Central Business District in New Orleans in Orleans Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)
America's First Movie Theater
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Vitascope Hall
Vitascope Hall, 623 Canal Street
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, November 17, 2020
1. America's First Movie Theater Side of marker
AMERICA'S FIRST MOVIE THEATER
On July 26, 1896, William T. "Pop" Rock & Walter J. Wainwright, shown with 2 patrons, and projectionist William Reed (r to l) opened the first indoor seated movie theater in the United States.
VITASCOPE HALL
In Vitascope Hall, 400 seated patrons watched 10-12 short films for 10 cents on white fabric stretched across a frame. Black canvas covered the windows. For 10 cents more, patrons viewed the Vitascope projector in the projection booth, and for another 10 cents, patrons took home a scrap piece of film. So many wanted to see the projector that soon the price increased to 50 cents. In 1896, of the 40 Edison Vitascope territories in the U.S., only Louisiana was financially successful.
Erected 2019 by The Poole Collection and the Families of Russ and Sandra Herman.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is July 26, 1896.
Location. 29° 57.187′ N, 90° 4.119′ W. Marker is in New Orleans, Louisiana, in Orleans Parish. It is in the Central Business District. It is at the intersection of Canal Street and Exchange Plaza, on the right when traveling north on Canal Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 623 Canal Street, New Orleans LA 70130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s River Parishes. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, on the Gulf Coast, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Also see . . . Vitascope Theater. (Submitted on April 8, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, November 17, 2020
2. Vitascope Hall side of marker
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, November 17, 2020
3. America's First Movie Theater/Vitascope Hall Marker
Photographed by Tim Fillmon, November 17, 2020
4. America's First Movie Theater/Vitascope Hall Marker Detail
Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,858 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 8, 2021, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.
