Home > Alabama > Birmingham > Alabama Theatre, 1811 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
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Item Title
Alabama Theatre, 1811 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Location1811 Third Avenue North,
Birmingham, AL
Find maps of Birmingham, AL
Created/Published
Documentation compiled after 1933.
Notes
Survey number HABS AL-982
Significance: The Alabama Theatre, designed by Chicago architects Graven & Mayger, was erected in 1927 by Paramount's Publix Theatre chain as its flagship theatre for the southeastern region of the United States, and is among the finest theatres of the period in the southeast. The theatre is a composite of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque details; as seen in the exterior details, it appears to have been modeled after a Spanish villa. The interior of the theater, however, included elements of a variety of styles, as was typical of the whimsical nature of Movie Palaces built during the pre-Depression hey-day. Illustrative of this is the tremendous variety of architectural elements found throughout the theatre, and in the different styled lounges: the ladies Adamesque and Chinese tearoom lounges, and the gentlemen's (Tudor) College and Hunting rooms. Originally seating 2,500, it accommodated both live theatre, and movieplays accompanied by the Wurlitzer Organ. The Alabama Theatre was the crown jewel of the Birmingham Theatre district (a National Register district). At one time, these streets were lined with large theaters featuring everything from vaudeville to performing arts, nickelodeons to large first-run movie palaces. Hugh marquees lit the streets at night and billboards advertised the current attractions. The "Alabama" is the only theater still operating today; only one other still stands.
Subjects
Theaters
Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)
Contents
Photograph caption(s):
1. GENERAL VIEW OF FRONT (NORTH) FACADE AND STREET FROM THE EAST
2. CLOSER VIEW OF FRONT FACADE AND STREET FROM THE EAST
3. VIEW OF ENTRANCE AND SIGN FROM NORTH NORTHEAST
4. CLOSER VIEW OF ENTRANCE AND 'ALABAMA' SIGN FROM NORTH NORTHEAST
5. DETAIL VIEW LOOKING TO TOP OF FRONT FACADE AND 'ALABAMA' SIGN
6. GENERAL VIEW OF FRONT ELEVATION AND 'ALABAMA' SIGN LOOKING WEST TO EAST ON THIRD STREET
7. NIGHT VIEW OF FRONT ELEVATION AND 'ALABAMA' SIGN FROM THE WEST
8. CLOSER VIEW OF 'ALABAMA' SIGN FROM THE WEST
9. PERSPECTIVE OF FRONT ELEVATION LOOKING FROM THE NORTHWEST ON THE CORNER OF THIRD AND EIGHTEENTH STREETS
10. CLOSER VIEW FROM THE CORNER OF THIRD AND EIGHTEENTH STREETS
11. GENERAL VIEW OF EIGHTEENTH STREET (WEST) ELEVATION
12. CLOSER VIEW OF EIGHTEENTH STREET ELEVATION
13. DETAIL VIEW, TYPICAL BRICKWORK AND SHELLS IN RELIEF IN EIGHTEENTH STREET ELEVATION
14. PERSPECTIVE VIEW INTO ALLEY SOUTH OF THE THEATRE LOOKING FROM THE SOUTHWEST
15. INTERIOR VIEW, GENERAL VIEW IN LOBBY FROM THE NORTHEAST
16. DETAIL VIEW IN LOBBY OF BOX OFFICE FROM THE NORTHWEST
17. GENERAL VIEW OF GRAND LOBBY FROM BOX OFFICE AREA
18. DETAIL VIEW OF GRAND LOBBY CHANDELIER
19. VIEW IN GRAND LOBBY OF THE WEST SIDE LOOKING FROM THE NORTH
20. VIEW ON MAIN FLOOR 'TUNNEL' TO HOUSE ENTRANCES FROM THE NORTH
21. VIEW ON MAIN FLOOR LOOKING THROUGH GATE TO LOBBY
22. VIEW ON MAIN FLOOR LOOKING FROM LOBBY THROUGH GATE TO HOUSE ENTRANCE No. 3
23. VIEW IN LOBBY LOOKING FROM THE NORTHEAST TOWARD THE STAIR
24. DETAIL VIEW IN LOBBY, NEWEL POST OF STAIR WITH SCALE
25. DETAIL VIEW IN LOBBY, NEWEL POST OF STAIR
26. VIEW OF MEZZANINE LEVEL
27. DETAIL VIEW ON MEZZANINE, TORCHIER
28. CLOSER VIEW OF TORCHIER
29. DETAIL VIEW, WROUGHT IRON STAIR RAIL OF SOUTH STAIR
