Wells Theatre facts for kids
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Wells Theatre
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 108 E. Tazewell St., Norfolk, Virginia |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | E.C. Horn & Sons |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004312 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1980 |
The Wells Theatre is a famous performing arts building. It is located in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Since 1979, it has been home to the Virginia Stage Company. The City of Norfolk owns and runs the Wells Theatre. It is part of a group of venues called The Seven Venues.
Contents
The Wells Theatre: A Historic Stage
The Wells Theatre first opened its doors on August 26, 1913. The very first show was a musical called The Merry Countess. This theatre was built by the Shubert Organization.
A Look Back: The Theatre's Journey
In 1916, Jake Wells added a movie screen and projector. Even with movies, live plays were still the main attraction. Many famous American performers appeared at the Wells Theatre. These included John Drew, Jr., Maude Adams, Otis Skinner, and John Philip Sousa. Even Fred Astaire and his sister Adele performed there. The famous cowboy humorist Will Rogers also graced its stage.
During the Great Depression, the Wells Theatre kept showing vaudeville acts and movies. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment. It featured many different acts like comedy, music, and dance. The theatre continued to show movies through the 1940s and 1950s.
In the 1960s, downtown Norfolk faced some tough times. The Wells Theatre also went through changes. It later found new life when the Virginia Stage Company moved in. This brought live theatre back to its stage.
Design and Features
The Wells Theatre was built using a special method. It used steel-reinforced concrete. This was very advanced for its time. The theatre's beautiful decorations made it a flagship building. It is a great example of Beaux-Arts architecture. This style is known for its grand and classical look.
When it first opened, the theatre had 1,650 seats. It also had 12 special boxes and three balconies. In the past, like many places, the theatre had separate sections for different groups of people. For example, the top balcony had its own entrance and was used by African American audiences.
The theatre also had a system of stairs. These stairs made it easy to move around inside. Waiters from Wong Ping's Chinese Restaurant could even serve people on the second-floor roof garden. This happened before and after shows. The downstairs lobby once housed the first location of Doumar's Cones and BBQ in Norfolk.
The Wells Brothers' Vision
The Wells brothers, who owned the theatre, were very successful. They eventually ran 42 theatres in nine different states. In Norfolk, they operated several other theatres. These included The Granby, Academy, Colonial, The NorVa, Strand, and American Theatre. Otto Wells managed all their theatres from Norfolk. He used special machines to track how much money each theatre earned.
