Pix Capri Theatre
| Pix/Capri Theatre | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne |
| Town or city | 3023 North State Street Jackson, Mississippi |
| Country | United States |
| Completed | 1939 |
Pix/Capri Theatre is a historic movie theater in Jackson, Mississippi. It is currently undergoing renovation and is anticipated to reopen for business in 2014.
Built in 1939 as the Pix Theatre, on the historic US Highway 51, known as North State Street in Jackson. While many Jackson movie theaters were going strong through the 1950s, the Pix ceased operations by 1957. In 1965, the building was sold to Cinema Guild Inc and reopened as The Capri Theatre. The Capri was initially successful; however, with the development of multiplex theaters in the metro Jackson market, the Capri changed formats and began relying on second run/bargain films by the late 1970s. By the early 1980s, the Capri had begun to showcase X rated films in order to remain open. In 1985, the Capri closed, although daily ads continued to appear in the Clarion Ledger Newspaper up to two months after the theater's closing. The Pix/Capri was designed by notable Jackson architect, Jack Canizaro, who was also an investor in the project. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History designated the building as a Mississippi Landmark. [1] The southeastern corner of the theatre building served as the founding location for two legendary Jackson businesses: The Rogue & Good Company clothing store, which continues to operate in another location; and BeBop Records, which was the largest independent music retailer in Mississippi for many years.
By 2005, after twenty years of sitting vacant, the Capri reopened as a venue for live music, independent films and live theater performances. Various groups made efforts to raise money for its restoration without success. More recently, Jackson lawyer and developer Jason Watkins has announced plans to develop the historic building into a mixed use venue including a multiscreen dinner theater.[2]