30. FOURTH FLOOR VIEW UP THE CENTER STAIRS TO UPPER BALCONY AND THEN TO PROSCENIUM
31. VIEW FROM UPPER BALCONY TO STAGE LOOKING FROM THE FOURTH FLOOR WEST TO EAST
32. CLOSER VIEW OF STAGE FROM UPPER BALCONY
33. VIEW OF INTERIOR HOUSE LOOKING TO STAGE FROM THE NORTHWEST
34. CLOSER VIEW OF STAGE
35. CLOSE VIEW OF STAGE SHOWING FIRE CURTAIN
36. PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF STAGE LOOKING (GENERALLY) FROM THE EAST
37. VIEW OF THE NORTH SIDE FAUX WINDOW
38. DETAIL VIEW OF THE BASE OF ONE SECTION OF THE FAUX WINDOW ON THE NORTH SIDE WALL
39. DETAIL VIEW OF A HANGING WALL LANTERN ON THE NORTH SIDE WALL
40. VIEW OF HANGING WALL LAMP AND A SECTION OF THE BALCONY ON THE NORTH SIDE WALL
41. VIEW OF ORGAN SCREEN
42. DETAIL VIEW OF THE ORNAMENTAL BASE OF THE ORGAN SCREEN (USED AS LOGO FOR THE THEATRE)
43. DETAIL VIEW OF ORGAN SCREEN SHOWING THE EAGLE ON THE NORTH SIDE
44. GENERAL VIEW LOOKING FROM STAGE INTO THE HOUSE, WEST TO EAST
45. GENERAL VIEW LOOKING TO TOP OF CEILING DOME
46. DETAIL VIEW, TYPICAL WALL SCONCE FOUND IN THE FIRST FLOOR ORCHESTRA
47. VIEW FROM WEST TO EAST OF THE HOUSE
48. GENERAL VIEW OF THE MEZZANINE BALCONY, LOOKING FROM THE NORTH AND INCLUDING THE VENTILATION SYSTEM FEED
49. VIEW OF THE WURLITZER ORGAN
50. VIEW OF THE ORGAN IN PLACE LOOKING FROM THE BALCONY, SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST
51. VIEW OF THE ORGAN PART-WAY DOWN INTO THE WELL, LOOKING FROM THE BALCONY SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST
52. VIEW OF THE ORGAN ALL THE WAY DOWN IN THE WELL, LOOKING FROM THE BALCONY SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST
53. VIEW OF THE ORGAN IN MOTION LOOKING FROM THE BALCONY, SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST
54. VIEW IN GRAND LOBBY LOOKING TO MOORISH ARCH
55. DETAIL VIEW OF MOORISH ARCH, FRIEZE, AND CEILING LOOKING SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST
56. CLOSER VIEW OF MOORISH ARCH, FRIEZE, AND CEILING
57. CLOSE VIEW OF MOORISH ARCH, FRIEZE, AND CEILING
58. DETAIL VIEW OF FRIEZE AND TYPICAL PILASTER CAPITOL
59. LOOKING THROUGH PEACOCK ALLEY (LOWER TUNNEL) TO MOORISH ARCH
60. VIEW OF PEACOCK ALLEY LOOKING FROM THE NORTH
61. GENERAL VIEW OF SOUTH FIRE STAIR FROM THE WEST
62. VIEW OF FOURTH FLOOR HALL FROM THE NORTH
63. VIEW OF FOURTH FLOOR STAIR HEAD FROM THE WEST
64. VIEW OF SOUTH SIDE LOBBY AND FIRE STAIR FROM THE NORTH
65. VIEW OF STAIR HEAD AND GRILL FROM THE WEST, STAIR LEADS DOWN TO LOUNGES
66. VIEW IN SPANISH LOUNGE, ON THE BASEMENT LEVEL, FROM THE SOUTH
67. DETAIL VIEW IN SPANISH LOUNGE OF FIREPLACE AND MANTEL
68. VIEW OF THE SOUTH END OF THE GENTLEMEN'S LOUNGE WITH AN ENGLISH HUNT THEME, ON THE BASEMENT LEVEL, LOOKING FROM THE NORTH
69. VIEW IN THE ADAMS (LADIES) LOUNGE, ON THE BASEMENT LEVEL, FROM THE EAST
70. VIEW OF THE BALCONY LEVEL GENTLEMEN'S LOUNGE FROM THE WEST
71. VIEW OF THE BALCONY LEVEL LADIES LOUNGE LOOKING FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH
72. VIEW OF THE BALCONY LEVEL LADIES LOUNGE LOOKING FROM THE WEST
73. VIEW OF THE BALCONY LEVEL LADIES ROOM LOOKING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
74. VIEW OF A TYPICAL DRESSING ROOM
75. GENERAL VIEW OF PROJECTION ROOM FROM THE SOUTH
76. GENERAL VIEW OF PROJECTION ROOM FROM THE NORTH
77. CLOSE VIEW OF PROJECTOR
78. DETAIL VIEW OF PROJECTOR TO SHOW CARBON ARC
79. VIEW OF PROJECTION ROOM'S SWITCH & FUSE PANEL
80. VIEW IN ATTIC OF THE HOUSE DOME, LOOKING EAST TO WEST
81. VIEW IN ATTIC OF PLASTER GLOBS THAT SECURE THE COFFERS
82. VIEW OF GRID SPACE FROM THE NORTH
83. CLOSER VIEW OF GRID SPACE FROM THE NORTH
84. VIEW LOOKING UP TO GRID
85. VIEW OF STAGE LEFT SERVICE AREA BENEATH THE GRID
