Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center facts for kids
|
Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 2001 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebraska 68102 |
|---|---|
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Exotic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001108 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1974 |
The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, often called The Rose, is a cool old building in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. It first opened in 1926 as The Riviera and later became known as the Astro Theatre. It was built with a mix of Moorish and Classical styles, making it look really unique! It was fixed up in 1986 to become the performing arts center it is today.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of The Rose
A famous architect named John Eberson designed this theater in 1926. He was known for creating "atmospheric" theaters. These special theaters made you feel like you were sitting outdoors. They looked like romantic Mediterranean courtyards. The ceiling even had twinkling stars and moving clouds!
The outside of the building is just as amazing. It has a big copper dome on top. Two smaller towers stand next to it with similar fancy details. The brick walls have a diamond pattern. You can also see special windows that stick out, called oriel windows. There are also fancy edges (cornices) and shiny terra-cotta tiles. Plus, there are columns that hold up statues of griffins, which are mythical creatures. A. H. Blank was the person who had the theater built.
Opening as The Riviera
When it first opened on March 26, 1927, the theater was called The Riviera. It was famous for its amazing live stage shows and movies. People thought it was one of the most elegant places for entertainment in the Midwest. It had a huge number of seats, 2,776 in total! Someone once said that for just 60 cents, The Riviera Theatre "makes every man feel like a millionaire." To celebrate its grand opening, a parade with the 17th Infantry Regiment was held.
Becoming the Paramount Theatre
In 1929, the theater was costing a lot to run. So, A. H. Blank sold it to Paramount Pictures. The theater then got a new name: the Paramount. Over the years, it closed several times. This happened in 1934, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, and 1942. To try and attract more people, Paramount even put a small golf course in the lower lobby!
In June 1952, the theater stopped showing movies. The live shows during the winter weren't very popular, and it closed again. By August 1953, its owner, Tristates, thought about selling or even tearing it down.
From Bowling Alley to Astro Theatre
In 1957, Paramount ended its lease, and Creighton University took over. The building was closed for a few years. Later, a company called J.S.B. Amusement leased it. After some changes, it was turned into a bowling alley! But this only lasted for about a year. The building was then changed again to become a theater once more.
It reopened as a movie theater in 1962. It had a new name, the Astro Theatre. The Dubinsky Brothers ran it. The number of seats was reduced to 1,465. It continued to show movies until June 1980.
The Rose Today
In 1974, the Astro Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building protected for its history. In October 1980, it was also named an Omaha landmark.
After closing again, the Astro Theatre faced the chance of being torn down. But on June 24, 1981, Rose Blumkin from the Nebraska Furniture Mart bought it from Creighton University. In the early 1990s, the building was renovated. It was transformed into the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center. Since 1995, it has been the home of the Omaha Theater Company, where they put on many wonderful shows!
See also
