The Bijou Theatre, Jackson: Ever Wonder What That Word Meant?

We have gone over history and photos of Jackson’s old Bijou movie theater before..... but have you ever wondered about the name? There have been countless “Bijou” theaters throughout the entire country, but why? What does it mean?

‘Bijou’ is a French word meaning ‘jewel’. According to lerobert.com, “The French word 'bijou' primarily refers to a small, ornate object valued for its material or craftsmanship, often used for personal adornment, such as rings, necklaces, or brooches.”

So in English, it translates as "jewel" or "piece of jewelry". So I assume that when theaters give themselves that name, they are calling their establishment “the jewel of the city”.

Get our free mobile app

The building that housed the Bijou Theatre in Jackson was demolished in 1950. It sat on the southwest corner of Francis Street and Cortland and was built in 1882 as the Hibbard Opera House. The Bijou took over in 1908 until 1920, when it became the Regent Theater. When a small diner opened up across the street in 1926, it was named after the theater and called the “Regent Cafe’”.

While it was named the Regent, it became the first movie theater in Jackson to show a talking motion picture. The film was The Lion and the Mouse starring Lionel Barrymore, debuting at the Regent on Dec. 8, 1928.

During the 1940s, the Regent had enough and closed down.....then demolished in 1950.The site STILL sits empty and is used as a parking lot. Destroying that building was a HUGE mistake. Can you imagine the possibilities that historic venue could be used for these days?

Scroll down to see a few photos.