Fiske Theater
Introduction
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Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
The Fiske Theater was constructed in 1950 and replaced a previous theater that was built in 1928. Similar to other theaters in the South and even some parts of the Midwest and central Appalachia, the Fiske theater practiced racial segregation until the 1960s. Prior to national civil rights legislation, African American patrons restricted to the balcony.
In 1988, building owner Donald Fiske bequeathed the structure to the Chamber of Commerce in his will in 1988. With state funding, civic leaders were able to finance renovations which included new seating and lighting and a modern sound system. thanks to this effort, the historic theater continues to operate on Thursday evenings and weekends. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sources
“West Carroll Parish.” 19 February 2019. http://Louisiana.Gov/Government/Parish_WestCarroll/.
“Fiske Theater Document.” 19 February 2019. https://www.crt.state.la.us/dataprojects/hp/nhl/attachments/Parish62/Scans/62002001.pdf
“Oak Grove’s Fiske Theatre on National Register of Historic Places.” AP Regional State Report – Louisiana 19 February 2019. http://www.fisketheatre.com/page/3080/History.
"History." Fiske Theatre | Oak Grove, LA | History. Accessed February 19, 2019.