Saenger Theatre (New Orleans) facts for kids
Exterior of venue (c.2007)
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| Address | 1111 Canal St New Orleans, Louisiana 70112-2625 |
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| Location | French Quarter |
| Owner | Canal Street Development Corporation |
| Operator | Ambassador Theatre Group |
| Capacity | 2,600 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1924 |
| Opened | February 4, 1927 |
| Renovated | 1978-80, 2009-11 |
| Construction cost | $2.5 million ($42.7 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Emile Weil |
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Saenger Theatre
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 Location in East New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Architect | Emile Weil |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000676 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1977 |
The Saenger Theatre is a famous old theater in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. It's known as an "atmospheric theatre" because its inside looks like an outdoor courtyard under a starry sky. This special building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historic site.
The Saenger Theatre was once the most important theater owned by Julian and Abe Saenger. Today, it's one of the few "movie palaces" (large, fancy theaters that showed movies and live shows) from that time that are still standing.
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History of the Saenger Theatre
The Saenger Theatre has a long and interesting history, from its grand opening to its recovery after a major hurricane.
How the Saenger Theatre Began
The Saenger Theatre first opened its doors on February 4, 1927. It took three years to build and cost $2.5 million, which was a lot of money back then! When it opened, thousands of people gathered on Canal Street to celebrate.
At first, a ticket cost only 65 cents. Each show included a silent movie, a live play, and music played by the Saenger Grand Orchestra.
The Unique Design of the Theatre
The architect, Emile Weil, designed the inside of the Saenger Theatre to look like an Italian Baroque courtyard. He put 150 lights in the ceiling to look like real constellations in the night sky. The theater also had special machines that could project images of moving clouds, sunrises, and sunsets onto the walls and ceiling. This made it feel like you were watching a show outdoors.
In 1929, Julian Saenger sold the theater for $10 million. The new owners kept the theater running well, even during the Great Depression. In 1933, they started showing only "talking pictures" (movies with sound).
Challenges and Changes Over Time
In 1964, the Saenger Theatre was changed into two smaller theaters. A wall was built in front of the balcony to divide the space. The upstairs part was called the Saenger Orleans.
On September 29, 1977, the theater was named a historic landmark by the New Orleans Landmark Commission. Soon after, in December, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
First Renovation and Reopening
In 1978, the theater was sold again for just over $1 million. The new owners spent another $3 million to fix it up and turn it into a performing arts center.
The Saenger Theatre reopened in 1980 with a slightly smaller seating area for 2,736 people. Famous comedian Johnny Carson performed at the grand reopening. The Saenger then hosted many different events, like concerts, plays, and even old silent films with live orchestras. In 1983, the band Styx recorded a live album and concert film there.
In 2002, the Saenger Theatre celebrated its 75th birthday by showing three classic movies: Some Like It Hot, The Wizard of Oz, and Gone with the Wind. This "Summer Classic Movie Series" became a yearly event for a few years.
Hurricane Katrina's Impact
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage to New Orleans, and the Saenger Theatre was hit hard. Water flooded the basement and the seating area, reaching about a foot above the stage. Luckily, the theater was already being renovated, so the carpets and seats had been removed. The old Robert Morton Wonder Organ on the stage was also damaged. The theater's offices and ticket booth were badly flooded too.
Planning for a Second Renovation
In 2009, officials announced a big plan to restore the Saenger Theatre. The city agency, Canal Street Development Corp., would take ownership and lease the building back to the Saenger Theatre Partnership for 52 years. This deal helped secure $15 million in government grants and other funding for a $38.8 million restoration project.
The main goal was to bring the Saenger back to its original look. Workers would remove old paint to find the original colors and use old photos to match doors, lights, and windows. Some modern updates were also planned, like adding a restaurant, more restrooms, and central air conditioning. The famous ceiling constellations would be replaced with new LED lights. All changes would follow strict rules to protect the theater's historic look.
The theater's outdoor sign, called the marquee, was lit up again in October 2009 to show that the Saenger was coming back. It was announced that the marquee would stay lit every night until the theater reopened.
Construction began in January 2012, with the total cost of the renovation reaching $51 million. The Saenger Theatre finally reopened on September 27, 2013, with performances by comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The renovation cost a final $53 million, and the theater was recognized as one of the top historic sites saved that year.
The Saenger Organ
The Saenger Theatre is home to a very special Robert Morton theatre organ. This organ has about 2,000 pipes and was installed when the theater first opened. It was one of the largest organs ever built by the Robert Morton Organ Company and was a model for their "Wonder Morton" organs.
This organ was designed specifically for the Saenger's unique sound. It's one of the few Robert-Morton organs in the United States that is still in its original location. A famous theater organist named Jesse Crawford once said that the Saenger's organ was the best he had ever played!
See also
- List of concert halls
- List of music venues
- Theatre in Louisiana
- Saenger Theatre (Mobile, Alabama)
- Saenger Theatre (Pensacola, Florida)
