Old Theaters Across America
There is something special about a night at the theater, be it a night of music, dance, film or any other art form. Though some of these historical buildings may have closed down or are under construction, these photos will make you feel like you're stuck in time.
The Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse (Cocoa, Florida)
The Playhouse theater in downtown Cocoa Village, Florida, attracts visitors with its historic architecture. Originally called the Aladdin Theater, it was built in 1924.
Auditorium Theatre (Chicago, Illinois)
This is the auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University in Chicago, a national landmark that officially opened in 1889.
Embassy Theatre (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
The ornate and vintage stage of the Embassy Theater in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is something to see. The theatre is over 90 years old.
The Paramount Theater (Charlottesville, Virginia)
The Paramount Theater first opened in 1931 in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Tennessee Theatre (Knoxville, Tennessee)
The facade of the Tennessee Theater in Knoxville, Tennessee. The theater opened its doors in 1928.
The Paramount Theatre (Austin, Texas)
The Paramount Theatre has been keeping the Austin community entertained since 1915.
Saenger Theatre (New Orleans, Louisiana)
The historic Saenger Theater located in the French Quarter of New Orleans was built in 1927.
Thalian Hall (Wilmington, North Carolina)
The Thalian Hall in Wilmington, North Carolina, was built between 1855 and 1858 as a city hall and a performing arts center.
The Historic Egyptian Theatre (DeKalb, Illinois)
The Egyptian Theatre took inspiration from the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922. It opened in 1929 in DeKalb, Illinois.
Majestic Theatre (San Antonio, Texas)
The historic Majestic Theater is an institution that has brought many famous shows and performers to the city of San Antonio. It was built in 1929.
Tampa Theatre (Tampa, Florida)
Visitors outside of Tampa Theatre in Tampa, Florida. It opened up in 1926.
Rialto Theatre (Joliet, Illinois)
When the Rialto Square Theatre opened in 1926, it was used as a vaudeville theater, a type of entertainment popular around the early 20th century.
Belasco Theatre (Manhattan, New York)
Belasco Theatre is a Broadway theater that opened in 1907 in Midtown Manhattan, New York.
Central City Opera House (Central City, Colorado)
A street view of the historic Central City Opera House in Central City, Colorado. This National Historic Landmark was built in 1878.
Balboa Theatre (San Diego, California)
The Balboa Theatre is located in Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego and first opened in 1924.
Fox Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia)
The Fox Theatre opened in 1928 and is now a world-renowned concert and event venue.
Al. Ringling Theatre (Baraboo, Wisconsin)
The historic Al. Ringling Theater was built in 1915 in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
Pantages Theatre (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
The Pantages Theatre was constructed in 1916 in the primary entertainment district in Minneapolis.
The Grand Opera House (Macon, Georgia)
A photo of the Grand Opera House located in downtown Macon, Georgia. It was constructed in 1904.
The Vagabond Theatre (Baltimore, Maryland)
The Vagabond Theatre was founded in 1916 and plays an important role in the theater community in Baltimore.
The Pabst Theater (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
The Pabst Theater is an indoor concert venue that opened in 1895 in Milwaukee.
Michigan Theater (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
This over-1,700-seat theater opened in 1928. The Michigan Theater has become a monument to the community of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Kings Theatre (Brooklyn, New York)
A view outside of the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York. The Kings Theatre originally opened in 1929.
Uptown Theatre (Chicago, Illinois)
Located in the uptown area of Chicago, the Uptown Theatre opened its doors to the public in 1921.
Ramsdell Theatre (Manistee, Michigan)
The exterior of the historic Ramsdell Theatre, built in 1903 to host plays, operas and cultural events.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre (St. Louis, Missouri)
A vertical sign marks the Fabulous Fox Theatre location in St. Louis. The theater opened in 1929.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre (Los Angeles, California)
Grauman's Chinese Theatre, also known as TCL Chinese Theatre, opened to the public in 1927 in Los Angeles.
Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia was founded in 1809, making it the oldest theater in the United States.
The Paramount Arts Center (Ashland, Kentucky)
The Paramount Arts Center first opened in 1931 as a movie house in Ashland, Kentucky.
Tivoli Theatre (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
The famous Tivoli Theater in Chattanooga, Tennessee, opened in 1921 and has been entertaining the community for over 90 years.
Palace Theatre (Manhattan, New York)
The Palace Theatre is one place you're likely to spot a celebrity in New York. The theater was built in 1913.
Byham Theater (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
The Byham Theater first opened its doors to Pittsburgh in 1904.
Holland Theater (Bellefontaine, Ohio)
The Holland Theater has been entertaining the people of Bellefontaine, Ohio, since 1931.
The Croswell Opera House (Adrian, Michigan)
Michigan's oldest operating theater is the Croswell Opera House that was built in 1866.
Brook Arts Center (Bound Brook, New Jersey)
The Brook Arts Center, also known as the Brook Theater, is a historical feature in Bound Brook, New Jersey. It was constructed in 1926.
Dock Street Theatre (Charleston, South Carolina)
The Dock Street Theater in Charleston, South Carolina, shown all lit up at night. The Dock Street Theater's first performance dates back to 1736, before the original building was most likely destroyed by a fire.
Alger Theater (Detroit, Michigan)
A photo of the Alger Theater taken in 1938. The theater opened in 1935 as a neighborhood cinema.
Playhouse Square (Cleveland, Ohio)
One of Cleveland's splashiest new landmarks is the giant chandelier suspended above Euclid Avenue in the center of the theater district near the Playhouse Square. This district was home to five historical theatres, Allen Theatre, Connor Palace, Hanna Theatre, KeyBank State Theatre and Mimi Ohio Theatre in the early 1920s.
Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix, Arizona)
Sitting in the center of downtown Phoenix, the Orpheum Theatre was built in 1929.
Fox Theater (Hutchinson, Kansas)
Hutchinson's Fox Theater is considered a local landmark for the community of Hutchinson, Kansas. It opened in 1931 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Grand Theater (Wausau, Wisconsin)
The Grand Theater in Wausau, Wisconsin, was built in 1899 and originally fit only 890 seats.
Tibbits Opera House (Coldwater, Michigan)
Tibbits Opera House was constructed in 1882 and is the second oldest operating theater in Michigan.
Lincoln Theatre (Columbus, Ohio)
The Lincoln Theatre played an integral part in the African American community in Columbus, Ohio. It first opened in 1928 and was a landmark in African American and jazz history.
Tower Theatre (Bend, Oregon)
The Tower Theatre is a historic theater that has been around for nearly 80 years and has been an important outlet for the performing arts in Bend, Oregon.
Riley Center (Meridian, Mississippi)
The Riley Center first opened up as the Grand Opera House in the late 1800s. After reconstruction, it was later renamed and is now operated by Mississippi State University in Meridian, Mississippi.
Providence Performing Arts Center (Providence, Rhode Island)
Providence Performing Arts Center opened as a movie palace in 1928 in Providence, Rhode Island. The building is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mabel Tainter Theater (Menomonie, Wisconsin)
Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts sits on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Stout in Menominee, Wisconsin. The theater was built in 1889 as a tribute to a young woman named Mabel Tainter, who loved music and the arts.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre (Rochester, New York)
The Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre first opened its doors in 1922 and has since been a prominent performance space in Rochester, New York, welcoming some of the world's greatest musicians and composers through its doors.
Castro Theatre (San Francisco, California)
The Castro Theatre is a popular movie palace built in 1922 with a Spanish Colonial Baroque facade. These historical buildings aren't the only works of art. Here are some amazing photos of street murals around the world you need to see.