Saenger Theatre

The organist for the opening night at the Saenger was Rosa Rio. She went on to a respected career as an organist in New York where whe played in radio, television, ball rooms and fine restaurants. She is still living (age 98) and playing the organ quite well in Florida.

The video for Jessica Simpson's current single, "Angels", was filmed at the Saenger in June. For stills from the video, showing Jessica performing on the Saenger's stage, click
here.

When the Saenger was twinned, an escalator was installed to take patrons to the upstairs theatre. I believe that it's still used despite the theatre's return to a single auditorium.

The Saenger is quite attractive and in great shape, quite a contrast from it's neighbor across Canal Street, the Joy Theater. The new Streetcars now traversing Canal St for the first time in 40 years, and the slow revival of the Canal Street corridor should continue to help the Saenger continue to be a great New Orleans venue.

If you click on the following link, you can see the whole video that Bryan mentioned above at the theater:

Once on the page, click "Angels".

http://launch.yahoo.com/artist/videos.asp?artistID=1043718

The vertical sign of the Saenger can be seen on the far lefthand side of this early 30s photograph.

My one and only visit to this marvelous venue was to see the touring company stage production of "Les Miserables" back in the 1980s while I was in New Orleans on business. I was impressed by its charm and comfort and imagined that it would have been a great movie palace in earlier days.

I think that in recent years (2000 or 2001?) there was a live broadcast from the New Orleans Saenger of Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion" radio show when they took the show on the road.

I have heard that this was the Crescent City's first 70mm house.

Old photos and organ history at this link:
http://atos.stirlingprop.com/no_saenger/index.htm

Here is a photo I took of the Saenger in 2001.

Recent color photos of this theatre can be found on the site: "America's Stunning Theatres" by photographer and stagehand Noah Kern at: http://www.pbase.com/affablebeef/theatres Comments and information may be left there without registration; such can be public view or only to Mr. Kern. Scroll down the page to find the name, and then click on the sample image above it to be taken to the page of photos of it.

Mr. Will Dunkin's comment regarding the theatre organist who opened the Saenger (Rosa Rio) is incorrect. The opening artist was John Hammond, who was Rosa's husband. Mr. Hammond taught organ at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and was brought to New Orleans to open the Robert Morton at the Saenger. Rosa Rio, who is a national treasure, did later play at the theatre.

John McCall

Let us all hope that someone had the presence of mind to take the Robert Morton organ console to the up position on the lift prior to Katrina!

While everyone here has primary concern for the people now destitute in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many have also been wondering about those memorable theatres down south, and perhaps the message from Theatre Historical Society member Bill Hooper, copied here from their NewsFlash bulletin, will shed some light, depressing though his accurate observations are:

THSA NewsFlash #242 (www.historictheatres.org)
"Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 11:17:47 -0400
From: ebersonian1@aol.com
Subject: Hurricane Damage Thoughts

Some thoughts from member BILL HOOPER:

The Saenger is a great theatre in New Orleans, but also very affected are the very active venues the 1926 Thomas Lamb's State Palace (formerly Loew's) on Canal Street across the street from the Saenger, & Lansburgh's 1921 Orpheum 1/2 block away on University Place.

I don't have an interior photo of the Orpheum here, but there are some of the State Palace at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rotoflex/sets/740498/

The condition of the New Orleans theatres is very worrisome in that
photos have shown Canal Street has at some point flooded to a depth of at least 3 or 4 feet. With the power out, the sump pumps couldn't get the water out, & anyway the water would have no place to go as it's pumped into the municipal drains which would be overrun at that point. At 4 feet above Canal Street, all the mechanical rooms (AC, boilers, electrical service entry, breaker panels, etc.) will have been underwater for a while & damaged. Wiring conduit will have been completely filled with water, further deteriorating any cotton-covered wiring which may still remain, corroding splices in junction boxes, etc. The auditoriums
are excavated sloping floors, so everything in the auditoriums on the
floor & sides will have been underwater: bottom of the prosc & side
walls, seats, carpets, etc., not just partway through the house but all the way back.

