Russell Theatre
Encyclopedia
Construction of the Russell Theatre was announced by Maysville, Kentucky
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
. The building site was previously occupied by wholesale grocery warehouses.
The structure is a freestanding, three-story building with a 80 feet (24.4 m) by 165 feet (50.3 m) rectangular footprint with an area of about 13000 square feet (1,207.7 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. 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.
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.
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the 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
Eddie Cantor
Eddie Cantor was an American "illustrated song" performer, comedian, dancer, singer, actor and songwriter...
. The building site was previously occupied by wholesale grocery warehouses.
The structure is a freestanding, three-story building with a 80 feet (24.4 m) by 165 feet (50.3 m) rectangular footprint with an area of about 13000 square feet (1,207.7 m²). The exterior features a Spanish-Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
style with a tower on either end of the principal facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. The box office is finished in Rookwood
Rookwood Pottery Company
Rookwood Pottery is an American ceramics company now located in the Mount Adams neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1880, and successful until the Great Depression, production has been intermittent and at a low level since 1967, though there was a change of ownership in 2006, and expansion...
tile. 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.
Col. Russell operated the theater until 1935 at which time operations were turned over to the Schine
Junius Myer Schine
Junius Myer Schine was a New York theater and hotel magnate. -Biography:He was born on February 20, 1890 or February 28, 1890. In 1902, as an eleven year old he and his brother Louis Schine , age nine, joined their father in the United States. They emigrated from Latvia with their mother, Anne...
group. In 1953, the Russell theater presented the world premiere of Maysville native Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
'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.