Savannah Theatre
Savannah, GA Photo courtesy Joyce Kerrigan
That tall neon sign on the corner is enough to get your attention, but the Savannah Theatre has been drawing crowds to this spot on Chippewa Square for more than two centuries. The theater first opened on December 4, 1818, making it one of the oldest continuously operating theater sites in the country.
The original theater was designed by noted architect William Jay, but what you see along Bull Street today came much later. Fires took their toll over the years, including a major blaze in 1948 that gutted the building. The Savannah Theatre came back once again, reopening in 1950 with the Streamline Moderne appearance and great vertical corner sign that gives the place its present-day roadside appeal.
Savannah Theatre box office
Savannah, GA Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
There is plenty of history behind those doors. Oscar Wilde, Sarah Bernhardt, W.C. Fields and Edwin Booth are among the performers who appeared here over the years. Movies eventually became part of the mix too, before the Savannah settled back into its role as a live theater. Today it remains open with musical revues and other stage productions, making this one old marquee that still has something going on underneath it.
The neighborhood has a little Hollywood history of its own. Chippewa Square was used for the bus-stop scenes in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. The actual bench was a movie prop, but the square is unmistakable. Between that bit of movie history and the Savannah's glowing neon around the corner, there's plenty here to keep the camera busy.
Savannah Theatre marquee
Savannah, GA Photo courtesy Paul Bauke
UPDATE: The Savannah Theatre was designed by architect William Jay. In the mid-1900's the Savannah began showing movies until the 1970's. The Savannah Theatre was restored in 2002 and today features an updated sound and light system. The theatre is known as the nations oldest continually-operating theatre. For more historical information on the Savannah Theatre, see the Savannah Theatre website. 04-09
UPDATE: The Savannah Theatre remains open and continues presenting live shows, while its distinctive vertical sign still lights up the corner of Bull and East Hull streets. After surviving fires, rebuildings and more than 200 years of changing entertainment tastes, the show is still going on. 08-26
Ohio Theatre (Rem.)
Louisville, KY Photo courtesy Don Gardner
Those big OHIO Theatre letters still make quite a statement along Fourth Street in downtown Louisville. The Art Deco theater opened in 1941 and once sat right next door to the larger Kentucky Theatre, back when this stretch of downtown had plenty of marquees competing for attention.
Designed by W.S. Arrasmith, the Ohio showed movies for more than three decades before closing in 1975. The auditorium was eventually demolished, but thankfully the wrecking ball didn't get everything.
The old facade, marquee and fantastic vertical OHIO sign were saved. There's no theater behind it anymore, but those giant letters still give you a nice glimpse of what Louisville's old movie row must have looked like after dark.
UPDATE: The auditorium is gone, but the Art Deco facade and towering OHIO sign still survive along Fourth Street. 08-26
Community Theatre (Gone)
Little Rock, AR Photo courtesy Stewart Isbell
The Community Theatre of Little Rock was one of those hometown theater groups that seemed to find a stage wherever it could. Founded in 1956, it became Central Arkansas' oldest community theater tradition, moving through a number of locations around Little Rock over the years.
The group never really had one grand old movie palace to call home. Productions were staged everywhere from a converted feed store to a parish hall and the Arkansas School for the Blind. In 2008, the Community Theatre settled into the PUBLIC Theatre at 616 Center Street, giving the company a downtown storefront home.
Another move came in 2014 when the group joined The Studio Theatre on West 7th Street. The Community Theatre eventually left downtown and later ceased operations, bringing an end to a run that stretched back more than 60 years.
UPDATE: The Community Theatre of Little Rock is no longer operating, and the old theater signage is gone. 08-26
Perry Theatre (Gone)
Perry, GA Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
The Perry Theater in Perry, GA seems to be the victim of traffic
being diverted to new suburban shopping plazas less than a mile away.
The building is located on Commerce Street. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The old Perry Theatre was once a familiar sight along Commerce Street in Perry, complete with its projecting marquee hanging over the sidewalk. The theater actually started life as the Muse Theatre, opening on April 10, 1950 with Nancy Goes to Rio on the screen and seating for more than 700 moviegoers.
Built for the Martin Theatres chain, the Muse went through a few name changes over the years. It became the Simco Cinema in 1973 and finally the Perry Theatre in 1979. Movies continued for a few more years before the theater closed in the early 1980s. Afterward, the old building found other uses, including storage and an antique mall. The Perry marquee seen here eventually came down, but fortunately the building itself escaped the wrecking ball.
UPDATE: The old theater was purchased and renovated in 2021, reopening under its original Muse Theatre name as a special events and gathering space. The old Perry Theatre marquee is gone, but after decades away from the spotlight, the building is seeing people come through its doors again. 08-26
Savannah Theatre
Savannah Theatre box office
Savannah Theatre marquee
Ohio Theatre (Rem.)
Community Theatre (Gone)
Perry Theatre (Gone)