Compounding this is likely roof damage. There's been little rain since the hurricane, but there will be, & theatre interior survival after hurricanes on the gulf coast has been completely dependent on very quick repair of the roof after the storm. Otherwise, the plaster interiors quickly disintegrate, dropping chunks of the ceiling, peeling off the walls, etc. Roof damage & entry of water there are the biggest threats to the theater. Unfortunately, with New Orleans undergoing a lockdown possibly for months for municipal emergency & cleanup services before contractors, etc. for individual buildings being allowed into the city, there will be many storms & much rain entering any damaged roofs & destroying the plaster interiors. Longer term, even after the roof is repaired, the water which entered rusts the metal lath behind the plaster & causes intermittent detachment of chunks of the interior. This damage
is not confined to only the auditorium, of course.

The New Orleans State Palace, Saenger, & Orpheum are very much
endangered. Besides New Orleans, there are a number of historic MS theatres in heavily-hit areas that can't be easily accessed for assessment: the Saenger in Biloxi, the A&G in Bay St. Louis, & northward into the state. For example, Meridian, MS was heavily hit, but a MS ATOS member reports that the Temple Theatre in MS is fortunately not damaged."

I am sure that everyone hopes that somehow these treasures will survive mostly intact.

True: but I would like to echo the sentiment you began with. As much as we may be interested in preservation, the human factor is what really matters in this disaster. I would sign a demolition permit for this building if it meant all those people could get their homes and lives back.

If my memory serves me correctly, New Orleans flooded in the early 30's and someone had the forsight to bring the organ console up to stage level and kept it out of the water. Hopefully it was brought up again.

If memory serves, the Saenger's stage is below sidewalk level. Sad to think that even with the console fully raised, it might still be completely submerged.

Will is probably quite right; most palaces had their stage levels below the sidewalk level in order to cause the sloping or raked floor down from the sidewalk/lobby level toward the stage for the sake of sight lines. However, there could have been a miracle, of course, so let us retain hope to the last.

Here is news out of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which I guess we had expect (via the free NewsFlash bulletin of the THSA (www.historictheatres.org):
"Message: 1
Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 21:43:29 EDT
From: ebersonian1@aol.com
Subject: Saenger Thr/Update 9/6/05



Many thanks to RICHARD SKLENAR for sharing this email with NEWSFLASH.
Cecil
is a longtime THS member.

In a message dated 9/6/2005 12:58:10 PM Central Standard Time,
AlaTheatre
writes:

Richard,
I just found out that the Saenger in New Orleans lost the organ
console, it
is under water, and part of the roof and they were just about to
complete a
$2,500,000 restoration before their fall season, which has been
canceled at
this time.

I will let you know more as I learn more..

Cecil Whitmire
Executive Director
Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts
Website www.alabamatheatre.com "

I have been commenting, here at CinemaTreasures.org, on the Joy Theater at 1200 Canal St. [ http://cinematreasures.org/theater/6327/ ] I fear that if the Saenger is under water, then also, the Joy Theater would partially be submerged as well.

The current issue of Newsweek, September 12, 2005, has a large photo on pages 42 & 43 of a flooded Canal Street. On the left can be seen the marquee of the Saenger Theatre. On the right is Loew's State. Vehicles and people can be seen in about two feet of water or more.

Listen fellas. I realize that I run the risk of looking like a trouble-maker. But, much as we all care about preservation, it is not appropriate to be talking about organ consoles in the face of such unbelievable human suffering.

Everyone knows in their heart of hearts that the theatres of New Orleans have been badly damaged, and that is a shame. I hope they can be repaired. But we aren't going to have any real info until people are allowed back into the city on a large-scale basis. Until then, show some respect. Let's leave it at that.

At this point, the news says most of the people that want to leave New Orleans have. At that point, the cleanup and rebuilding will begin. What has happened is a total tragedy, however, I don't see how talking about the future of the city (which the theaters are a part of) is inappropriate at this point. It may have been a week ago, but at this point, cleanup has already begun in downtown, I have seen video footage of it. MSNBC says that they expect to have much debris in the dry areas of the French Quearter and Downtown part of the city cleaned up in less than 7 days. They have already begun.

"I would sign a demolition permit for this building if it meant all those people could get their homes and lives back"

What a load of pretentious nonsense! Yes, of course the human suffering is a tragedy. But the demolition of the Saenger would help no-one. The exact opposite in fact. Without the Casinos, restaurants, theatres, and old-French quarter the city would not attract the tourists who provide employment for the citizens of the city. In order to help restore their lives what remains of the history and culture of the place must be brought back - at the same time as the homes. NOW is exactly the time to start talking about restoration and that IS showing respect.

