History: PRINCESS THEATRE, Franklin  Parish, LA. 

Submitted by DeWanna Lindo

August 1998





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The Princess theatre was originally established in 1925, by George Elam.  

Two years later, Elam moved his theatre into a building on Prairie Street 

where it stands today.  Leasing the building from Rowena Ramage, 

Elam worked to improve the building which was built in 1907.

The Princess Theatre brought a new world of entertainment to the

 citizens of Winnsboro.  Black and White silent movies were shown 

on a screen while live piano music brought the films to lived.  

A few years later Elam bought records made to play along with the movies.  

In 1930, a year after sound was added to films, Elam put a sound system 

in the theatre.

Right before World War II, in the early 1940's, Elam added on to the building

making his Theatre longer.

In 1960, Elam sold the theatre to Jack Pope. Pope continued leasing the 

building from Rowena Ramage while keeping the Princess operating just 

as Elam had done.

The opening of Monroe's Pecanland Mall in 1985 forced Pope to close 

the Princess.  Pecanland Mall Cinema had ten movie screens compared 

to the Princesses one.

In 1992, Rowena Ramage gave the Princess Theatre building to the city 

of Winnsboro.  A Theatre Board of Directors was appointed to take care 

of the building.  In 1993, the board announced renovation plans to begin 

immediately on the Princess Theatre.