Harlan Kirgan
Legislation that would transfer ownership of the Liberty Theater annex from the National Park Service to the city is a work in progress.
Jerrie Ledoux, community liaison for U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson, said legislation has been sent to the National Park Service for approval.
Ledoux, speaking at the Board of Aldermen’s meeting on Tuesday, said once the Park Service gives its approval the legislation will go before the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
When the subcommittee approves the transfer, the measure goes to the full committee and the to the House.
The National Park Service indicated to the city it wants out of the ownership of the annex. The air conditioning system for the annex and the theater has failed.
Mayor Scott Fontenot explained there is public and private side to the Liberty. A couple from Washington state has purchased the private side and is in the process of making about a million dollars in renovation.
In October, Johnson toured the Liberty Theatre and annex.
Charles Seale, a member of the non-profit Association for the Liberty Theatre of Eunice, conducted the tour of the theater first opened in 1924.
Seale said a four-year plan to bring the theater back to life may cost about $2.5 million.
The first priorities are heating and air conditioning and a fire suppression system, he said.
The theater was originally revived when Curtis Joubert was mayor in an effort to spark tourism.
Since the 1980s, the theater has been the home to a Saturday evening music and cultural program. Falling attendance, maintenance problems and the COVID-19 interrupted the program.