New Iberia in Iberia Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

Essanee Theater

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, October 23, 2025

1. Essanee Theater Marker

Inscription.
Our History
The Essanee was designed by Owen Southwell in the Art Deco Style. When first opened, the theater was state of the art, featuring the latest Super Simplex projectors and two RCA high fidelity sound machines. In addition, there was a tunnel system below the theater to provide AC to moviegoers.
How did the theater get its name?
Owners Julius Scharff and Elias Elias formed the name by taking the phonetic sounds from the first letters of their last name "S" and "E." Thus "Essanee."
Brief History
The theater opened as a movie theater on November 23, 1937. The Essanee showed its last feature film, City Limits, on November 28, 1985. The theater was purchased on October 31, 2001 by IPAL and rebranded as "Broadway on the Bayou."

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is October 31, 2001.

Location. 30° 0.327′ N, 91° 49.145′ W. Marker is in New Iberia, Louisiana, in Iberia Parish. It is on Iberia Street east of West St. Peter Street (Louisiana Highway 182), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 126 Iberia Street, New Iberia LA 70560, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s Acadiana — Cajun Country

and specifically in Bayou Country. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

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,

Acadia,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Essanee Theater (here, next to this marker);

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Office of Rene J. Broussard, DDS (within shouting distance of this marker); The Gouguenheim Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (about 300 feet away); Church Alley (about 300 feet away); The Steamboat Era (about 300 feet away); Louisiana's First Black Female Physician Dr. Emma Wakefield-Paillet (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Church Alley (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Iberia.

Photographed by Cajun Scrambler, October 23, 2025

2. Essanee Theater Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2025, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 47 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2025, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.