The Fiske Theater Research Paper

History is something that every community has, and pieces of local history are essential to an area's culture. The Fiske Theatre is a rare gem in Northeast Louisiana. Founded in 1929, and later re-constructed in 1950, the theatre is a great marvel of architecture for its’ time. The Fiske, as locals call it, is a central part and in some ways an icon for Oak Grove, Louisiana. It was and still is a thriving business within Oak Grove.

The founder and owner, Donald B. Fiske, was a local business owner of numerous stores and restaurants in Oak Grove. One of his many assets was a drive-thru movie theatre located in nearby Lake Providence, Louisiana. Mr. Fiske was a man that desired prestige and accepted nothing but the best. When plans were made to construct the new, modern day, facility Mr. Fiske hired the accomplished architect B.W. Stevens. Stevens is most famous as being the lead architect on The Joy, built in 1947, which resides on Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.
After the 1950 construction, The Fiske Theatre was named as the most modern theatre in 1951 by the Theatre Equipment catalog.
All public facilities in Louisiana prior to 1964 had to be segregated. In accordance with state law, The Fiske had to include a “colored section,” which included: a balcony, separate restrooms, and a side entrance exclusive to blacks. Once segregation ended the separate entrance was no longer used and the whole facility was available to people of all
races.

In January of 2010 The Fiske Theatre re-opened with Dolby Digital Surround Sound, and Dolby Digital Projection a year later. I have had the privilege to be a part of The Fiske Theatre as an employee in the box office and concession stand. Owner of Holland Entertainment and Operator of The Fiske Theatre, Mayor Adam Holland was a major contributor and leader with the Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce in bringing the theatre back to its glory. “This theatre is my passion. It is part of what this community is and will forever be an iconic feature of this wonderful town that I call home.”-Mayor Adam Holland.

Since The Fiske has only one theatre within its facility, films are presented to the public with a different one each week. On Friday and Saturday, shows are at 7:00 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Thursdays at 7:00 PM, the film from the previous week is shown again to accommodate to anyone who may have missed the presentation.

As an employee, I have learned to appreciate my community much more from working at The Fiske Theatre. I have felt, first hand, the nostalgia that people feel when they come back to the theatre. Working there can, in a sense, take one back in time to rich times in Louisiana’s and Oak Grove’s history.

Culture is what unifies a group of people. The culture of Oak Grove has evolved around The Fiske Theatre over time, where it is now a central part of the city. So I would invite everyone to one day come out and see The Fiske to place your feet where many have come and gone. Let us go back in time to imagine and see her glory days.