See this page for a flood report on some New Orleans theatres (though not much about the Saenger).

It is not pretentious nonsense. You guys look really out of touch with reality by having this sort of discussion. I'm sorry if you can't see that.

But I don't intend to start on a full on war of words here. I've stated my viewpoint...

...and I would sign that permit. Who cares about an old building when the city has been destroyed. You want to minimize the situation by talking like everything is getting back to normal? I would hardly say things are getting back to normal.

Go back to your discussion, if it gives you jollies: how many manuals does that organ have? Who might rebuild the console?

Rebuilding the city has to start somewhere. And as Ian said, without the historic parts of New Orleans, there's not too much left to rebuild in this city. Aside from the shipping and port activities, tourism IS New Orleans' biggest economy. Without tourists, New Orleans will continue to be the ghost town it is now after this tragedy. The tourist activity IS what gives many of these people that lost their homes jobs. Without the potential for future tourists, they might as well stay away, and they may as well fill in the entire city with the debris, and call it a lost city.

This is not to minimize what has happened there, and the human toll is by and large the most important aspect of it., However, mIt is quite relevant to talk about the future of the city after this nightmare, as it affects just about every resident that plans to come back again. Without tourism, many of their jobs are lost, and tourists are attracted by the history - it's old buildings, and everything that makes New Orleans a great city - and the theaters are a part of that.

From the BBC news report 10/Sept/05 :-
"Now the hope is that the French Quarter's lure of history, food and music can become a catalyst for regeneration. Plans are being drawn up to retain historic areas of the city while rebuilding residential areas on higher ground and regenerating old wetlands to reduce the risk of future flooding. High quality transport links and projects to improve the quality of life and reduce poverty in New Orleans are high on most agendas. Bringing business and tourism back to the region is equally important."

Clearly the BBC and the Authorities in NO are having "jollies" too!!!

"Lifes-too-short" is feeling the human suffering deeply, and I know that all of us sympathize with him as well as the millions that have, and are, also suffering along the entire area ravaged by the hurricane, but I think that for the moment, his emotions have blinded his logic. Yes, if the loss of a theatre or all the theatres there could somehow bring back even one of the dead and missing, that would be acceptable to me and most everyone here. People are vastly more important than buildings, as even any idiot would realize. But, as others have brought out so well here, this IS a site to discuss theatres, and so after we have each done what was withing our power to help the evacuees, it is indeed appropriate to discuss their theatres, for the theatres are what we dearly hope will become again part of their futures, not to mention ours.

If "Lost..." has shed a tear or two for the loss of life and property, then perhaps he can imagine that we others have too, but choose to do so silently; I hope he will respect our feelings in so doing. Now, let's get back to being as optomistic as we can be about theatres and their futures, for in many cases they are the futures for evacuees who will return and rebuild, as was said here with all hope and respect by wiser people than me.

It's good to see several CT posts in regards to theatres in N.O. and surrounding areas as the folks and devastation of that region are in our thoughts along with their historical theatres. "The Saenger in New Orleans was the flagship of several Saenger theaters throughout the South."

A sidenote......I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the times printed along with our names and dates are not correct as my above post was not posted at 5:47am, but rather at 8:46am.

The times are on Pacific time.

OK, Thanks for that Sunday a.m. clarification!

Granted though, I don't think they always have been, but I think I noticed it back around June sometime that it is now on Pacific Time.

I am so glad the water is finally receding and people are able to start cleaning up and rebuilding!! I hope now the appropriate officials/persons will do what is necessary to prevent any future catastrophic flooding!

On CNN, MSNBC (etcetera), I've heard a lot of native New Orleans say that they will not return to the city. How very sad, but in certain aspects, understandable. Sometimes we are driven in directions we didn't forsee.

The energy of New Orleans will be different.. changed. In a sense, after being "washed clean", New Orleans will be a new city still with old, classic traditions. And the individuals that return, as well as the newcomers, will set a new pace of the city as they rebuild and build anew.

I didn't say my thoughts as eloquently as they were intended in my head, but with all the thoughts and emotions wrapped up in EVERY aspect of the situation(s), the sense of awe, it is amazing how life plays out through time. I guess this is more on a philosophical note, stepping back, the "why",.. the reasons, and purpose(s).. how amazing and thoroughly interesting everything really is.

