Saenger Theatre
143 N. Rampart Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
143 N. Rampart Street,
New Orleans,
LA
70112
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Mr. Will Dunkin’s comment regarding the theatre organist who opened the Saenger (Rosa Rio) is incorrect. The opening artist was John Hammond, who was Rosa’s husband. Mr. Hammond taught organ at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and was brought to New Orleans to open the Robert Morton at the Saenger. Rosa Rio, who is a national treasure, did later play at the theatre.
John McCall
Recent color photos of this theatre can be found on the site: “America’s Stunning Theatres” by photographer and stagehand Noah Kern at: http://www.pbase.com/affablebeef/theatres Comments and information may be left there without registration; such can be public view or only to Mr. Kern. Scroll down the page to find the name, and then click on the sample image above it to be taken to the page of photos of it.
Here is a photo I took of the Saenger in 2001.
Old photos and organ history at this link:
http://atos.stirlingprop.com/no_saenger/index.htm
I have heard that this was the Crescent City’s first 70mm house.
My one and only visit to this marvelous venue was to see the touring company stage production of “Les Miserables” back in the 1980s while I was in New Orleans on business. I was impressed by its charm and comfort and imagined that it would have been a great movie palace in earlier days.
I think that in recent years (2000 or 2001?) there was a live broadcast from the New Orleans Saenger of Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” radio show when they took the show on the road.
If you click on the following link, you can see the whole video that Bryan mentioned above at the theater:
Once on the page, click “Angels”.
View link
The Saenger is quite attractive and in great shape, quite a contrast from it’s neighbor across Canal Street, the Joy Theater. The new Streetcars now traversing Canal St for the first time in 40 years, and the slow revival of the Canal Street corridor should continue to help the Saenger continue to be a great New Orleans venue.
The organist for the opening night at the Saenger was Rosa Rio. She went on to a respected career as an organist in New York where whe played in radio, television, ball rooms and fine restaurants. She is still living (age 98) and playing the organ quite well in Florida.