Ritz Theatre (Brunswick, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ritz Theatre |
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The Ritz Theatre as it looked in 2015.
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| Former names | Grand Opera House |
| General information | |
| Address | 1530 Newcastle Street |
| Town or city | Brunswick, Georgia |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 31°09′01″N 81°29′44″W / 31.150351°N 81.495483°W |
| Completed | 1899 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
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Ritz Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Part of | Brunswick Old Town Historic District (ID79000727) |
| Designated CP | April 26, 1979 |
The Ritz Theatre is a famous historic theater in the city of Brunswick, Georgia. It was built over a century ago in 1899, starting its life as a grand opera house. Later, it was turned into a movie palace for showing films. Today, the city of Brunswick owns the theater, and it is an important part of the Brunswick Old Town Historic District.
History of the Ritz Theatre
When the theater first opened in 1899, it was called the Grand Opera House. It was built to replace another opera house that had been destroyed in a storm. The new building was very impressive and had three floors. While the top floors were used as offices for the Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad, the first floor had the theater and several shops.
A New Name and a New Purpose
In the 1920s or 1930s, the building was updated. A large, bright sign called a marquee was added to the front. After these changes, the building was renamed the Ritz Theatre and became a movie palace.
During this time in American history, laws enforced racial segregation. This meant that at the Ritz Theatre, African Americans were treated unfairly. They had to use a separate entrance to get into the building and could only watch movies from the upstairs balcony.
The Ritz Theatre Today
In 1980, the city of Brunswick bought the theater to preserve its history. Since 1989, a group called the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association has managed it. Today, the Ritz is a busy arts center. It hosts live plays, concerts, movie nights, and art shows for everyone in the community to enjoy.
