On this day in 1896, the Vitascope Hall opened in New Orleans, offering a unique entertainment experience as the first for-profit movie theater in the United States. It also served as a stage to show films shot in France and England, introducing a new form of entertainment to the American audience. The theater hosted a group of people whose lives have gone on to shape history as we know it today. The Vitascope Hall has names like Thomas Edison, the Mayo brothers, and William Randolph Hearst. The movie theater was a great success initially and showed off many of the new-fangled movies from Europe. That said, it was also a great success in its closing days. Most of the European films did not impact American audiences much, so business dropped off quickly.

Facts about 26,1896- Vitascope Hall

• The theater was the brainchild of the pioneering Mayo brothers, Robert and Jules. In 1896, they made history by being the first to use the Vitascope, a revolutionary film projector that could project moving pictures onto a stage.
• The Vitascope Hall, a significant landmark in the history of cinema, was located on Lyon Street near St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. This location was chosen strategically to attract a large audience due to its proximity to the bustling St. Charles Avenue. The theater opened its doors to the public on July 26, 1896, marking the beginning of a new era in entertainment.
• Most of the movies shot in Europe did not impact American audiences much, so business dropped off pretty quickly. Many people had been to the Vitascope Hall at least once.
• One of New Orleans’s most notorious characters, Auguste Joseph Deyss, was a key figure in the theater’s history. He owned the theater and played a significant role in its operations and management, contributing to its unique character and appeal.
• Auguste Joseph Deyss, a colorful character in New Orleans, owned the Vitascope Hall. His diverse talents ranged from performing circus tricks to working as a bouncer and even serving as a road agent for gambling hells and brothels around New Orleans.
• A second Vitascope Hall was opened for business at 1048 Canal Street in New Orleans between November 15 and December 16, 1901. The building burned down on December 31, 1903.