I even saw that some bars were open on Bourbon St again, for the workers and residents remaining. It was nice to see some "normalacy", even if by candlelight. I was impressed by how much they cleaned up already. I saw footage of by the Convention enter, and there were groups of people with brooms, chainsaws, bulldozers, and dumpsters cleaning up the mess. They were hoping to have much of the French QUarter and downtown clean by the end of this week.
Progress in all the mess finally taking shape.

Does anyone know if this theatre sustained any Katrina damage?

Patsy, on MSNBC during the day yesterday they did a run about on some of the older historic buildings. One of the buildings was the Saenger Theatre. It did show some of the roof damage and inside even though still dark it showed water at stage level. They showed the front of the old Loew's State (State) while walking down the street but that was all.

Chuck: Thanks for this info and sorry I missed this MSNBC report. I've been watching alot of the coverage so am surprised that I didn't see it. What time of day did they air that particular broadcast?

Patsy, it aired not too long before they switched to complete coverage of the Jet Blue meley.

I actually saw it w few days before that.

Do you recall seeing any other theatre coverage on any other networks other than MSNBC?

A friend was in the Saenger this last weekend. His report is that the water got about three feet above the stage. Everything below that level is ruined. The theatre's mechanicals (heating/air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, etc) are beyond repair. The locking rail and rigging are in poor shape. ALL electrical systems will have to be replaced. The building itself is mostly intact though and there is still a plaster sky over the -smelly, sticky, grungy but stunningly handsome- auditorium.

The organ console, was brought to the top of its lift, but will have have to be replaced, as will the lift mechanism and the blower. However, the irreplaceable pipes, traps and chests are all intact.

The good news: an opening date is a long way off, but repair and cleaning of the Saenger is already taking place. It is somewhat ironic that the theatre was closed for renovation when the storms hit, so much of the theatre's furnishings were not in the building during the flood. The restoration plans that had already been made are still valid and will help speed the building's recovery.

In closing let me say that my friend was shaken to his core by what he saw of New Orleans. According to him, the loss is beyond comprehension or description: this beloved theatre survived but so much of the vibrant city has gone forever.

Thank you Will for your comments. New Orleans was always a city I loved to visit, and I am sure it was sobering for your friend to see what the city looks like. I am sure it is just undescribable. I was there about a year and a half ago last, and was supposed to go this coming year, but of course that has been cancelled.
I hope to someday return, but I am sure it won't be the same city I remember, or even a shadow of it. I can just picture the Joy and Saenger Theaters in my head from my walks down Canal St.
The Joy theater was in pretty sad shape even before this, I am sure now it is even worse (obviously), and unfortunately, since it was closed, no care is probably being given it now after this disaster. Who knows what is happening to the interior of that building as we speak.

Any updates on what's happening with the Saenger? I never played there, but I played the Mahalia Jackson thatre --- a graceless concrete '70's civic hall, in Louis Armstrong Park. A visit to a googlemaps site in september showed that the hall had at least 4' of water. While I can't really care as much about the Mahalia Jackson as I do about an architectural gem like the Saenger, I do know that the two stagehands who worked for me, Kiki and John, normally worked at the Saenger. What will happen to the livelihoods of people like these guys? What is going on?

The big problem in general for New Orleans' economy is that about $4.5 billion of it's economy was tourism. Without the tourists, the city will suffer immensely. They have to get the tourists back. But they can't get the tourists back until the city is in order. But how can you get the city in order when there's no money coming in from the biggest provider of dollars to the city, tourists. It's a double edged sword.
They showed one of the swamp tour guys on TV this morning, and they just reopened the tours, as "some" tourists are beginning to come in. His business is only about 2-3% of what it used to be. How can people survive on that?

In 1964, its vast balcony was walled off and transformed into a second auditorium, known as the Saenger Orleans.

I'm not so sure about that date. The balcony was walled off and turned into "Jim Crow" theater for blacks at least five earlier. It became truly a second screen in 1964, when the Civil Rights Act passed that year outlawed segregated public facilities.

