[5], The building not only featured a Robert Morton organ which currently is in reconstruction, but also 2,250 leather-backed seats, extravagant chandeliers and more than eight pounds of silver for its silver screen. Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell or Share My Info | Sitemap a carbonhouse experience. Its a very wide range of performances. . The opening of the Saenger Theater was a big event in Hattiesburg. Saenger Theatre | New Orleans | Official Website Designed by architect Emile Weile of New Orleans, the Saenger was one of only two movie palaces in Mississippi. [7] This second grand re-opening took place on March 26, 2009 to "Jesus Christ Superstar. first Saenger chain of theatres in this area. The Saenger Theatre of Mobile now functions as a performing arts center and is the official home of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. During the closing, the city also cleaned the stonework on the front of the theater and performed an architectural inspection of the Mobile icon. Destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Saenger reopened in 2013 after a $53 million revitalization project. Then owners, ABC/Paramount, closed the Mobile Saenger and removed the projection equipment in early 1970. Through the years, the Saenger provided Mobilians with outstanding theatrical entertainment on the live stage and motion picture screen. Everyone in the theater could hear the organ perfectly. The 4,000-seat theatre [4] took three years to build and cost $2.5 million. Admission was five cents. [5], In 1978, it was sold for slightly more than $1 million to E.B. The full schedule has yet to be released. Six | Broadway In New Orleans Open hours: daily - 24 hours Admission: no charge The $53 million redevelopment project features an authentic restoration of the original 1927 design. The Center for the Living Arts, with donations from the community, restored the historic Mobile Saenger at a cost of about six million dollars. There were other movie houses in the city, but the Saenger brought popular, first-run films to town and was considered the "elite" theater. An added attraction was "Bank Night" when a door prize of as much as $50 was offered. The walls were made of special acoustical plaster. In addition to silent motion pictures, and later motion pictures with sound, Vaudeville and Broadway shows were frequent favorites. pictures have been developed and the motion picture In 1912 the Saenger Amusement Company was organized The overall cost to build the Saenger was a total of $500,000 and was constructed by C.H. It was part of a 300-theater chain that the Saenger brothers built in the South during the 1920s. February may sound a little early for spring cleaning, But, thats not the case with the Saenger Theater in Mobile. After briefly closing in the 70s and reopening in the 1980s, the theatre housed a variety of events from live performances to films. PublishedFebruary 13, 2020 at 5:12 AM CST, Alabama Public Radio | As entertainment evolved, so did the Saenger, eventually showing only talking pictures starting in the 1930s. The Saenger Theatre of Mobile now functions as downtown Mobile's premiere live music concert venue and performing arts center and is the official home of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. Over the years, the Saenger was New Orleans premier movie theatre, hosting first run releases of every major motion picture release in the nation. 2023 Neworleans.com All Rights Reserved. During the expansion peak 320 Taylor said not only does the Saenger contribute to the local economy, it is a vibrant piece of Hattiesburg's history. First renovation and return to prominence, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, "Saenger Theatre, the New Orleans Home for Broadway Tours, Among Thousands of Buildings Impacted by Hurricane", "Deal would see New Orleans' Saenger Theatre reopen by 2011", "Saenger Theatre renaissance is under way", "Saenger Theatre marquee lights coming back on", "Downtown Awaits Return Of Saenger Theatre - Construction On $46M Project Hasn't Started", "Saenger Theatre overhaul breaks financial logjam", "The Saenger Theatre in New Orleans reopens Sept. 28 with Jerry Seinfeld", "Saenger Theatre History & Venue Information | Official Site", http://saengeramusements.com/theatres/nawlins/saenger/organ/nosabhl.jpg, Houstonians to renovate New Orleans theater, Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, New Orleans, History of the National Register of Historic Places, List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state, List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places, University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places portal, Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saenger_Theatre_(New_Orleans)&oldid=1165604038, Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Louisiana, National Register of Historic Places in New Orleans, Articles using NRISref without a reference number, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with image file bare URLs for citations, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Articles with MusicBrainz place identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, San Antonio, This page was last edited on 16 July 2023, at 07:05. Milam streets, decided to enter the amusement field. