These two photos of the renovations,taken in 1932, potentially provide an insight into the segregated politics of labor in the South of the 1930s. 

The first photo shows an alley side entrance to the theatre, with trucks and carts carrying bricks and debris. There are six identifiable figures in the photo, men resting on beams and brick stacks, a woman standing and looking almost directly into the camera.  The second photo shows three workers inside of the theatre, entering the lobby from the auditorium. The people in the alley all appear to be African American. The people in the lobby all appear to be White.

While there is certainly no conclusion to be made from only two photos, it is an interesting thing to ponder, especially in conjunction with the most famous event to take place at the Loew’s Grand. When “Gone with the Wind” had its premiere at the theatre seven years after these photos were taken, the African American stars of the film were not allowed to attend, and were removed from all promotional materials. This event caused great controversy, and the film’s director David Selznick had to convince leading man Clark Gable not to boycott the premiere entirely.

(credit: American Theatre Architecture Archive, Theatre Historical Society of America)