Savoy Theatre
211 W. Jefferson Street,
Louisville,
KY
40202
211 W. Jefferson Street,
Louisville,
KY
40202
1 person
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Additional Info
Architects: Dennis Xavier Murphy, James Cornelius Murphy
Firms: D.X. Murphy & Bro.
Previous Names: Grand Opera House, Buckingham Theatre, Jefferson Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Grand Opera House was opened on September 3, 1894. The Savoy Theatre is listed as operating prior to 1941 and into the 1950’s and beyond…
After it closed as a theatre it became a mixture of adult facilities. The Gay Nineties Club (not that kind of ‘Gay’, a Go Go lounge with Go Go dancers), a strip joint and a mini adult movie shop. The only exterior remnant of the theatre was the Savoy verticle sign.
The buildings have all been demolished and this is now the site of the Kentucky Arena.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
As the Grand Opera House, this theater is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. The seating was given as 1,600. The proscenium opening was 31 feet wide X 38 feet high, and the stage was 40 feet deep. Other theaters listed for Louisville were the Amphitheatre Auditorium (3,072 seats), Avenue Theatre (1,580 seats), Macauley’s Theatre (1,900 seats), and Temple Theatre (1,110 seats). The 1897 population of Louisville was 210,000).
The papers of Louisville architectural firm D. X. Murphy & Bro. (Dennis Xavier Murphy and James Cornelius Murphy) include material relating to their work on the Buckingham Theatre in 1898-99 and in 1911, but with the address given as 223-227 W. Jefferson. The 1898-99 project is listed as “Buckingham Theatre, New” so its possible the Grand Opera House listed in the Cahn guide of 1897-98 was closed and replaced. The Buckingham Theatre was originally opened as a burlesque house by John Henry Whallen in 1880.
This opened on September 3rd, 1894. Grand opening ad posted.