Carolina Theatre of Greensboro facts for kids
|
The Showplace of the Carolinas
|
|
The Carolina Theatre in daylight
|
|
| Address | 310 South Greene Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Greensboro, North Carolina, US |
| Owner | Carolina Theatre of Greensboro, Inc. |
| Type | Performing-arts center |
| Capacity | 1,101 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1920s |
| Opened | October 31, 1927 |
| Renovated | 1978, 1990, 2018 |
| Website | |
| carolinatheatre.com | |
The Carolina Theatre of Greensboro is a special historic building in Greensboro, North Carolina. When it first opened on Halloween night in 1927, people called it “The Showplace of the Carolinas.” It was built with 2,200 seats and was one of the first buildings in the state to have air conditioning! Today, it's the only old theatre left in Greensboro.
Contents
A Look Back: The Theatre's Early Days
When the Carolina Theatre first opened, it offered many kinds of entertainment. You could watch live shows and even sing along with the audience! There were also silent movies, which had music played live on a special theatre organ. Imagine watching a movie with a live band!
From Silent Films to "Talkies"
In 1928, something big happened: the theatre got a new sound system called Vitaphone. This meant movies could now have sound and voices! These new "talkies" were very popular. The first movie with sound shown at the Carolina Theatre was Glorious Betsy. After that, they showed The Jazz Singer, which was a huge hit.
A Time of Change
For many years, the theatre, like many places at the time, had rules about where different groups of people could sit. This meant some people had to sit in a separate area. By 1963, students from local colleges bravely stood up for equal access. They helped bring about important changes, making sure everyone could enjoy the theatre together.
Saving the Theatre: A Community Effort
By the early 1970s, the theatre was getting old and its owners thought about tearing it down. But the people of Greensboro didn't want to lose this historic place! A group called the United Arts Council of Greensboro worked hard to save it. They raised money to buy the building and fix it up. In 1978, the theatre reopened as a place for community arts.
A New Beginning
After reopening, the theatre faced another challenge when a small fire caused some damage. But once again, the community helped fix it. The theatre was made even better with new lighting and sound systems. Now, it has 1,101 seats and is a modern performing arts center.
The Carolina Theatre Today
Today, the Carolina Theatre is run by a non-profit group called Carolina Theatre of Greensboro, Incorporated. This means it's not just about making money; it's about serving the community.
What Happens at the Theatre?
The theatre is a busy place! It's home to the Greensboro Ballet, where you can watch amazing dance performances. Every November, the Community Theatre of Greensboro puts on its annual show of The Wizard of Oz there.
The theatre shows classic and artistic movies, and hosts touring performers from all over. Local theatre and dance groups also perform there. It's a place for everyone to enjoy arts and culture!
Keeping the Theatre Going
The theatre mostly gets its money from ticket sales and donations from people who love it. It also gets some grants to help with repairs and keeping the building in good shape. In 2017 and 2018, the theatre had a big renovation project to make it even better for visitors.
