Image by Charles L. Franck, c 1947. Provided courtesy of The Historic New Orleans Collection, Franck-Bertacci Photographers Collection, 1979.325.5868
Ernst Boehringer had a plan: to build the most modern and luxurious photoplay (movie) theater of its time. And in the summer of 1917, construction of the Liberty Theatre began.
Lush drapes, richly comfortable chairs, and a grand marble staircase adorned the interior. The Typhoon cooling system circulated air efficiently among the 2500 seats. The screen was the largest in the city, and the lighted stair risers were a first for theaters.
The live orchestra, directed by Professor Charles Gluck, was situated behind a “shadow box” that kept light from interfering with the audience view but allowed the musical effects and melodies to be heard clearly.
Most notable were the hand-painted murals by Italian artist Giuseppe Rossi. Wall medallions were surrounded by cupids and gold accents. Above the proscenium was an eagle with an American flag, flanked by figures representing labor and abundance. Roses of varying colors could be found under the balcony, and cupids gathering flowers were painted on the ceiling above the staircase.
The RKO Liberty Theater at 420 St Charles Ave. When the theater became the RKO Liberty, it became another link in the RKO theater chain, which included the nearby Orpheum Theatre. Both venues initially showed the same films at the same time, debuting on their opening nights with “Gilda” on May 29, 1946.
Although the building was christened by stage and screen star Madame Nazimova with a smashed bottle of champagne in October, 1917, the Liberty Theatre didn’t open until July 2, 1918. The newspapers promised it would be the most memorable “first night” ever held in New Orleans. The opening picture was “Over the Top”, a war movie, and the event served as a fundraiser for the Red Cross. Some reserved seats sold for $25, said to be a new record for admission to motion pictures.
RKO Pictures took over the theater in early 1946, and it operated a double-feature theater, also experimenting with midnight movies and Saturday cowboy and cartoon shows. On St. Patrick’s Day in 1948, the first 500 moviegoers of the day were given a “bit of old sod” taken from the banks of the River Shannon in Ireland (and fumigated before being imported via Pan America).
Despite expanding their purview to include foreign films and “shocking” thrillers, the RKO Liberty closed down in early 1954, and building demolition began in April. Today the lot is part of the Pan American Life Center.
