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.
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