PASTIME  . IMPERIAL . LIBERTY . LINCOLN .  PALACE    

                                                                  324 Beale   .  318 Beale  . 252 N. Main

Location of Pastime Theatre - today.

The PASTIME was the first African American MOVIE Theater in Memphis.  It was opened in 1909 by Sam Zerilla, who was a member of the Sousa orchestra.  It is listed continuously at 324 Beale from 1909-1917.  In 1914 the theater changed names to  IMPERIAL for one year and then went back to the PASTIME name until 1917.  (This is the same address as the Beale Palace which didn't open until 1920.  Two years after the Pastime closed, Anselmo Barrasso and the Pacini Brothers, Lorezzo and Angelo opened the Palace Theatre at this address.  They retained the original building as a lobby, used the upper floors for offices, and built an extension to the rear which contained the main part of the auditorium.)    

 

There was also a #2 PASTIME Theater at 252 Main - listed in 1913-1916 directories.

There was a #3 PASTIME at 318 Beale - listed in 1913.  This became the IMPERIAL in 1914, the LIBERTY in 1915, and the LINCOLN in 1918.
 
 

There was also a 2nd LINCOLN at 279 N. Main, listed 1928-1932.  This is the same address as the SUZORES #2 Theatre.
 
 

              324 Beale Addrsss

Pastime #3  - 318 Beale

Pastime Theatre on Main *
 

* We thought the photo on the above right might be the PASTIME Theatre.  We dated and verified the photo to 1914-15 and there was a Pastime on Main at that time.   We know that businessman Sol Coleman ran his cigar shop in this building from 1899 until his death in 1913.  Shortly after his death the building was taken over by Hirsch and Slager Cigars.    Notice the sign on the window behind the cotton bale.  "The PASTIME".  And those standard "theatre lights" are on the canopy above the cotton bale and there are a row of  lights surrounding the "Pastime" sign.  Sadly, we now know that this is not a PASTIME THEATRE, but a billiard hall located on the 2nd floor.
 
 

 

 
   

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