The Russell Theatre is a building in Maysville, Kentucky that was originally intended as a movie theater but has since been adapted for other uses. Construction of the Russell Theatre was announced by Maysville businessman Col. J. Russell Barbour in 1928. The structure costing $125,000 opened on December 4, 1930, with a showing of the movie Whoopee! starring Eddie Cantor.[2] The building site was previously occupied by wholesale grocery warehouses.[1]
The structure is a freestanding, three-story building with a 80 feet (24 m) by 165 feet (50 m) rectangular footprint with an area of about 13,000 square feet (1,200 m2). The exterior features a Spanish-Moorish Revival style with a tower on either end of the principal facade. The box office is finished in Rookwood tile.[1] Although constructed as a movie theater, the Russell did have dressing rooms for live performers and an orchestra pit. The auditorium was decorated as a Mediterranean garden complete with Lombardy poplar and literary busts set into wall niches. A rainbow would appear over the stage at the end of the movie.[1]
Historyedit
Col. Russell operated the theater until 1935 at which time operations were turned over to the Schine group. In 1953, the Russell theater presented the world premiere of Maysville native Rosemary Clooney's movie The Stars Are Singing. In the early 1970s, the Panther Group took over operations and repainted much of the jewel toned decoration with bright primary colors. The Panther Group continued to operate the theatre until 1983. In subsequent years, the building was used as a restaurant, a used furniture store, a used clothing store, and a newspaper utility building before its eventual close.
After its abandonment, strong storm winds ripped off a roof section and the damage was not immediately repaired. The interior plaster work was extensively damaged by subsequent exposure to rain. In 1995, a committee was formed to restore the building. The roof was repaired and the exterior appearance has been restored, but interior restoration is not complete.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
^"The Russell Theatre". Russell Theatre Corporation. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
^"The Russell Theatre Progress". Russell Theatre Corporation. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russell Theatre (Maysville).
April 27, 2024
russell, theatre, building, maysville, kentucky, that, originally, intended, movie, theater, since, been, adapted, other, uses, construction, announced, maysville, businessman, russell, barbour, 1928, structure, costing, opened, december, 1930, with, showing, . The Russell Theatre is a building in Maysville Kentucky that was originally intended as a movie theater but has since been adapted for other uses Construction of the Russell Theatre was announced by Maysville businessman Col J Russell Barbour in 1928 The structure costing 125 000 opened on December 4 1930 with a showing of the movie Whoopee starring Eddie Cantor 2 The building site was previously occupied by wholesale grocery warehouses 1 Russell TheatreU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of KentuckyShow map of the United StatesLocation9 E Third St Nearest cityMaysville KyCoordinates38 38 48 N 83 45 53 W 38 64667 N 83 76472 W 38 64667 83 76472Built1930ArchitectFrankel and CurtisArchitectural styleSpanish Colonial Revival Moorish RevivalNRHP reference No 06000216 1 Added to NRHPMarch 31 2006Architecture editThe structure is a freestanding three story building with a 80 feet 24 m by 165 feet 50 m rectangular footprint with an area of about 13 000 square feet 1 200 m2 The exterior features a Spanish Moorish Revival style with a tower on either end of the principal facade The box office is finished in Rookwood tile 1 Although constructed as a movie theater the Russell did have dressing rooms for live performers and an orchestra pit The auditorium was decorated as a Mediterranean garden complete with Lombardy poplar and literary busts set into wall niches A rainbow would appear over the stage at the end of the movie 1 History editCol Russell operated the theater until 1935 at which time operations were turned over to the Schine group In 1953 the Russell theater presented the world premiere of Maysville native Rosemary Clooney s movie The Stars Are Singing In the early 1970s the Panther Group took over operations and repainted much of the jewel toned decoration with bright primary colors The Panther Group continued to operate the theatre until 1983 In subsequent years the building was used as a restaurant a used furniture store a used clothing store and a newspaper utility building before its eventual close After its abandonment strong storm winds ripped off a roof section and the damage was not immediately repaired The interior plaster work was extensively damaged by subsequent exposure to rain In 1995 a committee was formed to restore the building The roof was repaired and the exterior appearance has been restored but interior restoration is not complete 3 References edit a b c d National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form National Register of Historic Places National Park Service Retrieved 2010 12 31 The Russell Theatre Russell Theatre Corporation Retrieved 2011 01 03 The Russell Theatre Progress Russell Theatre Corporation Retrieved 2011 01 03 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Russell Theatre Maysville Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Russell Theatre amp oldid 1195720584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