The Saenger Theatre was subdivided into two theatres in 1964 - The Saenger and The Saenger Orleans. At this time the vast majority of the antiques, statues, paintings, and chandeliers were sold at auction to finance the renovation. Because the stairs to the balcony are accessed from the orchestra foyer, an escalator was installed in the main lobby to speed patrons to the balcony foyer. In the 1960's the Saenger Orleans was considered the finest theatre on Canal Street. Champagne was served at the concession stand and the theater had excellent sound and projection equipment. Sadly, prior to The Civil Rights Act, African Americans were not admitted to this theatre. The Loew's State, located directly across Canal Street from the Saenger, had the finest segregated balcony of any of the downtown theatres.

Stage Business
Friday, February 24, 2006
David Cuthbert
Theater writer
Saenger status


Although work continues on restoring the storm-damaged Saenger Theatre, do not expect a "Broadway in New Orleans" series this fall.

That's the word from Claudia Garofalo, the theater's general manager. "Unfortunately, repairing a building like the Saenger is a long process," she said. "It could take as much as 12 to 18 months.

"But we are committed to the work involved in stabilizing and maintaining the building," she said. Thus far, all water and sludge have been removed from the Saenger; bad dry wall was torn out, along with any sections of carpet that remained. (When Katrina hit, most carpeting and all seating was gone as part of a refurbishing effort.)

"But the drying-out procedure is an ongoing one," Garofalo said. "The good news is that we have a completely new roof. Our next step will be the greatest challenge: the electrical repair and upgrading that's needed, and the air-conditioning. Then will come the painting and interior renovation.

"We are being very careful every step of the way, because the Saenger is a New Orleans treasure and a very important part of our city."

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-landmarks26feb26,1,4280866.story?coll=la-headlines-nation


City's Landmarks Recovering
From Associated Press
February, 26 2006


Here's the status of some of New Orleans' landmarks six months after Hurricane Katrina's Aug. 29 landfall:

Louisiana Superdome: Closed until September. The NFL's Saints plan to play the 2006 season in the city after playing home games in San Antonio and Baton Rouge, La., in 2005.

ADVERTISEMENT
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center: Repairs of damage from the hurricane and its use as an evacuation center are expected to be finished in April. The center's first post-hurricane event — a jewelry and gift trade show held in the city for 54 years — was staged this month.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas: Remains closed, having lost most of its fish when generators failed. The Gulf and Caribbean exhibits are running again and have been restocked, but officials are still working to replace the rest of the aquarium's collection. They hope to reopen this summer.

Jackson Square: One of the first places to get a thorough scrubbing and face-lift after Katrina, just before President Bush came in September to tell the nation the city would be rebuilt. The square is nearly what it was before Katrina: famous Cafe Du Monde is open, musicians ply the sidewalks, and tarot card readers and tour guides try to engage a shrunken pool of tourists.

Port of New Orleans: Shipping activity has reached pre-Katrina levels, but only the upriver portion — about 70% of the port's facilities — is operational.

Fair Grounds Race Course: Closed to racing after heavy damage to its grandstands and clubhouse, it's unknown when live racing will return. Track grounds will be used for this year's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April and May.

New Orleans Museum of Art: Little damage to its building or its works of art, but damage to the overall city from hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused it to shut its doors for six months. The museum is scheduled to reopen this week. The museum's outdoor sculpture garden, with footpaths meandering among more than 50 sculptures, reopened in December.

Theaters: Repairs are underway at the historic Saenger Theatre - New Orleans, which is expected to remain closed through 2006. Recovery at the 85-year-old Orpheum Theater in the Central Business District has stalled; it has $2.5 million in flood damage. Damage to the city's other major theaters — the Municipal Auditorium and the Mahalia Jackson theater — wasn't as severe. Those facilities are expected to be operational within the year.

Audubon Zoo: Sustained only minor damage, but lost significant revenue with an ensuing absence of tourists. For now, it's open on weekends only. Zoo officials say they're hoping to return to normal hours sometime in March.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport: Number of daily flights has dropped to 71 from 166 pre-Katrina. Another 20 flights are expected to begin by April 3.

http://jam.canoe.ca/Theatre/2006/02/10/1436036-ap.html

Future of historic Orpheum Theater uncertain

By STACEY PLAISANCE




NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Flyers for an Aug. 27, 2005, play still hang in the glass casings lining the facade of the historic Orpheum Theater, marking the day that Hurricane Katrina's approach in the Gulf of Mexico brought this city's arts community to a standstill.

