Columbia Theatre
500 Broadway Street,
Paducah,
KY
42001
500 Broadway Street,
Paducah,
KY
42001
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 43 of 43 comments
cgcolumbia: Thanks for the update on this theatre. To read about a once backlit stained glass was nice until I read that it has been painted over! It always amazes me what some people think is the right thing to do. I wish you the best of luck and perhaps someone on CT can advise you on how to raise cash to restore this theatre to its “former glory”.
Currently the theatre is still waiting to be restored. The last time I was in side (5 years ago) it was mostly still intact. there is some water damage to the walls but most of the ornamental plaster i s still intact. The projection equipment had been sold after they closed down. the balcony has been cloed in as a separate screen and all seats and screens remain. The ceiling I am told was once a backlit stained glass. It has been painted over but appears to be intact. It is my dream to restore this treasure to its former glory but coming up with the money to do so is a problem.
What is the current restoration status on this theatre?
Sorry about that. The third link, P1030356, is the separate (segregated) entrance mentioned above. The only movie I saw there while on vacation in Paducah was “A Bridge Too Far”.
Hey, ChrisB.
When posting comments with photos, just like to the images. We don’t really support people using image tags in comments… it causes too many problems.
Thanks!
Patrick
If you click on “Current Photos, after looking at the original marquee you will see the present day marquee which just doesn’t compare to what was taken down and removed!
http://www.paducahmainstreet.com/theater.htm
Under “Related Websites” are some wonderful photos of this theatre in years past along with the beautiful marquee of that era!
This theatre has quite an ornate facade.
Some photos from two weeks ago:
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Paducah! This theatre’s exterior facade is beautiful and the theatre needs to be restored as so much of it seems to be there though in need of some TLC! Which theatres had a pipe organ?
lostmemory: Great photo, but am sad to read that the theatre was “twinned” in the 80’s enclosing the balcony area.
Around 1980, the Columbia was “twinned” by enclosing the balcony (as mentioned before, it dated from the days of segregation). I recall seeing “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn” in the upstairs theater.
Henry: THIS is an interesting question as I’ve quickly learned in my research of old movie theaters that many of the old movie houses do not have their pipe organs anymore. There is an organ website which you might enjoy as it also shows photos and history of the Carolina Theater in Charlotte NC where the organization is based. Go to http://theatreorgans.com/nc/metrolina/ My husband’s hometown theater was also called the Columbia, but it doesn’t seem to be included on the Cinema Treasures website. The hometown was Brookville PA.
No the Columbia Does not has a pipe organ.
Does the Columbia Theater have a pipe organ?
The Columbia, built in the years of discrimination, had a separate balcony for blacks when it was built.
They would enter on the left side of the theatre in an alley between buildings with stairs to the balcony.
Yes,you are correct these are two seperate theatres. However, for the purpose of the RFP’s we want to transfer the property as one unit. The arcade still has a retail arcade connected to the entrance and currently 3 spaces are occupied.The city of Paducah is the current owner and is accepting proposals on this property. Will probably transfer free of charge to the right developer. We are looking for someone to restore them. Carol