Imperial Theatre

745 Broad Street,
Augusta, GA 30901

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Imperial Theatre

Additional Info

Architects: Roy A. Benjamin, Claude Knox Howell, G. Lloyd Preacher

Functions: Live Performances, Special Events

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Wells Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 706.722.8293
Manager: 706.722.8293

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News About This Theater

IMPERIAL Theatre; Augusta, Georgia.

The Imperial Theatre was built 1917-1918 and opened in February 1918 for vaudeville. It was originally very briefly known as the Wells Theatre. The Imperial Theatre was designed by two architects, C.K. Howell and G. Lloyd Preacher. In 1936, it was partially remodeled in Art Deco style by Roy A. Benjamin. It was used for silent films following the decline of vaudeville. The Imperial Theatre was used as a film theater until it closed in 1981.

It reopened in 1985 to be used as a performing arts venue and serves as the performing arts home for the Augusta Ballet, Augusta Opera, Augusta Players, and the Augusta Jazz Project.

Contributed by Greg Goodwin

Recent comments (view all 336 comments)

wmson364
wmson364 on September 11, 2012 at 8:34 am

The Imperial is on the web at http://www.imperialtheatre.com/

on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/imperialaugusta

& on Twitter at @AugustaImperial

Still going strong and in the process of a capital fund raising campaign to update/restore the building and facilities.

ERD
ERD on September 11, 2012 at 9:59 am

Glad this theatre was saved and is being used.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 26, 2012 at 12:45 pm

Thanks for the comments on a Great Theatre I was able to help Manage back in good old days of movies and going to the movies was an event.not like a visit to the bus stop like it is today..

HenrySchmidt
HenrySchmidt on September 26, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Hey gang, how come when I enter “imperial, GA” in the search window on this site, it comes up with—-nothing?! Site moderators, please note! Thanks.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 1, 2013 at 3:37 pm

Since i cannot get many locals to come here i made an IMPERIAL THEATRE site on facebook ,amazing how they will like something local…

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 1, 2013 at 3:38 pm

in fact every theatre i worked at i did a tribute much like CT does for theatres around the world.i have notice quite a few others have done on their theatres, the public eats it up.

cccmoviehouses
cccmoviehouses on February 4, 2014 at 4:59 pm

Got to see the inside of this beautiful theater around 2006, so glad Augusta saved it, what a treasure.

aleithia
aleithia on March 19, 2017 at 8:56 am

Claude Knox Howell is my Grandfather. I recently started a search of his of his work. Wonderful site, instantly discovering so much about him. Googled his name in Richmond Va. wonderful article about homes he has built here (I just moved to Richmond) . Wish I could photos of him, I only have two. He is buried in Richmond. I would like to visit all of the theatres he was involved with. Seems like he did a lot of restoration fire work. He was from Ohio, came to Richmond to work on a fire restoration job at the Jefferson Hotel, this is where he met his future wife. He let a very interesting life. He and Andrew Loyd Wright were friends as young men, was told that they roomed together in ‘Chicago. Thank you for the information and this site.

mikerogerstheatre
mikerogerstheatre on March 28, 2017 at 5:53 pm

thanks ALEITHIA..intresting story..

Brandon Barkley
Brandon Barkley on June 14, 2023 at 8:50 am

This location has the capability to play content on a mobile screen through a corporate level projection system. It does not, to my knowledge, have support for true DCP projection.

Movies are only shown infrequently for film festivals or special events. For a time, they screened free movies fairly regularly, but these events now tend to happen instead at the Miller across the street now.

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