Like dozens of performances slated for that Saturday, two days before the storm made landfall, the stage play Let Go and Let God had to be cancelled just hours before curtain time when city officials ordered a mandatory evacuation as Katrina barrelled toward the Gulf Coast.

The storm took out all four of New Orleans' major performing arts theatres, severely flooding two of its oldest - the Orpheum and the Saenger - both listed on the national registry of historic places.

But in the five months since Katrina, renovations have been underway at the Saenger, but recovery at the Orpheum has been all but stagnant. And the future of the 85-year-old theatre, which for years has served as home to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, is uncertain, said Jeff Montalbano, the theatre's general manager.

Montalbano shook his head as he stood in the lobby that once gave way to an elegant performance hall with rich, burgundy-red carpeted aisles and ornate gold leafing on blue and white walls.

"I cried," he said of when he first entered the theatre and saw the floodwater. He said it took more than three weeks to pump all the water out. "I thought we'd have some water damage, but nothing like this."

Floodwater filled the theatre's six-metre basement, wiping out all the electrical and mechanical equipment stored there, and water rose to more than a foot (0.3 metres) in the performance hall. The Orpheum's original oak floors swelled and buckled and likely cannot be salvaged. The stage, which sat under water for weeks, will also have to be replaced, Montalbano said.

Walking on the dingy, now brownish-red carpet, he pointed out the paint flaking from the ceiling from weeks of moisture exposure and the hundreds of once-plush blue seats now almost entirely consumed by brownish-green mould.

Since the storm, only some cleanup has been done. And with no flood insurance, the owners aren't sure how to pay the estimated $1.5 million to $2.5 million in damage, Montalbano said.

The owners, a group of private shareholders, bought the theatre in the late 1980s. Though they're considering selling it, they're committed to the city's performing arts community and the LPO, the nation's only full-time symphony owned and operated by its musicians, Montalbano said.

The city's decreased population and uncertainty over how soon the economy will recover have made the idea of putting more money into the theatre a tough choice, he said. Roughly two-thirds of the city's population is still living elsewhere.

More disheartening, Montalbano said, is that the Orpheum was gearing up for one of its best seasons in years. Tourist and convention business, which had taken a dive after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was finally rebounding. Besides its regular LPO concerts, the Orpheum had just hosted 30 acts for a Black Entertainment Television comedy series and a concert by Grammy-nominated Vancouver native Michael Buble.

"It was going to be a good year," he said.

E.P. Miller, director of operations for the Saenger, said the theatre had limited flood coverage with its wind and rain policy, and raising the theatre's electrical and mechanical equipment to higher ground will be expensive.

The Saenger's basement flooded, as did its antique organ, which was used to provide "surround sound" during the 1920s silent movie era, Miller said. "It's going to be a major cost just to get that back up and able to be played," he said.

The Saenger's decorative marble statues survived but will need to be cleaned, and the grand chandelier - original to the castle of Versailles in France - was also in good shape, he said. Tapestries, furniture and decorative plaster will need to be restored or replaced.

Robert Lyall, director of the New Orleans Opera Association, said damage to the city's other major theatres - the Municipal Auditorium and Mahalia Jackson theatre - wasn't as severe, and he expects them to be operational within the year.

Many in the performing arts community agree that using the city's university theatres is a good alternative in the interim.

"We need to go back to the basics, and give the arts community something on a smaller scale to get it going again," Montalbano said.

Any current news of the repair of the Saenger?

This aerial view has the State, Saenger, and Joy all in one shot! You can click on the larger version to get in even closer. This must be pre-Katrina.


http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=nzs91f7gtgs4&style=o&lvl=1&scene=2790604

As someone pointed out in the State Palace section, you can also see the Orpheum on the left. FOUR theaters all in one shot!

I passed by the Saenger Theatre on 6-24-06 and looked through the stage loading door. There is scaffolding on both sides of the auditorium and a deck which completely blocks the view of the sky/ceiling. It appears that ceiling restoration is underway. The owners have been quiet about the hurricane Katrina repairs. Does anyone know the full scope of work that is being done? Who is the architect? Who is the contractor?

Here is a 1963 photo. Note the two entrances and marquees:
http://tinyurl.com/nqtyc

Ken, excellent photo. The Saenger's lobby (and the Loew's State across the street) was a "T" shape with the main entrance on Canal and canopies and marquees on the sides. I've never known how those side doors were used: was there a ticket taker at all three locations? Were the sides only used as exit ways? These are not "orchestra foyer" doors so they're not just emergeny exits. I'd love to hear from some former ushers or theatre employees who remember how the crowds were handled in the old days.

