Canal Street Landmark Now For Sale

March 26, 2007

The Joy Theatre, a landmark on Canal Street from its birth in 1947, has been listed for sale through Duff Friend, a Commercial Specialist with NAI/Latter & Blum, for $2.1 million.

The Joy, the last of the Canal Street theaters to be built, first opened on February 7, 1947. The ultra-modern theatre seated 1,250 patrons and cost $275,000 to build. 

The Joy was built on leased land by long-time theater operators Joy Houck (the Theatre’s namesake) and Levere Montgomery, Sr. Houck and Montgomery operated the theater until August 30, 1978, when pressure from suburban theaters forced the operators to close The Joy.  Several months later, New Orleans theater operator Rene Brunet took over operation of the Joy.  Brunet operated the theater for another 25 years, eventually closing the doors in 2003.

 “The building and all improvements reverted to the owners when the land lease expired in 1995,” said NAI/Latter & Blum’s Friend.  “Both building and ground are being offered for sale by heirs of the original owners.”  Friend said while a return to use as a theater is possible, some potential buyers have expressed interest in converting the building to a night club or music hall. A conversion to retail usage has also been discussed.

The Joy is located on a 67’ X 128’ parcel of ground on the uptown lake corner of Canal and Elk Place.  The theater itself is an 8,400 square foot building of concrete and steel construction.

Friend noted a little-known fact about the theater.  “Apparently, Joy Houck had a nice apartment in the Joy Theatre on Canal Street, and so he just stayed at the theater when in New Orleans” said Friend.  “The huge marquee was a great place to watch parades, so he would have his family join him to view the Canal Street parades from the Joy Theatre marquee.” Friend said that no sign of the apartment can be found today.

Joy Houck, Sr. died in 2000, two days before his 99th birthday.

NAI/Latter & Blum, Inc. Realtors, the Gulf South’s largest and oldest real estate company, was established in 1916. Latter & Blum operates commercial real estate offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  The company can be found on the World Wide Web at www.latterblum.com.

For More Information: Don Cooper (504) 885-9080