Temple Theatre
1335 North Boulevard,
Baton Rouge,
LA
70802
1335 North Boulevard,
Baton Rouge,
LA
70802
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Bijou Amusement Company
Firms: Wogan & Bernard
Functions: Fraternal Hall
Styles: Neo-Classical, Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Prince Hall Masonic Temple
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Located in the east of Baton Rouge. The Prince Hall Masonic Temple was built in 1924 as a meeting hall for the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The building contained the Temple Theatre located on the first floor and part of the 2nd floor and on the fourth floor was the enclosed Temple Roof Garden, a youth club and dance venue, both venues catering for the African-American population. The Temple Roof Garden (aka Grand Ballroom) hosted big names such as Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong.
The Temple Theatre was opened on October 17, 1925 with Florence Video in “Welcome Stranger”. It was operated by the Bijou Amusement Company. In the 1930’s it was given a Streamline Moderne style makeover. In 1948 the building was purchased by the Prince Hall Freemasons. It continued to be operated as a movie theatre in 1957 and continued into the 1980’s.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1994.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
This was the last of three theatres which catered to Baton Rouge’s large black community. The others, the Grand and the McKinley were demolished many years ago.
I’ve uploaded a photo of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple building.
Acme Amusement and Development Company opened the Temple Theatre in the Odd Fellows Building on October 17, 1925. It featured a $3,000 Reproduco Pipe Organ Piano combo unit and opened with Florence Video in “Welcome Stranger” as its opening film supported by four short subjects. The venue added sound in 1929 to remain viable. The venue was open to African American patrons only barring a major crossover artist.
The programming was a combination of films and live performers. Some notable live moments: “The Queen of Moaners” Clara Smith gave two shows for her live appearance - one for African Americans and one for White patrons on January 17, 1928. “The Uncrowned Queen of the Blues” Ida Cox appeared numerous times including February 28 and March 1, 1928, March 9, 1929, February 28, 1932 and March 5, 1932. Ma Rainey appeared there on February 2, 1929. On the Temple Rooftop Garden were Duke Ellington November 29, 1937 and Louis Armstrong on September 30, 1938.
The Temple received a streamline moderne makeover in the 1930s and was remodeled again in 1956 bringing both air conditioning and widescreen projection to the Temple. But during the 1956 process, the Temple Rooftop Garden hosted some of its most luminary performers . They included B.B. King on August 6 and August 31, Little Richard on August 20, Fats Domino on October 3, and Muddy Waters on October 24, 1956.
In the 1970s, it became legendary for blaxploitation film exhibition. But by the 1980s, it was over as suburban theaters were integrated and provided multiple screens with comfortable seating and free parking.