World Theater (Omaha, Nebraska) facts for kids
|
Omaha Theater
|
|
| Address | 1506 Douglas Street Omaha, Nebraska United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°15′32″N 95°56′10″W / 41.2590°N 95.9362°W |
| Owner | World Realty Co. |
| Type | Vaudeville, Movie theater |
| Capacity | 2,100 |
| Current use | Razed 1980 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 15, 1922 |
| Closed | February 26, 1978 |
| Years active | 1922–1978 |
| Architect | C. Howard Crane, Mendelssohn, Fisher and Lawrie |
The World Theater was a famous place in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. It was a special kind of theater that showed both vaudeville (live stage shows) and movies. Located at 1506 Douglas Street, it opened its doors in 1922. Later, in 1935, its name changed to the Omaha Theater. The theater closed in 1978 and was taken down in 1980 to make space for a parking garage.
Contents
History of the World Theater
The World Theater was a very large building, designed to hold 2,500 people. It was created by a famous architect named C. Howard Crane. He was known for designing many theaters across the United States. Another architect, Harry Lawrie, helped manage the project in Omaha. It took about ten months to build this amazing theater.
Theater's Design and Look
The outside of the theater was made of brick and steel. It was covered with shiny terra cotta, which is a type of baked clay. The front had three big arched windows. These windows were decorated with iron and stood between four sets of fancy columns called Corinthian columns.
At the very top of the building, there was a decorated band. It had sculptures and the words World Theatre carved into it.
Inside the Theater
The inside of the World Theater was just as grand as the outside. In the main hall, a huge chandelier hung down. It had a thousand sparkling glass crystals! Two smaller chandeliers were in other domes.
In the lobby, there was another unique chandelier. It looked like a globe surrounded by comets, stars, and crescent moons. The women's lounge had a ceiling decorated with Chinese silk and coins.
The stage curtain was made of soft velvet with gold fringe and big tassels. Even the carpets were velvet, in pretty shades of blue and gold. All these beautiful decorations, including comfy chairs and sofas, came from a local store called J. L. Brandeis and Sons Store.
Music and Opening Day
A special pipe organ was installed in the theater. It was a Hope-Jones Wurlitzer organ, and it cost $45,000! This organ provided music for the shows and movies.
The World Theater officially opened on Saturday, April 15, 1922. It was a huge event! More than 10,000 people came to see the shows. There were four shows throughout the day. Tickets were 50 cents for regular seats and 75 cents if you wanted to reserve your spot.
Later Years and Closure
In February 1935, the World Theater was sold to new owners. They decided to change its name to the Omaha Theater. The theater continued to entertain people for many years.
However, on February 26, 1978, the Omaha Theater closed its doors for good. There were plans to fix up the building, but they didn't work out. So, in 1980, the beautiful theater was taken down. A parking garage was built in its place.