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Louisiana's Must See-It-To-Believe-It Festivals, Dont Miss the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival, Louisiana State Parks Offer Cabin Getaways. Neuss - Travel guide at Wikivoyage The Saenger Theatre was designed by Roy Benjamin, an architect, and cost $200,000 to build The Saenger features the annual "Summer Movie Series" and presents numerous concerts, lectures and special events. Saenger Theatre | Explore Louisiana Saenger Theatres Corporation, Saenger-Ehrlich Enterprises, Over the years, the Saenger was New Orleans premier movie theatre . blazed the trail upon which was built a broad and It had a 778-pipe Robert Morton organ which was designed specifically for the theater's acoustics. For much of that time, it was the grandest of the operating theatrical venues that were clustered around a three-block section of Canal Street and adjacent streets. where the Strand Theatre, a building of magnificent Hailed as Alabamas Greatest Showplace, and the most beautiful playhouse in all of Dixie, the Mobile Saenger Theatre took a year to construct at a cost of about 500,000 dollars. Mr. Weil is also known for designing theaters in Mobile, Alabama, as well as New Orleans and Shreveport, both of Louisiana. Remembering The Saenger Theatre - Pine Bluff Replica of the London . It is one of the only Robert Morton organs still in its original housing. Its really holding up well, he says. In fact, many were demolished to make way for parking lots and general urban development. brilliantly lighted avenue of amusesment. The theater in Pine Bluff is one of just a few Saenger movie palaces still standing. Architect Emile Weil designed the interior of an atmospheric theatre to recall an Italian Baroque courtyard. After being closed for 8 years, the Saenger reopened to sold out performances by Jerry Seinfeld. Inc., of Shreveport, and Paramount-Richards Theatres, Inc., Strand Theatre (Shreveport, Louisiana) Emile Weil (January 20, 1878 - January 19, 1945) was a noted architect of New Orleans, Louisiana. "Whatever hotel was open at the time, (people) would stay there and come to watch the movies.". deeply before exhaling a new record of expansion that in store for the greatest amusement enterprise of history, opened, E. V. Richards became president and managing The top ticket price was 65 cents, and the bill for each performance included a silent movie and stage play (produced by the Paramount-Publix Corporation), and music from the Saenger Grand Orchestra.[6]. Saenger Brothers and E. V. Richards where pioneers who courtesy of Dr. Barry Henry. It was equipped with a Robert Morton theatre organ. "It has given confidence to show producers, such as LiveNation, that they can work easily with the theater's professional staff to help review, plan and package shows that have the highest likelihood of success.". "It was made to show movies, but it could also have live performances," said Nathan Jennings, Saenger manager. [2] It is the official home of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra and also serves as the venue for movie festivals, concerts, lectures and special events. In New Orleans, which city he has made his Work will include stripping paint to reveal the building's original color scheme, along with using historic photographs to match hardware such as doors, light fixtures, and windows as closely as possible. "We treasure the Saenger, as do the people of Hattiesburg, for its splendor, history, architecture and link to an age of elegance," he said. "It's supposed to be a fancy, grand palace. About Us. Unseen are not only the left side, but all the floor seats in the front half of the theatre. That included vaudeville shows back in the 1920s, and more recently, the very first Junior Miss Pageant, Were the home of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. We hear stories from all walks of life. [3], The theatre, often referred to as the Grand Dame of Palafox was first built in 1925[4][5][6][7] and was designed by architect Emile Weil in the style known as Spanish Baroque architecture. Hattiesburg's historic Saenger Theater still making an impact today If that sounds like a bargain, remember when that was. Its owners gifted it to the City. By the 14th century, Dusseldorf had developed into a small city that had grown up under the shadows of a defensive wall. 1975 brought sadness as the doors to the once magnificent Saenger closed; however, it was not forgotten. [2] Brothers Drug Store, Shreveport, Louisiana. [8], During World War II, the theater stayed open around the clock so that local citizens were able to watch newsreels at any time of the day, or night. 504-218-1385 Email us General inquiries . director, a position he still occupies with offices in No detail was overlooked, including using historical photos to match hardware, light fixtures, windows and more. It had a seating capacity of 1,802. In 1989, the Saenger Theater was listed in A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press. We are excited to have a role in preserving that tradition in the building while also presenting modern-day events in this art deco palace.".