Grand Theatre
320 Eighth Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
320 Eighth Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
1 person
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Grand Opera House
Nearby Theaters
The Grand Opera House name was later shortened to the Grand Theatre. Unlike most of Augusta’s screens except for the city’s black theatres, the Grand Theatre was located on the corner of Greene Street and Eighth Street, away from Broad Street. It was a gem of a theatre, George M. Cohan was impressed when he visited stating it was "A most beautiful theatre". However,the beauty turned tragic when an arsonist burned the Grand Theatre to the ground, ashes and tears to Augustans. The arsonist was never caught. Killed in the fire was manager James Tant and his wife, Lula. He also managed the Imperial Theatre.
The Grand Theatre burned and flames were seen for miles in March 18 1922! Special thanks to Nick DiMaggio for encouragement in getting these theatres researched and on CT.
Contributed by
MikeRogers
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
I could only Find Greene Street which is off Broad Street.
Nick.I have a picture of the Grand,if you could get it on.
620 Greene Street is the location,I think.
Can anyone come up with a “for sure” address, more info, or photos?
I will try and nail it down Thursday if I can find the book I was looking at at Borders.
I have pictures of several of these old theatres,but don’t have the equipment to get them on,Nick in Tampa was doing it for me,but i have no idea what happen to him.
Okay here is the scoop on the GRAND THEATRE. It was located at 320 Greene Street and 8th street.“MOVING PICTURES” was the first movie ever to play in Augusta shown Nov 3-4 1904.Bob, you always want photos well I have alot of pictures of Drive-ins and theatres.Don’t know what happened to Nick who use to print my stuff for CT. If you let me know and i will print my address,drop me a line with your address and I will gladly send you copies of all my theatres for you or anyone else to put on CT. I would love to see them on.Thanks.
I think all the above info is about I can find,unless someone else wants to give it a shot locally.
On February 25, 1912, Will Rogers appeared on the stage of the Grand Theatre at Augusta in a production of the musical show The Wall Street Girl. This must have been an out-of-town tryout for the show, which ran at George M. Cohan’s Theatre in New York from April 15 to June 1 that year, with Rogers doing what is listed as “a specialty number”.
There is also a reference to a New Grand Theatre at Augusta in Henry T. Sampson’s Blacks in Blackface: A Sourcebook on Early Black Musical Shows. Reviewing an appearance at the New Grand of the Kenner & Williams stock company, the Indianapolis Freeman of April 13, 1912, called the house “…one of the finest colored playhouses in the South” and added that it was owned by “…Messrs Evans and Cook.” I don’t know if this marked a sudden change in policy for the Grand Theatre or if the New Grand was a different house. I’ve been unable to find any other references to the New Grand or to Evans and Cook.
After the Grand Theatre burned in 1922, there were plans to replace it, noted in the October 12 issue of Manufacturers Record. Although the architect had already prepared plans and a contractor had been chosen, it appears that the $50,000 project was never carried out.
The correct address was 320 8th St. The building faced 6th on the southwest corner of 8th & Greene.