Istrouma Theatre

The Istrouma Theatre’s genesis dates back to the Peoples Theatre of Istrouma / North Baton Rouge at Bayou Sara Road. That theatre operated for more than 10 years as a near neighbor to this address dating back to the silent era with vaudeville between the films. The Peoples had added sound to remain viable. Both the Peoples and the Istrouma were located at Bayou Sara Road (later Scenic Highway) and Wynadotte. The Peoples stopped advertising after its November 27, 1937 show as the replacement Istrouma Theatre was completing construction. It was likely using some of the same equipment.

The new Istrouma Theatre launched on December 5, 1937 with “Top of the Town.” Joseph Barcelona Enterprises - which operated the Tivoli and Peoples theaters - additionallyhad the Avenue Theatre and the Istrouma Theatres on the drafting table in 1937. At a cost of $14,500, the new Istrouma Theatre was low budget and created from Superock concrete panels. Architect Robert H. Goodman’s exterior sketch showed an austere streamline moderne design. He added Indian portraitures to honor the Houma Indians who are credited with the Istrouma naming. A tight concession stand and rest rooms completed the venue.

Barcelona would add the Regina Theatre in 1942 before subleasing - effective on January 3, 1943 - the Avenue, Tivoli, and Istrouma theaters to Jefferson J. Rebstock and Roy E. Pfeiffer of Rebstock-Pfeiffer Theaters. Those theaters would not make it to the end of the subleasing’s 10-year agreements. RKO, Loew’s, Paramount and 20th-Fox filed separate percentage fraud suits in Federal Court against Rebstock-Pfeiffer which were likely settled out of court. But (or, perhaps, because of that) Rebstock-Pfeiffer would soon split. They ended their subleasing agreement with Barcelona effective February 4, 1951 and the Avenue and Tivoli were returned to Barcelona Enterprises. Pfeiffer bought out the Istrouma Theatre for $85k.

Pfeiffer closed the Istrouma on October 31, 1953. He stated, “Old Man television got me!” Neighboring auto dealership Peterson Chevrolet offered up $70,000 to ease the sting and demolished the building for more space for new vehicles. And there is a lot more information about this theatre including virtually every booking and even a back and forth argument with a minister who criticized the theater’s programming in the 1950s. So removal of the Chuck-attributed, “Not much info available on this theatre” at a minimum could be excised.