Alphabet File page 2
Theatre building, the site of the original Ames residence. Miss Geraldine Ames, Manager, and Mrs. Philomene Gaspard are the sole owners of this enterprise. It stands not only as a tribute to the city's civic success and a mark to the trend of its progressiveness, but will ever remain as a tribute to their business vision and ( ? ) enterprise, and in order to facilitate them, and in recognition of what they have done for the city of Bay St. Louis in making so notable and substantial a contribution, this double number of The Sea Coast Echo is dedicated.
This splendidly-patronized edition commemorative of the A & G's enterprise and the genius which has made the new theatre building possible, is the result of a liberal support of well-wishing citizens and others, and earnest of good will both the theatre and newspaper. The result of this edition is not only flattering but shows the caliber of the city and its people and the fineness of their sentiment and nobility of loyalty to home institutions and home enterprise. (SCE 4/16/1927)
A & G Theater - An early advertisement for a Bay St. Louis “moving picture” show boasted that it was a “temple of high-class and educational amusement.”
The first picture show in the Bay, opened in 1905, was described by an early reporter as “rather primitive, the structure resembling in shape of a railroad box car, 50 feet long and by a width of 30feet, and operated by W. Sigerson.
Sigeson sold it to Octave Fayard, who operated the theater on the water side of Front Street, now Beach Boulevard, opposite State Sreet. The theater stretched its length into the Bay of St. Louis where theatergoers could enjoy the cool air over the water while cheering the Keystone Kops. The building valued at $2,700, burned down in 1913.
In spring of 1914,the first of three A&G movie houses opened on the same site under the management of Geraldine Ames and Philomene Gaspard. The following summer, after a successful season, a pavilion was added. Without walls or roof, it was called an air dome,” a popular name of the day for open air theters. It wasn’t long before both were rebuilt and converted to one largebulding which served up the silent pictures for about six years.
In 1927 the brick building housing the new A&G, designed by architect William T. Nolan, was constructed across Front Street. Its two stories in the 42 x 126 building seated 1,000 and included a gallery, one half of which was available to black patrons. A 1927 fire was halted at the brick wall.
The A&G, vacant and unused today except for occasional vendors of snowballs from the old ticket office, is a piece of local history designated in the National Register of Historic Places as follows: “1927. Spanish Colonial Revival. one-story brick building with 2-story false front. Shaped and stepped parapet with ball finials. Recessed central entrance.” The parapet housed the broad copper marquee lighted by electricity “and protecting is patrons against inclement weather conditions, at all times permitting them to drive up in thir automobiles beneath its bounteous shade,” said an admiring Sea Coast Echo reporter in the special edition dedicated to the opening of this grand attraction at the interesection of Front and State streets which cost $60,000.
The interior boasted ornamented plaster, beam ceilings in barrel design, lighted by electricity in set conduits, “making it impossible for a fire to occur. It is cooled by two arctic new air machines driven by electric motors thus providing comfort to the patrons even in the hottest season.” A&G’s first operator was Richard Boudreaux, its organist Mrs. R. Bleu.
So enamored was the Echo of this bright new addition to the community that it dubbed the A&G “a thing of beauty and a joy forever,” perhaps not what the poet Keats had in mind.
A&G / Ortte The Bay’s other picture show was the Ortte, opened in the mid-1940s in a building on Beach Boulevard at Washington Street that housed a number of famous establishments in its day. Originally Augut Keller’s dry goods store built in 1894 after a fire destroyed his earlier store, the brick structure was bought in 1921 by the group that organized the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club. The club floundered after a couple of years until its leaders staged a dance in the building in 1930, inspiring one of its members, Charles A. Breath Sr., to acquire the building and operate a nightclub. In the ‘thirties, Keller’s old store became Uncle Charlie’s Night Club, a lively gathering place in front of which yacht races were held. In the mid-1940s, Ed Ortee who owned several movie houses, bought the building and opened the Ortee Theatr, which operated until 1955 when Joseph Scafide bought it and changed its name to the Star.
The Star changed hands in 1975 when Kelvin Schultz bought it and continued to show films and stage community theater plays until 1984. Mr. Schultz, who operates Big E Grocery in part of the building, recently said that he has hopes of restoring the theater area and presenting films and live entertainment.
A&J Food Store 442 Main (Ph 48 - 55)
Aaron Academy was named for Aaron Frierson, a pioneer of that section.
Ace Bar & Grill Hwy 90 (Ph 50)
Ach, Mr. E. Rex. (Name not certain) sold "Kentwood Manor" house on beach to Mr. Jesse Reed. (SCE Aug 1919 #38 col 1)
Acker, Carter 208 Sycamore (Ph 50 - 55)
Acker, Emmett 220 Ballentine (Ph 50)
Acker, Vanette Farve - Memorial Scholarship
Les Damoiselles, Inc. held kick-off Ceremonies for the Vanette Farve Acker Memorial Scholarship May 23 at St. Rose de Lima Church. The memorial, to be presented each year to a deserving senior from Hancock or Harrison Counties, is to honor the late Vanette Farve Acker, a former member of Les Damoiselles, Inc.
Mrs. Alvira Farve and Harry Farve, mother and brother of the late Mrs. Acker, respectively, received a plaque from the organization. Each year the name of the scholarship recipient will be engraved on the plaque.
Following the award Harry Farve, upon request from his father, Peter Farve, donated the first amount to the fund. Les Damoiselles contributed $150.
Mrs. Ann Bradley, president of the group,announced that a fund has been set up at Hancock Bank and anyone wishing to make a donation may do so at the bank or by contacting any member.
On June 26 at 8 p.m. Les Damoiselles will host their third annual Fashion Show and Dance at the Play Pen Lounge, Gulfport. (Coast Buyers Guide - June 23, 1976)
Acomb, Robt. B. 121 Leonard (Ph 55)
"Ada Villa" - 502 North Beach, BSL. Otis Winnard's house. (CHG)(Note: This house was demolished following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 - CHG)
Adair, Bonnie MD, 976 S. Beach (Ph 86 - 94)
Adam, Miss Anette and Adam, Mr. T. W.
On Thursday, Dec. 1, 1892, at the residence of the bride's brother, Mr. T. W. Adam, at Bay St. Louis, by Rev. Father Alphonse, Mr. P. B. Hand, of Handsboro, and Miss Anette Adam, of Bay St. Louis.
The above announcement will be a pleasant surprise to the friends of the happy couple. Mr. Hand is one of the staunchest citizens of Harrison county, and quite a successful business man. He is owner of a large lumber factory at Handsboro and a foundry at Long Beach, is a public-spirited citizen, and is in every way worthy of the fair bride he has won. Miss Adam is a lovable young lady and Mr. Hand is to be congratulated upon winning such a jewel from the matrimonial field.