Alabama Theatre

The Alabama Theatre is a historic movie palace and performing-arts venue in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. Built in 1927 by Paramount's Publix Theatres chain as its flagship theater for the southeastern United States, it was designed for the silent-film era, when large theaters combined film exhibition with live musical accompaniment and elaborate architectural interiors. At opening, the venue seated approximately 2,500 people and was the largest theater in Birmingham's theater district, a downtown entertainment area that once included numerous movie palaces, vaudeville houses, nickelodeons and performance venues. The theater retains many of the characteristics associated with the great American movie-palace tradition, including ornamental interior decoration and its original Wurlitzer theater organ. The organ, known as Big Bertha, is a Crawford Special-Publix One Mighty Wurlitzer. It was installed with 20 ranks of pipes and later expanded to 32 ranks, together with percussion instruments and sound effects. The instrument is one of only a small number of this model still operating in its original location and remains an important part of the theater's identity, particularly for silent-film presentations and organ programs. During its early decades, the Alabama served as more than a cinema. It hosted weekly meetings of Birmingham's Mickey Mouse Club chapter, which had grown to more than 7,000 members by 1935 and eventually exceeded 18,000 members. The theater also hosted the Miss Birmingham pageant from 1935 through 1948 and the Miss Alabama pageant from 1949 through 1966. These uses illustrate the venue's role as a civic and cultural gathering place as well as a commercial theater. The Alabama survived a 1934 fire at the adjacent Loveman's of Alabama department store because a substantial firewall protected the auditorium. The theater suffered smoke damage, but the staining remained visible until the building's major restoration in 1998. Its longer-term prospects became more uncertain as downtown Birmingham declined during the 1960s and 1970s and many neighboring theaters closed. Plitt Theatres shut the Alabama in 1981 and sold it to Cobb Theaters. Attempts to reopen it were unsuccessful, and a later effort by developers Costa and Head to revive the venue through classic-film screenings ended when their company entered bankruptcy in 1986. The theater was ultimately saved through a preservation campaign led in part by the Alabama chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, which had maintained the organ since the 1970s. Birmingham Landmarks, Inc., a nonprofit initially formed to preserve the building, purchased the theater in 1987. Under the nonprofit's ownership, it became known as the Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts before returning to the shorter Alabama Theatre name in common usage. A comprehensive restoration in 1998 cleaned or replaced decorative paint and gold leaf, renewed seating, and replaced or recovered selected carpeting and draperies. The work coincided with the conversion of the former Loveman's building into the McWane Science Center, helping reinforce the area's cultural-revitalization strategy. The Alabama and Birmingham Landmarks' nearby Lyric Theatre are the only surviving theaters from Birmingham's historic theater district that remain in operation. Birmingham Landmarks owns both venues. The Alabama now presents a broad program of approximately 250 events annually, including touring theatrical productions, ballet, opera, concerts, film screenings and special events, drawing more than 400,000 visitors according to the cited historical reference. The building and its organ were listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1977 and on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The theater was surveyed several times by the Historic American Buildings Survey and was designated Alabama's official state historic theater in 1993.

Plans for a major Paramount-affiliated theater in Birmingham were announced in 1926. Groundbreaking was delayed until April 1, 1927, but construction proceeded in time for the theater's scheduled opening on December 26 of that year. The concrete-and-steel building reportedly cost about $1.5 million and was developed by Paramount's Publix Theatres chain as its flagship venue for the southeastern region. Designed for silent movies, it opened with a theater organ and the large auditorium capacity typical of the movie-palace era. The Alabama quickly became a prominent civic and entertainment venue. In addition to Hollywood films, it hosted local pageants and community events. The Birmingham Mickey Mouse Club held weekly Saturday meetings there beginning in the 1930s; the organization became exceptionally large by contemporary standards. The theater hosted the Miss Birmingham pageant from 1935 to 1948 and the Miss Alabama pageant from 1949 to 1966. Its Wurlitzer organ provided accompaniment for silent films and became one of the building's defining cultural assets. A 1934 fire destroyed the neighboring Loveman's of Alabama department store. The Alabama's firewall prevented major structural damage, although smoke entered through auditorium air vents. The resulting marks remained for decades. Meanwhile, Birmingham's downtown theater district weakened during the 1960s and 1970s as suburban development, changing entertainment habits and urban decline reduced the viability of traditional movie palaces. Most nearby theaters closed. The Alabama was closed by Plitt Theatres in 1981 and sold to Cobb Theaters of Birmingham. Cobb made several unsuccessful attempts to reopen it. The property then passed to developers Costa and Head, who presented classic-film programs as part of a downtown revival effort. That venture did not succeed and the developers filed for bankruptcy in 1986. Preservationists were particularly concerned about the fate of the theater organ. The Alabama chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society had maintained the instrument since the 1970s and explored removing it for safekeeping, but creditors regarded the organ as one of the building's most valuable assets and did not permit its removal. The organ-preservation effort helped produce a broader campaign to save the entire theater. Birmingham Landmarks, Inc., a nonprofit organization formed for preservation purposes, acquired the building in 1987. The theater was subsequently identified as the Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts, reflecting a program that extended beyond cinema. Birmingham Landmarks later became the owner of the Alabama and also acquired the nearby Lyric Theatre, another historic Birmingham venue. Recognition followed the preservation campaign. The Alabama and its organ had already been placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1977, and the building entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Historic American Buildings Survey documentation was undertaken on several occasions, with a major survey referenced in 1996. In 1993, Alabama designated the venue as its state historic theater. The building underwent a full restoration in 1998. Decorative paint and gold leaf were cleaned or renewed, seats were replaced or reupholstered, and selected carpets and drapes were replaced. The project coincided with the redevelopment of the neighboring Loveman's building as the McWane Science Center, linking the theater's preservation to a wider downtown cultural-revitalization effort. The Alabama remains in operation as a multipurpose arts and entertainment venue. Its programming includes film, concerts, Broadway-style theater, ballet, opera and community events. The theater reportedly hosts roughly 250 events per year and attracts over 400,000 visitors. Together with the Lyric Theatre, it is one of the only surviving operating theaters from Birmingham's historic theater district.

