Princess Theatre, Decatur
Encyclopedia
The Princess Theatre is a 677-seat performing arts venue in Decatur, Alabama
. What is now an art deco
style building was built as a livery stable in 1887. In 1919, the building was transformed into a silent film and vaudeville
playhouse.
The Princess was given a facelift in 1941 and was transformed to the art deco
style building it is today. The theatre was also given a bright neon marque to display the name of the venue. Local architect Albert Frahn clad the walls inside the theatre with burgundy and gray paint, and also painted murals on the wall that would glow in dark. Outside the doors, the floor was paved with terrazzo
into a map of Alabama
, that marked the Tennessee River
and City of Decatur.
In 1978, the city of Decatur purchased The Princess after it closed its doors as a movie-house. The city gave the theatre a $750,000 renovation, and the stage was again open as the premier performing arts venue for the Decatur area. The building was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
in 1981.
to teach in the schools.
Decatur, Alabama
Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
. What is now an art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style building was built as a livery stable in 1887. In 1919, the building was transformed into a silent film and vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
playhouse.
The Princess was given a facelift in 1941 and was transformed to the art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style building it is today. The theatre was also given a bright neon marque to display the name of the venue. Local architect Albert Frahn clad the walls inside the theatre with burgundy and gray paint, and also painted murals on the wall that would glow in dark. Outside the doors, the floor was paved with terrazzo
Terrazzo
Terrazzo is a composite material poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of marble, quartz, granite, glass or other suitable chips, sprinkled or unsprinkled, and poured with a binder that is cementitious, chemical or a combination of both...
into a map of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, that marked the Tennessee River
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
and City of Decatur.
In 1978, the city of Decatur purchased The Princess after it closed its doors as a movie-house. The city gave the theatre a $750,000 renovation, and the stage was again open as the premier performing arts venue for the Decatur area. The building was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage
The Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage, commonly referred to as the Alabama Register, is an official listing of buildings, sites, structures, objects, and districts deemed worthy of preservation in the U.S. state of Alabama. These properties, which may be of national, state, and local...
in 1981.
The Princess and education
Annually, the Princess sees 60,000 customers, 20,000 of which are students and teachers. Professional performers regularly visit Decatur to perform during school hours for arts education. The theater also sponsors performers that visit the local Decatur City SchoolsDecatur City Schools
The Decatur City Schools is a school system located in the city of Decatur, Alabama, and is home to seven of Alabama's International Baccalaureate schools.The school system is also the second largest employer in Decatur.-Basic Overview:...
to teach in the schools.