Crescent Theater facts for kids
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| Address | 208 Dauphin St Mobile, Alabama United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°41′29″N 88°02′36″W / 30.6915°N 88.0433°W |
| Owner | Max Morey |
| Type | Film |
| Capacity | 90 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1885 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Reopened | October 31, 2008 |
| Years active | 2008–2023 |
| Website | |
| www.crescenttheater.com | |
The Crescent Theater was a special movie theater in Mobile, Alabama. It had just one screen. This theater mostly showed unique movies called independent films and arthouse films. These are often made outside of big Hollywood studios. Sometimes, it also showed popular mainstream movies.
The Crescent Theater was a place for local film contests. It was also used for music shows and improvisational comedy acts. The building first opened way back in 1885. Back then, it was a theater for live shows called vaudeville. Over the years, it became a movie theater. Later, it was even used for restaurants. Max Morey, the owner, reopened it as the Crescent Theater on October 31, 2008. It closed permanently in April 2023.
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History of the Crescent Theater
The Crescent Theater first opened its doors in 1885. It was located at 208 Dauphin Street in Mobile. In its early days, it featured vaudeville and burlesque shows. These were popular live entertainment acts.
From Live Shows to Movies
In 1912, the theater changed. It started showing silent films. These were movies without sound. Later in the 20th century, the building was used for different restaurants. By 2006, it was a place called Derry's Ole Tyme Cafe. That year, it was damaged by a fire. The fire started in a nearby bar.
A New Beginning for the Theater
Max Morey rented the building after the fire. He reopened it as the Crescent Theater on October 31, 2008. Morey had visited Mobile in 1992. He decided then that he wanted to open a movie theater there. The theater became very successful. Many people said it helped make downtown Mobile a lively place again.
Saving the Theater from Closing
The theater faced challenges over the years. In 2012, it almost closed. It cost a lot of money to switch to digital movie projectors. But people helped by raising over $84,000 through a Kickstarter campaign. This money kept the theater open.
In 2017, the theater faced closure again. Its rent went up. Once more, people helped. They raised $72,000 to keep it running. A group called the Crescent Theater Film Society also supported it. This was a nonprofit group that helped the theater financially.
A Cool Place to Watch Movies
The Crescent Theater was well-known. Cosmopolitan magazine even called it the "coolest movie theater" in Alabama. It was a beloved spot for many years.
