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The Coliseum Civic Center - A Symbol of Civic Pride

Eighty-five years ago (July, 1924) the palatial, multi-purpose Coliseum Theater celebrated its opening in downtown Corinth. The Coliseum has been and remains today the most monumental theatre space in Corinth, Mississippi and the surrounding area.

Built in 1924 by self-styled architect, Benjamin Franklin Liddon, the Coliseum has long been integral to the cultural development of Northeast Mississippi as well as being architecturally significant in its city and state: in the City, as a major congregation space and physical reminder of the richness of the City and County’s past; and in the state, as a breed of shelters for culture built in a day when concern for quality was manifested in people’s reverence of the arts. In its life the Coliseum has served a variety of purposes.

Originally designed as a palatial multi-purpose theatre, the Coliseum has accommodated both live and screen performances in its acoustically perfect auditorium. Traveling Vaudeville Shows came to Corinth by rail to perform in the Coliseum. Child stars often performed here and later became nationally known as adult actors and actresses.During the infancy of the movie industry, a theatre organ in the orchestra pit accompanied the silent screen performances on a screen dropped from the fly area over the stage. Later, “Talkies” arrived and traveling performances by musicians from the Grand Ole Opry and the rock and roll of the Elvis Presley era and others all became a part of the Coliseum’s rich repertoire. In more recent years the Coliseum was the most visited movie theatre in the area and since 1981 has served the Corinth and Alcorn County area as a civic and performing arts center for a myriad of events among diverse groups.