1. 1998Comprehensive restoration

   The theater received extensive restoration work affecting finishes, seating, carpeting and draperies.

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2. 1993State historic-theater designation

   The venue became Alabama's official state historic theater.

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3. 1987Preservation acquisition

   Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. purchased the theater through a campaign to preserve the building and its organ.

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4. 1986Costa and Head bankruptcy

   A redevelopment and classic-film effort associated with Costa and Head ended after the developers filed for bankruptcy.

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5. 1981Closure under Plitt Theatres

   Plitt Theatres closed the venue and sold it to Cobb Theaters of Birmingham.

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6. 1979National Register listing

   The Alabama Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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7. 1977State heritage listing

   The theater and organ were added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

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8. 1935Mickey Mouse Club meetings expand

   The theater hosted weekly meetings of Birmingham's Mickey Mouse Club chapter, which became one of the largest such clubs.

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9. 1934Adjacent department-store fire

   A fire destroyed the neighboring Loveman's department store, while the Alabama's firewall limited the theater's damage largely to smoke effects.

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10. 1927Theater opens

    Groundbreaking took place on April 1, and the Alabama Theatre opened on December 26 as a large silent-film palace.

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11. 1926Construction plans announced

    Plans were announced for a major Paramount Publix theater in Birmingham.

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A preservation-led civic and cultural venue that combines historic movie-palace architecture, live performance, film exhibition and organ heritage.

• Film screeningsCinema programming1927

  Film exhibition is part of the Alabama Theatre's original identity as a 1927 movie palace. The venue was built for silent films and continues to present selected films, including classic-film programs and screenings supported by the historic theater organ.

• Live performing artsPerforming-arts programming

  The theater presents a mixed program of live entertainment that can include Broadway-style theatrical productions, ballet, opera, concerts and special events. This diversified schedule reflects the venue's later role as a performing-arts institution rather than a single-purpose cinema.

• Big BerthaHistoric theater organ1927

  Big Bertha is the Alabama Theatre's Crawford Special-Publix One Mighty Wurlitzer. The four-manual organ was originally installed with 20 ranks and later expanded to 32, with percussion and sound effects. It supports silent-film accompaniment, organ performances and the venue's preservation identity.

• 1987Alabama Theatre preservation campaign

  Birmingham · Alabama · United States

  The Alabama chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society and other preservation supporters helped organize a campaign to save the theater and its Wurlitzer organ. Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. ultimately acquired the property.

  Outcome. The theater was preserved under nonprofit ownership and continued operating as a cultural venue.

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• 1998Historic restorationOther

  The theater required renewal after decades of operation, including remediation of long-standing smoke staining from the 1934 neighboring-building fire.

  What changed. The restoration cleaned or replaced decorative finishes, renewed seating and replaced or recovered selected soft furnishings.

  Aftermath. The restored venue continued as a major Birmingham entertainment and cultural destination.

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• 1987Nonprofit preservation acquisitionM&A

  The theater's organ and building faced an uncertain future after earlier reopening efforts failed.

  What changed. Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. purchased the Alabama Theatre to preserve the property and its organ.

  Aftermath. The venue remained available for film and performing-arts use and later underwent major restoration.

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• 1981Closure and attempted ownership transitionStrategy

  Declining downtown Birmingham activity contributed to the closure of many traditional theaters, including the Alabama.

  What changed. Plitt Theatres closed the venue and sold it to Cobb Theaters, which later made unsuccessful reopening attempts.

  Aftermath. The property moved through additional private ownership before a nonprofit preservation group acquired it in 1987.

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• 1998Major Alabama Theatre restoration completed

  A comprehensive restoration renewed decorative finishes, seating, carpets and draperies, while addressing smoke staining that had remained since the 1934 fire at the adjacent department store.

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• 1993Alabama designates the venue as its official state historic theater

  The Alabama Theatre received designation as the official historic theater of the state of Alabama.

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• 1987Birmingham Landmarks acquires the Alabama Theatre

  Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. purchased the theater through a preservation effort intended to prevent its loss and protect its Wurlitzer organ.

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• 1979Alabama Theatre listed on the National Register of Historic Places

  The historic Birmingham theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

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• 1977Alabama Theatre added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage

  The Alabama Theatre and its historic organ received state heritage recognition.

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1. Alabama Theatre
2. Alabama Theatre official website