Hawaii Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hawaii Theatre
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 Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Honolulu, Hawaii |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Walter Emory, Marshall Webb |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical, Art Deco, Eclectic architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001021 |
| Added to NRHP | 14 November 1978 |
The Hawaii Theatre is a famous old theater in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii. It was built in 1922 and is located near Honolulu's Chinatown. This special building is listed on both the State and National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Hawaii Theatre
The Hawaii Theatre first opened its doors on September 6, 1922. A company called Consolidated Amusement opened it. Local newspapers at the time called it "The Pride of the Pacific." They thought it was as grand as any theater in San Francisco.
Grand Opening and Design
When it opened, the Hawaii Theatre was the biggest and most decorated theater in Hawaii. It had 1,760 seats! The company's offices were also inside the building.
Honolulu architects Walter Emory and Marshall Webb designed the theater. They used a style called Neoclassical architecture for the outside. This style often uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The outside also had fancy details from other styles like Byzantine and Moorish.
Inside, the theater was very rich and beautiful. It had Corinthian columns, a shiny gold dome, and marble statues. There was even an art gallery, soft carpets, and silk decorations. A large painting by Lionel Walden was above the stage. The main floor had two private boxes next to the stage.
Changes Over Time
When the theater first opened, it had a simple cover over the entrance. This cover showed what was playing. In 1938, a much bigger sign was added. It had the largest neon light display in all of Hawaii.
The Hawaii Theatre showed many different types of entertainment. In the 1920s, it had both Vaudeville shows and silent movies. Vaudeville was a type of show with many different acts, like comedy, music, and dance. The theater had its own orchestra for live shows. It also had a large pipe organ to play music for the silent films. After movies started having sound, the theater became a popular movie house through the 1960s.
Saving the Theatre
Starting in the 1960s, people began going to other parts of town for entertainment. Because of this, fewer people went to the Hawaii Theatre. By the 1970s and early 1980s, attendance had dropped a lot.
In 1984, Consolidated Amusement decided not to keep the theater open. The Hawaii Theatre closed its doors. People worried that the beautiful building might be torn down.
A Community Effort
A group of volunteers who loved the theater's pipe organ decided to act. They formed a non-profit group called the Hawaii Theatre Center. Many other people joined them to help save and restore the theater. They worked hard to raise money.
In 1986, the group was able to buy the theater. They also bought some buildings next to it. A huge renovation of the inside of the theater began in 1994. An architecture firm from New York City helped with the plans.
The theater reopened in 1996, but work on the outside continued until 2005. The large neon sign from 1938 had been removed because it was old and broken. A new sign was made to look just like the old one. It also had new electronic screens to show what was playing.
The Theatre Today
Today, the Hawaii Theatre is a very popular place again. It hosts many stage shows and concerts. It is a successful performing arts center.
Awards and Recognition
The Hawaii Theatre has received many awards for its restoration and operation:
- In 2005, it was named the "Outstanding Historic Theatre in America." This award came from the League of Historic America Theatres.
- In 2006, the National Trust for Historic Preservation gave it their highest "Honor Award." This was for its great work in preserving history.
- Also in 2006, the Hawaii Better Business Bureau gave the Hawaii Theatre Center its "Torch Award for Business Ethics." It was the first small non-profit group to get this award.
The Hawaii Theatre is the last historic theater still operating in Honolulu. You can often take guided tours to see inside this amazing building.
Gallery
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The proscenium and stage
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Inside view, looking at the left sidewall
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The Robert-Morton theatre organ from 1922
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The beautiful ceiling dome
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A carving of Hamlet in bas-relief in the balcony
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The "Procession of the Drama" mural by Lionel Walden above the stage
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A carving of The Merchant of Venice in bas-relief in the balcony
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Decorative windows on the outside of the theater