86. GENERAL VIEW OF THE STAGE FROM THE WEST SHOWING THE CONTROL ROPES AND LOCKRAIL
87. VIEW OF THE LOCKRAIL
88. CLOSER VIEW OF LOCKRAIL FROM THE NORTH
89. DETAIL VIEW OF LOCKRAIL SHOWING THE COUNTER BALANCES, WITH SCALE
90. DETAIL VIEW OF LOCKRAIL SHOWING THE COUNTER BALANCES
91. VIEW OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL ON STAGE RIGHT, WITH SCALE
92. VIEW OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL TO STAGE RIGHT
93. VIEW OF THE REAR OF THE CONTROL PANEL
94. DETAIL VIEW OF REAR OF CONTROL PANEL, WITH SCALE
95. DETAIL VIEW OF REAR OF CONTROL PANEL
96. VIEW OF ROPE FOR THE FIRE CURTAIN AND SIGN GIVING INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT USE
97. VIEW IN CELLAR AT THE NORTH END, STEAM SYSTEM
98. VIEW IN CELLAR OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTROL PANEL
99. GENERAL VIEW OF ROOM HOUSING THE ORGAN LIFT AND MOTOR, WITH SCALE
100. VIEW IN CELLAR OF CONTROLS FOR THE ORGAN LIFT FROM THE WEST, WITH SCALE
101. VIEW IN CELLAR OF CONTROLS FOR THE ORGAN LIFT FROM THE WEST
102. VIEW OF ORGAN LIFT, INCLUDING THE SCREW, WITH SCALE
103. VIEW IN CELLAR OF ORGAN BLOWER WITH SCALE
104. VIEW IN CELLAR OF NORTH END, THE OLD COAL STORAGE ROOM, WITH SCALE
105. VIEW IN CELLAR OF PRINT SHOP
106. VIEW IN CELLAR OF WORKSHOP
107. VIEW OF ENTRANCE AND "ALABAMA" SIGN FROM NORTH NORTHEAST (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-3)
108. NIGHT VIEW OF THE "ALABAMA" SIGN FROM THE WEST (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-7)
109. VIEW OF GRAND LOBBY LOOKING TOWARD STAIR (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-17)
110. VIEW OF MAIN FLOOR LOOKING FROM LOBBY THROUGH GATE TO HOUSE ENTRANCE No. 3 (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-22)
111. VIEW OF INTERIOR HOUSE LOOKING TO STAGE FROM THE NORTHWEST (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-33)
112. CLOSE VIEW OF STAGE WITH FIRE CURTAIN IN PLACE (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-35)
113. PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF STAGE LOOKING FROM THE EAST (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-36)
114. VIEW OF THE BASE OF ONE SECTION OF THE FAUX WINDOW IN THE NORTH SIDE WALL (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-38)
115. DETAIL VIEW OF A HANGING WALL LANTERN ON THE NORTH SIDE WALL (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-39)
116. VIEW OF HANGING WALL LAMP AND A SECTION OF THE BALCONY ON THE NORTH SIDE WALL (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-40)
117. VIEW OF ORGAN SCREEN (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-41)
118. DETAIL VIEW OF THE ORNAMENTAL BASE OF THE ORGAN SCREEN (USED AS LOGO FOR THE THEATRE) (DUPLICATE OF AL982-42)
119. DETAIL VIEW OF TYPICAL WALL SCONCE FOUND IN THE FIRST FLOOR ORCHESTRA (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-46)
120. VIEW OF WURLITZER ORGAN (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-49)
121. VIEW OF ORGAN IN SITU LOOKING FROM THE BALCONY, SOUTHEAST TO NORTHWEST (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-50)
122. VIEW OF MOORISH ARCH, FRIEZE, AND CEILING (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-56)
123. DETAIL VIEW OF FRIEZE AND TYPICAL PILASTER CAPITAL (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-58)
124. VIEW OF PEACOCK ALLEY LOOKING FROM THE NORTH (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-60)
125. VIEW OF SPANISH LOUNGE LOOKING FROM THE SOUTH (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-66)
126. VIEW OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANEL TO STAGE RIGHT (DUPLICATE OF AL-982-92)
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