RITZ THEATRE
BRIEF HISTORY

The Ritz Theatre opened in 1928 as a silent movie house. It showed its 
first sound film in 1933 and closed in the late-1950's as a movie theatre. 

It was remodeled to its original appearance in 1985. Until its closure in fall of 2008, it was for the past several years home to the Theatre of Gadsden. However, due to its sprinkler system needing to be replaced per the state fire marshal as well as other issues (a new roof, new heating and cooling systems, and new handicap-accessible restrooms), the theater was closed down until funds can be raised to renovate the Ritz Theatre. The cost of renovation is expected to cost at least $100,000.

The Ritz Theatre is located in Gadsden's Alabama City district, a formerly independent town annexed to the city of Gadsden in the 1930's.