Located on Savannah's Chippewa Square is one of architect William Jay's most esteemed works in the city, the Savannah Theatre. Its elegant three-story design is composed of wrought iron detailing on the facades, and ornate windows on all sides, and was known for being a deluxe experience in the city.
Savannah residents watched its construction progress, eagerly awaiting opening night in 1818, and it became a top entertainment destination offering live music, and performances daily through the next several decades. The Savannah Theater shaped the future of Chippewa Square, bringing in thousands of guests and performers further enriching the city's entertainment scene.
Theater Highlights
- Architect: William Jay (1818 original design)
- Capacity: Originally over 1,700 occupants
- Historic Significance: One of America's oldest continuously operating theaters
- Architecture: Original elegant three-story design with wrought iron detailing
- Current Use: Live performances and seasonal movie showings
Current Theatre View
The Savannah Theatre today, continuing its legacy as one of America's oldest continuously operating theaters
The theatre continues to operate today, hosting live performances and special events while maintaining its historic significance as a cornerstone of Savannah's cultural life on Chippewa Square.
Opening night - designed by William Jay
Elegant three-story design with wrought iron detailing
Theater begins to thrive with proper business practices
Strong hurricane rips roof off, causing major flooding
Fire engulfs building, iconic facade lost and replaced with brick
Extensive damage requiring complete renovation
Art Deco renovation, first showing October 21st
One of America's oldest continuously operating theaters
Early Challenges & Success
While it was a much beloved theater, it suffered operationally as it was passed down from owner to owner during its first twenty years of existence. It was even auctioned off multiple times, as no one seemed to have a good grasp on how to run the business.
Once a successful stock company took ownership of the operations in 1838, they turned things around for the better. The theater began to thrive as appropriate business practices were implemented, and the theater became a profitable operation.
Famous Performers
The artists that graced the stages at the Savannah Theater were talented, and oftentimes nationally renowned performers. Visitors would travel to Savannah to see the most awaited showings.
August of 1898 would prove to be an unfortunate time for the Savannah Theater. A strong hurricane swept through the city, ripping the theater's roof off of the structure, which caused major flooding throughout. Restoration efforts were expedited to repair the damage done by the hurricane.
The 1906 Fire
Just eight years later, tragedy struck again. In 1906, a fire engulfed a part of the city, reaching the Savannah Theater. Extensive damage to the building's facade was irreparable, and its iconic facade could not be recreated. The repair efforts this time gave the theater a new brick facade, losing a part of its identity from what architect William Jay had originally designed.
The 1948 Fire & Art Deco Renovation
In 1948, a fire reached the building yet again causing damage requiring extensive redesign. The renovation efforts were more expansive than any of the previous times, and the interior of the building was renovated in an Art Deco style. The live performance theater was converted into a movie theater during this renovation, with its first showing being on October 21, 1950.