The “New Astor Theatre” debuting silent films in 1928. In 1932 the theatre was sold to prominent Ruston citizen T.L. James, who oversaw renovations and the installation of the grand chandelier that resides in the theatre to this day. The theatre reopened as the “Rialto,” and began showing “talkies,” movies with sound, but suffered a fire in early 1933, destroying parts of the stage, seating, and the sound and stage equipment. The Rialto prevailed though, and became “North Louisiana’s most magnificent show house” with completely new interior décor a few months later.In 1937 the Dixie Theatre Corporation of New Orleans took over management of the theatre and altered the front lobby to include a street-accessed box office, a confectionary shop, and a segregated entrance. The name was changed again too, this time to the “Dixie Theater.”
Early maps of Ruston called this area the "depot grounds." It had been developed into a park by the early 1900s. Thousands of public events have been staged here over the past 100+ years from carnivals and concerts to pet shows and pep rallies.
After the first Harris Hotel burned down in 1927, the Harrises moved their operation to this structure. Known alternately as the Harris Hotel and Hotel Ruston, the upper floor later served as a hospital. During World War II, it housed officers running the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps at Camp Ruston. From 1975 into the 90s, the ground floor housed Stow’s Bar, a popular gathering place, especially for college students. The upstairs windows are boarded up and with good reason. Some local residents swear the old hospital upstairs is haunted! Numerous accounts of odd noises and ghostly apparitions have convinced many that patients of the hospital still linger on the premises.
This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.
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US Highway 80 from Ruston to the Mississippi state line is designated a Louisiana Scenic Byway. Explore the history along this road as you see the beautiful landscapes along its path.
