7 Best Historic Theatres In The United States

A hundred years ago, most American towns had a theatre to host the traveling performers who came through on the vaudeville circuit. Vaudeville productions were basically variety shows—everything from acrobats to animal tricks, comedians to contortionists, singers to swing dancers. Remember, there was no TV, no radio, and movies were black, white and silent. Vaudeville was America's entertainment.

In a small town, the theatre might simply consist of a stage, seating and a "three-piece band" – a piano player, a piano, and a stool. Small as they were, these theatres could be lovely, with surprisingly decorative interiors. Big time vaudeville theatres were opulent beyond anything we build today, with marble stair cases, gilded prosceniums, massive chandeliers, and powder rooms the size of a small ballroom.

Here are some of the most interesting—and oldest!—theatres in the US that still operate as performance spaces today.

When it opened in 1907, the Moore was one of the largest and most luxurious theatres on the west coast. It was built with an adjacent hotel (also named after its builder, James Moore) which is still open for business, though fully renovated, of course. The theatre boasted walls of Mexican onyx, a marble foyer and paintings of the Muses from Greek mythology. There were a total of 20 dressing rooms for performers, including 4 "star" rooms nearest the stage. Renovations and refurbishments over the years reduced seating from 2,436 to 1,800—still quite large by current standards.

Built in 1927 and billed as one of the most beautiful theatres in the state at the time, the California has undergone a $75 million renovation, refurbished to its original splendor. Cast plaster ceilings, intricately stenciled designs, terracotta tile, and restored Moorish-style chandeliers are just some of the ornamentation that makes the California so spectacular. With over 1,100 seats, it hosts plays, symphonies, and operas.

The B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre opened its doors in 1928 as an homage to the great vaudeville circuit owner, and no expense was spared. With Carrara marble, gold leaf finishes, and walnut and oak paneling, it seats almost 3,000. Vaudeville royalty turned out for opening night, including George M. Cohan, Al Jolson and May Irwin, as well as the governor, mayor and former mayor, James Michael Curley. 2002 saw a major renovation and exacting refurbishment including replication of original carpet and silk walk panels. The former vaudeville house is now home to Broadway Across America and the Boston Ballet, as well as other presenters.

This French classic building was built in 1907 and hosted vaudeville greats such as Eva Tanguay, George Burns, Ed Wynn, and Gallagher and Shean. A row of eight large doors lines the front, decorated above with depictions of four of the Muses from Greek mythology. The lobby is supported by thick marble columns and enhanced by gold-painted carved trim around the ceiling. Inside the theatre an enormous crystal chandelier is suspended from the lovely mural on the ceiling.

Known as "The Wonder Theatre" for its opulent design and enormous size, with seating for over 3,000, Shea's was built in 1926 and modeled after European opera houses of the time. It has both Grand and Petit lobbies, and Tiffany designed ceilings and chandeliers. In its early days, Shea's hosted vaudeville greats such as George Burns and Gracie Allen, and the Marx Brothers. An $18 million dollar renovation carefully restored and replicated the original details of the building, and it's now on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo credit: Sheas.org

The oldest theatre on our list is the Southern, built in 1896. In 120 years it has hosted a long list of celebrities, including vaudevillians Mae West and W.C. Fields. The theatre originally seated 1,723, and the stage was big enough to host a 1903 production of Ben-Hur, which included a chariot race in which the horses galloped on treadmills! The Southern Hotel, built adjacent to the theatre, is also still in operation. In 1998, the Southern Theatre underwent a $10 million restoration to return it to its original opulence.

Of all the thousands of theatres across the country, it was the Palace that every vaudevillian longed to play. Built in 1913, it soon became the preeminent house, and hosted the biggest vaudeville acts, including Harry Houdini, Will Rogers, Judy Garland and far too many others to name. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style, fully renovated in 1965, and features multiple cascading seating boxes along the sides of the auditorium. It continues to offer highly acclaimed shows, such as "Annie," and "An American in Paris."