Mary Anderson Theatre
612 S. 4th Street,
Louisville,
KY
40202
612 S. 4th Street,
Louisville,
KY
40202
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I too was in a play around 1978 at the Mary Anderson as part of the Christian Workshop Theatre. It was called “A Sleep of Prisoners”.
The Mary Anderson Theatre was converted back into a performance space at some point (I think in the late 1970s) and was used for shows by the Christian Workshop Theatre. I appeared in a CWT production of “West Side Story” there in 1982.
Opened with an invitational show on April 1, 1907 in the Atherton Office Building, the 1906 architectural exterior drawing in photos. But then a period of delay found Peter Lee Atherton’s United States Amusement closed to work on contracts and opened to the public September 2, 1907.
June 25th, 1965 grand reopening ad in photo section.
Ad for the April 15th, 1949 reopening after renovations in photo section.
I have a postcard showing a theater on Fourth Street (north from Broadway). Matching the windows on this building and identifying the building on the corner of Chestnut Street (still existing), this is probably the Mary Anderson. This card only shows a partial view of the marquee, but there is a large sign that advertises B.F. KEITH’S VAUDEVILLE.
A 1906 publication lists the Mary Anderson Theatre as being operated by the Shuberts, so it was probably a legitimate house at that time.
A list of theaters in the Orpheum vaudeville circuit published in 1917 included the Mary Anderson Theatre, with the note that the house was also affiliated with the B.F. Keith circuit.
At any rate just remember that this theater was named after Mary Anderson, the stage actress from the Louisville area. Is the Mary Anderson Theater Building now called the Mary Anderson Office Building? If it’s not it seems like it should be! Pehaps a movement should be started for that to happen. Is a plaque on the building to commemorate the theater?
Anyone know what happened to that Mighty WurliTzer Theater Pipe Organ when it went to New York, New York? If you know anything about the organ, please email us!
“Gee Dad, it "WAS” a WurliTzer!"
I remember seeing “Cleopatra” in the upstairs “Penthouse” at the United Artists (now Palace) Theatre. What a theatre street 4th Street was back in the 60s!
I am looking for a Rapp & Rapp designed theatre in Louisville from around 1915. An article heralding the completion of the Palace Theatre in Rockford in February of 1915 says that the Rapps had a theatre under construction in Louisville at the time? Any know which one it might have been?
Designed by noted Louisville-based architect William J. Dodd.
Marty is confusing the Mary Anderson with the United Artists/Loewe’s/Penthouse. The Mary Anderson was across the street, next to the Rialto. It was not terribly well suited to be a movie theater. It wasn’t very wide and the projection booth was in the upper stratosphere so that the image on the screen was noticeably distorted. It looked like the screen was tilted backwards. The most interesting aspect of the theater was for a time the management thought it would cute to have “usherettes” who would dress in costume, depending upon the movie shown. For example, when they showed “Cactus Flower” the usherettes were dressed as nurses. Some of the other films shown there I can recall are Barbarella and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Eventually it became a church. I understand it has been completely converted to office space now.
Opus 9 a 2 Manual/4 Rank WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ was shipped to this theatre in 1912. Sometime later it was removed and ended up in New York, New York, but nothing else is known about what happrned to it.
Sad story. The Mary Anderson was a wonderful downtown theater of the era. It had one of those star-studded ceilings with revolving clouds, and a fine old ornate lobby with staircase, urns, and the rest.
The Mary Anderson’s fate paralleled that of Fourth Street, with various attempts to salvage it that in fact promoted its decline. In the early 60s, the balcony was closed off and turned into The Penthouse Theater. ‘Cleopatra’ showed at the Penthouse. That, of course, was the end of the Mary Anderson’s ceiling.
Louisville saved the Brown Theater but not the Mary Anderson. RIP.
Like other people, I assumed that the theater was named for the second-rate actress with small parts in “Gone With the Wind” and “Lifeboat.” But it was the older stage actress who had a Louisville connection. It would be interesting to know how the theater came to be named for her.
Sad story. The Mary Anderson was a wonderful downtown theater of the era. It had one of those star-studded ceilings with revolving clouds.
The Mary Anderson’s fate paralleled that of Fourth Street. In the early 60s, the balcony was closed off and turned into The Penthouse Theater. ‘Cleopatra’ showed at the Penthouse. That, of course, was the end of the great Mary Anderson ceiling.
Louisville saved the Brown Theater but not the Mary Anderson. RIP.
Like other people, I assumed that the theater was named for the second-rate actress with small parts in “Gone With the Wind” and “Lifeboat.” But it was the older stage actress who had a Louisville connection. It would be interesting to know how the theater came to be named for her.
There is also a Mary Anderson center for the arts located in Mount St. Francis Indiana. The center is named in honor of Mary Anderson the stage actress. A small photo of Mary Anderson can be viewed at the centers website. http://www.maryandersoncenter.org/about.htm
So I am assuming that the theater is named after the third MA, not the second?