email: roadarch@outlook.com

Alabama Movie Theatres

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Archie Theatre
Abbeville, AL		 Strand Theatre
Atmore, AL
The Archie Theatre opened in 1948. It has been closed for decades. The marquee is a recreation. The building is used for storage. For more, see this website. [map]

The Strand Theatre opened in 1924. It was rebuilt in 1936. The theatre closed in 2013. This photo is from 2020. The theatre was restored and reopened in 2023. It is used for movies and community events. [map]

Alabama Theatre
Birmingham, AL		 former Carver Theatre
Birmingham, AL
The Alabama Theatre, aka The Showplace of the South, was built in 1927 by Paramount Studios as a showcase for its films. In 1981, the Alabama went bankrupt and closed. In 1998, the Theatre was completely restored and became home to the Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts. The interior is lavish and "The Mighty Wurlitzer" organ remains. In 2019, the vertical sign from 1957 and the marquee were replaced. The sign panels are now aluminum and the marquee is now digital instead of a readerboard. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Carver Theatre opened in 1935 as a movie theatre for African-Americans. In its final years, the theatre featured porn films. It officially closed in the early 1980s. In 1993, it was converted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and the Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts. In 2019, the building was closed for renovations. These photos are from 2020. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

former Ritz Theatre
Brewton, AL
The Ritz Theatre was built in 1936 and closed in 1987. In 1996, the theatre was deemed too expensive to save and this simulated marquee/facade was built on the former site as a community message board. The original blade sign read "Theatre." The original satellite was installed on top of a tower on the top of the building. For more, see this website. [map]

Princess Theatre
Decatur, AL		 Hook Theatre
Eutaw, AL
The Princess Theatre opened in 1919 as a playhouse. It was updated in the Art Deco style in 1941. The theatre closed in 1987 and became a performing arts center in 1988. It was completely renovated and reopened in 2001. The Princess is now used for live performances. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Hook Theatre opened in 1947 and closed in 1981. Around 2014, it was used as a church. By 2022, the building had been repainted and restored as the Renaissance Theater Multiplex Center. The building is used for live performances and special events. For more, see this website. [map]

Shoals Theatre
Florence, AL
The Shoals Theatre opened in 1948 and closed in 1980. At some point the vertical marquee sign was replaced with freestanding letters along the top of the readerboard. However, around 2008, a replica of the original, unique sign was installed. It was recreated from photos by General Sign of Sheffield, AL. The original sign was built by the Balton Sign Company in Memphis, TN. The theatre is now operating as the Shoals Community Theatre. These photos are from 2010. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

DeKalb Theatre
Fort Payne, AL
The DeKalb Theatre opened in 1935. It is now used as a performing arts space. For more, see this website. [map]

Pitman Theatre
Gadsden, AL
The Pitman Theatre opened in 1947 and closed in 1983. It was donated to the City of Gadsden and restoration efforts began in 1997. The interior had to be gutted from years of neglect. In, 2016, the sign was restored. The building is now used as a community events center. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Ritz Theatre
Greenville, AL		 Center Theatre
Huntsville, AL
The Ritz Theatre opened in 1935. It fell into disrepair until the City purchased it in 1982 and began restoration. The theatre is now used for live performances and special events. For more, see this website. [map]

The Center Theatre opened in 1947 and closed in 1967. It has been converted into office and retail space. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Martin Theatre
La Fayette, AL
The Martin Theatre opened in 1949. This building is one of the few quonset hut theatres left. It has been closed for many years. For more, see this website. [map]

Saenger Theatre
Mobile, AL
The Saenger Theatre was built in 1927. It closed in 1970 and was nearly demolished. The University of South Alabama bought the building. The building was renovated and reopened as a performing arts center in 1995. The City of Mobile bought the theatre in 1999 and did further restoration work. It is now known as the Saenger Theatre Centre for the Living Arts. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Roxy Theatre
Russellville, AL
The Roxy Theatre was built in 1948. It is now used for live performances. For more, see this website. [map]

Ritz Theatre
Talladega, AL
The Ritz Theatre was built in 1936 as a Martin Theatre. There was originally a giant, vertical projecting sign over the marquee. The facade features the extensive use of vitrolite structural glass. The theatre was restored in 1997. The vitrolite was restored by Tim Dunn. The theatre reopened in 1998 as a performing arts center. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Bama Theatre
Tuscaloosa, AL
The Bama Theatre opened in 1938 as both a Moderne and an atmospheric theater. In 1976, it was converted into a performing arts center. In 1999, Theatre Tuscaloosa moved into a new building and the Bama began showing independent and foreign films. By 2018, the sign's readerboard had been replaced with a digital display screen. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

More Alabama:
Cricket Theatre (Collinsville)
Dixie Theatre (Haleyville)
Neely Theatre (Oneonta)
Ritz Theatre (Sheffield)

Theatres
Main Page