LIBERTY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Construction of this vaudeville silent movie house began in 1920. Financial failure halted construction on the “Electric Theater” with the outside walls only partially completed. Purchased by Claude Keller and A.F. McGee Sr., the theater was completed and opened July 19, 1924 as the New Liberty Theatre. The theater was purchased by the City of Eunice, renovated and brought back to life through a community restoration project. The Liberty reopened its doors on July 11, 1987, with a 1 1/2-hour live radio program featuring Cajun and Zydeco music, local recipes, and Cajun humor. It is the only show of its kind found anywhere else. The Liberty Center for the Performing Arts, as it has been named, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been included in the Great American Movie Theatres Preservation Press Guide published by the Smithsonian. During its "hey-days" of the 1920's and 30's, personal appearances were made at the Liberty by Fattie Arbuckle, Tex Ritter, Jimmy Clanton, The Bowery Boys and Roy Rogers. In 1986 the city of Eunice was chosen as a regional Rural and Minority Center for the Southern Arts Federation based in Atlanta, Ga. A total of nine Southern states were chosen and the Liberty Center is very proud to have been chosen as Louisiana's representative. Being a part of the Southern Arts Federation's initiative has had a positive impact on the continuing effort to preserve the Acadian Culture. The Liberty Cultural Association's main goal is to preserve and celebrate the culture indigenous to the Acadians with most of its events t aking place at the Liberty. The Association maintains an office at the Eunice City Hall. Every Saturday night from 6:00-7:30pm in the Liberty Center, a live radio and TV show is held featuring both Cajun and Zydeco music in the Grand Old Opry/Louisiana Hayride format. Cajun French is the language of the show with enough English spoken so that everyone can enjoy this unique and one-of-a-kind experience. The Eunice Community Concert Band & Choir is proud to call the Liberty Center...Our Home.