Martha Ellen Auditorium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Martha Ellen Auditorium
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The theater as it looks today, viewed from the east.
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Location | 706 C Ave., Central City, Nebraska |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Col. William C. Shelton |
| Architectural style | One-Part Commercial Block |
| MPS | Opera House Buildings in Nebraska 1867-1917 |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000944 |
| Added to NRHP | September 28, 1988 |
The Martha Ellen Auditorium, known today as the State Theatre, is a historic theater built in 1916 in Central City. This city is the county seat of Merrick County, Nebraska. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is a great example of an early Nebraskan opera house.
Contents
History of the Theater
Why Was It Built?
In the early 1900s, Central City was growing and doing well. This was a time before radio and television. Silent movies were just starting to appear in small towns. People found entertainment by going to live shows. These included musical concerts, plays by traveling groups, and vaudeville (a type of variety show with singing, dancing, and comedy). For these shows to happen, towns needed a good theater.
In 1916, a man named Colonel William C. Shelton decided to build one. He named the new theater after his daughter, Martha Ellen. When it opened, the local newspaper, the Central City Nonpareil, praised him for building such a fine place for the community.
A Place for Entertainment
The Martha Ellen Auditorium quickly became a popular spot. In 1916 and 1917, it showed a mix of movies, operas, plays, and even a heavyweight wrestling match.
Some famous silent films were shown there, including The Birth of a Nation. The theater hosted both traveling groups and local talent. For example, a professional opera company performed The Bohemian Girl, and the local high school junior class put on their own play.
Changing Times
After World War I, things began to change for small-town opera houses. It became more expensive for traveling shows to come to town. Also, more people owned cars, so they could drive to bigger cities for entertainment.
Because of these changes, the Martha Ellen Auditorium started showing more movies and fewer live performances. Over time, it became a movie theater only.
Becoming the State Theatre
Sometime before 1988, the theater's name was changed to the "State Theatre." A new sign, called a marquee, was added to the front of the building. This new sign covered up the original "Martha Ellen Auditorium" name.
In 2013, the State Theatre had to close. The owners said it was too expensive to switch from old film projectors to new digital ones. But the community wanted to save their theater. A group called the State Theater Foundation raised $100,000 to fix up and reopen the theater. They used part of this money to buy the needed digital equipment.
In 1988, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, a list of important historic sites in the United States.
The Building's Design
The Martha Ellen Auditorium is a two-story brick building in the main business district of Central City.
Outside Appearance
The building has a simple brick design with large inset panels. The walls are divided by brick pilasters, which look like flat columns. The roof is flat and has a low wall, called a parapet, along the edge. The original windows on the second floor are still there but have been boarded up.
When the building became the State Theatre, a large marquee and a vertical sign were added to the front. The original "Martha Ellen Auditorium" sign is still on the building, but it is hidden behind the newer State Theatre sign.
Inside the Theater
You enter the theater through doors under the marquee. The lobby has been updated over the years. From the lobby, you walk into the main auditorium.
The auditorium is large and has no windows. The walls next to the stage arch are curved. Originally, there were special seating areas called boxes on the sides, but these have been covered up.
A horseshoe-shaped balcony wraps around the back and sides of the theater. It has three rows of seats on the sides and six rows in the back. Many of the original "opera chairs" are still in the balcony. On the main floor, the old seats have been replaced with modern movie theater seats.
The stage arch is about 22 feet wide and 14 feet high. The stage itself is 15 feet deep. The original dressing rooms were located under the stage but are no longer there. Even with these changes, the building has kept much of its original structure and historic feel.
