s, showing most releases for successful runs. Operation was ceased in the early 80s. The building partially houses a coin-operated laundry currently.