For years local graffiti artists turned an abandoned movie theater into a piece of art. Formerly owned by artist Phyllis Sandra, the theater has been on State Street since 1960. In February 2000, she attempted to revamp the shopping center around the theater and turn it into a commercial area. But the price tag was too high, so she opened her empty walls to Baton Rouge artists.
Those walls are being torn down as a result of Sandra’s failed attempt to revamp the shopping center. She sold it to First Worthing, a student housing development company from Texas. New student condos will be built to replace the dilapidated buildings. Therefore everything is being torn down and all the businesses will be relocated.
The local art scene is taking a hit with the destruction of the building. Allowing graffiti artists to paint, or tag, the building expanded the local art scene. For once, it was legal for artists to practice, which is normally looked upon as vandalism.
She agreed to allow people to paint as long as no cursing or vulgarity was involved in the artwork. This way she could ensure the artwork wouldn’t be seen as vandalism. And if vulgar art appeared on the walls, other artists would paint over it.
Aside from helping the local art scene, she loved the artwork the painters created. This building represented an outlet for painters to stray away from illegal activity while doing what they loved. She, along with the artists who painted the building, wished more people could appreciate the art they created.
“There was one point when I was going out and painting at the wall like five or six times a week,” said Fat Tony, a local artist. “Whenever I got an idea in my head, I’d quit what I was doing and go paint.”
      The theater kept many artists out of trouble by making it legal for them to paint. Instead of getting arrested for illegally tagging a wall, Sandra gave them permission to do whatever they wanted. And many of them, no matter how skillful, appreciated the chance to do so.
“I was never a hardcore graff artist by any means,” said Fat Tony. “It was a hobby and I was thankful for a place to get my creativity out in a place where everyone could see it.”
Along with artists appreciating a place to showcase their art, local business owners around the area loved the art as well. But that love came with the price of losing business.
“No matter how much I enjoyed the artwork, the building just wasn’t good for business,” said David Remmetter, owner of Chelsea’s. “There were always panhandlers living in it, coming around our businesses, scaring off customers and begging them for money. Also, there was no telling what else was living in there, could’ve been rats, nutria, along with other rodents.”
With the theater gone, some of the artists have moved to northern Baton Rouge to take advantage of abandoned buildings there.
“The art has even stopped around Chimes Street,” said a tagger, who goes by “Sh8r” and computer science senior. “All of the taggers [graffiti artists] have completely abandoned this scene.”