RESTORING BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA'S HISTORIC
LYRIC THEATRE
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Photos By Robin McDonald, Brad Daly and JJ McCrimmon and Brant Beene
VAUDEVILLE DAYS
Built in 1914 for B.F. Keith’'s Vaudeville circuit,
the Lyric is one of the few theaters still existing that
was specifically built to maximize the acoustics and close seating needed for vaudeville shows. Major stars such as the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Sophie Tucker, Will Rogers, and Milton Berle played the Lyric. Berle said it was 'as fine a theater as any in New York.' During the 1920s it was the custom to attend shows at the Lyric Theatre on Monday nights - if you could get a reservation. Tickets cost from
25 to 75 cents. In summer, air was fanned over two tons
of ice a day to keep customers cool. Though seating was segregated the Lyric was one of the first places in the South where blacks and whites could watch the same
show at the same time for the same price.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Birmingham Landmarks, Inc., the non-profit owner of
the Alabama Theatre, now owns the Lyric and intends to make it grander than ever as a restored performing arts center. The Lyric sits on the corner just across the street from the Alabama and is part of the City Center Master Plan of Operation New Birmingham. Both theaters are listed on the National Register of Historic places as part
of the Birmingham Downtown Retail and Theatre Historic District. The Lyric's history is rich. It's adaptive reuse richer.
THE DOG FACTORY
In 1904 Thomas Edison filmed this vaudeville act called "The Dog Factory" in his New York Studio.
Watch as dogs of all kinds change quickly in the PATENTED DOG TRANSFORMATOR.
DOLLARS AND SENSE
The Lyric was once the finest performing arts theatre in the city - and could be again. The Lyric offers a wider stage and closer audience - better suited for performing arts such as the symphony, ballet, opera and theatre. In addition, the Lyric Office Building, which shares lobby space on three floors with the theatre, could be adapted for arts organization administrative offices.” A restored Lyric Theatre
could immediately host the 100+ events the Alabama Theatre now turns away annually and create an economic impact of an additional $5 million dollars a year for Birmingham, creating
as many as 200 construction and permanent jobs.”
A master architectural plan has been created,
some repairs have been made, and the historic painted advertsing sign on the back of the theater has been restored. Hundreds of volunteers have worked tirelessly to help in the clean-up efforts so far.
““
About The Lyric Fine Arts Theatre
• Built in 1913-14 in Birmingham, AL,
for the B.F. Keith Vaudeville circuit.
• Architect - C.K. Howell; Jake Wells, Manager.
• Six floor office building with 1200 seat theater.
Auditorium shares lobby on three levels with
office building.
• One of the first multi-purpose structures in
Birmingham and the first structure built with
steel and concrete.
• Hosted national Vaudeville stars such as Marx
Brothers, Mae West, Will Rogers, Milton Berle,
and Buster Keaton.
• Listed on the National Register as part of the
Birmingham Downtown Retail & Theatre Historic
District.
• One of first theaters in the south where blacks and
whites could see the same show at the same price at
the same time.
• 80’ wide stage with 20 feet of wing space on
each side is one of the largest in the city.
• Total of 43,000 square feet to be utilized for
entertainment, office space, business and
community events.
• Projected to host 450 events in its first three years
with a total attendance of 331,050 patrons.
• One hundred and ninety-eight full and part-time
jobs will be created for construction and theatre
operation.
• Estimated total economic impact will be $25.5
million during construction and year one.
• Rental space will provide $60,000 in income to the
theater in the first season and more than double that
amount in future seasons.
• The Lyric is in the heart of a growing Birmingham
downtown revitalization that includes the Pizitz building,
McWane Center, Alabama Theatre, Civil Rights Institute,
Kress Building, Carver Theatre, and Alabama Jazz Hall
of Fame.
• Part of Operation New Birmingham’s City Center
Master Plan.
The Lyric Theatre is owned by Birmingham Landmarks, Inc., the non-profit organization that has successfully owned and operated the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham since 1987.
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The Lyric Theatre
AlaTheatre_aol.com
1817 Third Avenue North,
Birmingham, AL
35203
(205) 252-2262
