The Ritz Theatre originally opened as the Grand Theatre in 1913. It was initially a vaudeville and live performance space but was screening silent movies by 1914. In 1917, it was renamed the Orpheum Theatre. By 1935, it was acquired by a Paramount Pictures subsidiary and a significant renovation and redesign was completed. It’s name was changed to the Ritz. The fine Art Deco work is credited to prominent Jacksonville architect Roy A. Benjamin, one of the architects of the iconic Florida Theatre. The Ritz showed its last regular run movies in 1977, with some features still playing until 1984. It became the home of the Waycross Area Community Theatre in 1986 and still serves that purpose today.
Downtown Waycross Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
According to Special Pictorial edition of the Morning Herald in 1913, the Grand Theatre on Pendleton Street was built by contractor J.B. Strickland for $7,000.
Before the interstates, we used to travel through Waycross on the way to South Carolina on Christmas and summer vacations. I remember as a child being fascinated by th downtowns of the small towns and cities we passed. Waycross and Thomasville were to me most memorable. I am now going online to look into downtown Waycross today and see what it’s like. The old movie theater is a classic. So glad it’s been repurposed.
I saw movies there as a child. We went to a movie after church on Sunday and my Grandmother went into the bathroom and took off her gurdle and put it in her purse. That became a family joke for many years. I’m 60 years old now and Grandmother is long gone but that memory still puts a smile on my face.
Such a cute memory!! Certainly couldnt sit thru a movie wearing a girdle!! Jimmie Batchelor gigi945451@yahoo.com