The Ritz Theater and Conference Center in West Point, MS underwent historic preservation and renovation in 2009 with Founding Director and Architect Roger Pryor, AIA serving as the architect in charge. The project consisted of portions of the historic theater being preserved and the addition of a conference center and banquet hall. A café was also added. The venue is now used for weddings and special events.

A Lesson in History

The Ritz Theater opened in the 1930s as the first theater in northeast Mississippi featuring “talking pictures.” Seating was listed at 660. It was initially operated as a Publix/Malco partnership. By 1950 it was operated by Malco followed by Gulf Theatres. The Ritz Theater closed as a movie theater sometime in the mid-1950s. The Ritz was renovated in 1985 by the Tennessee Valley Art Association to accommodate the organization’s performing arts programs. The original l1930’s art deco interior style has been preserved.