Theatre Wilbert

Theatre Wilbert launched February 3, 1918 and got its name specifically from Antoine Wilbert’s Songs Lumber and Shingle Company which built the theatre though it additionally serves as an homage to the 19th Century Antoine Lambert family and the Wilbert Brothers. It opened with “When a Man’s a Man” with Warren Kerrigan and supported by a Charlie Chaplin short and a Pathé weekly newsreel. The opening was a success and pictures prove this in photos.

Lionel DeLaCroix ran the theatre at opening on a five year lease and renewed. He had started his career renting at the Hope Opera House in 1910 before running silent films there as the Electra Theatre until 1917. He then built the Wilbert. Delacroix was soon affiliated with Saenger Amusement which booked the house. Theatre Wilbert’s initial instrument was a Wurlitzer Style O pipe organ, 2 manuals and 5 ranks that was later sold off. Peter Lawrence Mars of New Orleans did the mural work entitled, “The Dance of the Goddess of Joy.” And all of the bricks were locally sourced from the Plaquemine Brickyard.

Five years later, the theater was electrified and had modern fans at a total cost of installation of $13,000 (the total cost of many small town theaters). The theatre initially costs $82,000 and had swelled to over $100,000 in that period - very unusual for a theater in a town of under 5,000. He equipped the theatre with Vitaphone and Movietone sound in February of 1929 to play talking films. Delacroix opened the Osage Theatre in 1940 - his last. Theatre Wilbert also received a streamline moderne makeover.

Sam Daigre took on the venue in 1948 at Delacroix’s passing. He operated it to closure in 1953 as it was too expensive to convert it to stereo sound and widescreen - and the air conditioning bills too high for such a cavernous auditorium - containing two balconies. It was demolished in January of 1959 for a parking lot.