RITZ  . GUILD  .  EVERGREEN   .  CIRCUIT PLAYHOUSE 1705 Poplar      
 
Opened 1928  .     Closed 1967 .  Seats 800.

Renamed The Guild Theatre ... circa 1955 .  Renamed The Circuit Playhouse ... circa 1981

The building was damaged by fire in 1955 and was rebuilt.  Today, the building is structurally sound and has retained many of its architectural features.   It's currently available for rentals.

The Ritz on Poplar is listed in the 1928 through 1958 Memphis Directories.  The address varies from 1705 to 1707 Poplar.

 
 

Ritz - Circa 1930

Ritz at night

Vintage photo of Ritz

The Guild

 

The Evergreen

The Circuit Playhouse

Interior

1940 Ad

1953 Ad

 
 

   




There were other Ritz Theaters -  One on Mississippi and one on Madison.  Neither of these is listed in the  Memphis Directories.  The Mississippi Ritz opened in 1959, closed 1967, had 800 seats, and was demolished in 1969.

 

1490 Mississippi

Madison

 April 4, 1950

 
 
 

Walter Bolton:  "There were two different Ritz Theaters.  At one time the Guild was named The Ritz... In addition, in segregated Memphis, the "white Ritz" was on Poplar, and the "colored Ritz" was on Mississippi.  The one on Poplar had a large fire and after it was re-modeled, it became an art house and the name was changed to GUILD."

 

 

   

 

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