There was a debate on the Joy Theater page about whether the name was Joy or Joy's. I think the Joy faction won. If you look at the 1963 photo, there is a business called Joy's down the street from the theater, but I don't believe that is the Joy theater.

I am glad to see restoration work underway. This is certainly one of America's great theatres. In light of recent events, I might say something about the interchange above (taking place directly after the hurricane). I found it inappropriate to be talking about organs and theatres while large groups of people were still trapped between strips of submerged Interstate highway in New Orleans. I still do to be honest. But I probably could have expressed myself in a less explosive manner. Here's hoping the Saenger, and the rest of New Orleans, experience a swift return to vitality.

I passed by the Saenger on 09-01-06. It is locked up tight and all the windows are covered to prevent people from looking in. It appears that nothing is going on. I must have been mistaken when I posted my comment on 06-27-06. The scaffolding that was present in the theatre may have been there prior to hurricane Katrina - there was restoration work going on before the storm. Does anyone know what's going on with this theatre?

The Loew's State was entered from the Canal Street entrance or the Rampart Street entrance. The upper balcony was accessed from Rampart Street and was advertised as "The finest colored balcony in the South" as is visible in old photographs. There were ticket booths at each location until the end of segregation. The Saenger also had marquees and/or signage at Canal, Rampart, and Basin streets. The Saenger was completly segregated so there was no seperate entrance for African-Americans. I believe that the Saenger used the Canal Street entrance, where a freestanding ticket booth once stood, and the adjoining arcade as a holding area for patrons. The Rampart and Basin Street entrances served primarily as exits from the Grand Foyer. When the Saenger was piggy-back twinned in 1964, the Rampart Street entrance became the entrance for the Saenger Orleans (upstairs theatre). A ticket booth was installed at this entrance and an escalator was installed in the grand foyer to transport partons to the balcony foyer (former Art Salon). The Canal Street entrance no has not had a ticket booth since the theatre was restored in 1980.

jazzland, thanks for your excellent answer to my question of 9-9-06. Interesting that New Orleans' two largest theatres were built with such similar lobby plans. But then, I personally haven't seen any other theatres the actually spanned an entire block - allowing fully developed (though secondary) entrances on three sides.

ken mc, I too was confused for a moment looking at the 1963 photo listed above and seeing the name "Joy's" in the background. If I'm not mistaken, in that view we're on Canal looking down Rampart Street. Obviously the Joy Theatre was on Canal, not one of the cross streets. It's worth a chuckle that in 1963 you could stand on the corner of Canal and Rampart and look one way and see a big, flashy vertical sign reading JOY and look the other way and see a big, flashy vertical sign reading JOY'S.

But joy is what New Orleans is all about, right?

Now I am confused too. What was the "Joy's" Theater? I know the "Joy" Theater is on Canal St, but that is on the other side of Canal, so it couldn't be in the back ground of the angle the Saenger was taken at.
Was the "Joy's" another theater? If so did it have another name, as I can't find a "Joy's" theater on the site, only the "Joy" which we are all familiar with..

I'm confused about the "Joy's" sign also. This picture is definitly showing the Canal Street and Rampart Street sides of the Saenger. The "Joy's" sign is on Rampart Street in the photo.

"Joy's" must have been retail/commercial: maybe a department store? Where're all the old Maison Blanche employees when you need them to talk about the competition down the street, around the corner and off to the left?

AH, I didn't think of that. It was probably just a store.

I forwarded the photo to Mr.Rene Brunet, local movie theatre expert, to ask about the "Joy's" sign. He said that this was never a theatre and had no connection with the Joy Theatre. His recolection was that this was a furniture store.

This site has a good picture of the store on Rampart:
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/FBC&CISOPTR=528&REC=2,
It would be easy to mistake the vertical sign for one on a theater. Apparently there was also a Joy's Furniture Store in Baton Rouge.

It was not unusual for a theatre to inspire kindred names in its locality, for often it was the largest structure in a neighborhood and acted as a beacon of sorts allowing locals to say 'we are just a block from the JOY', or whatever.

Here in Milwaukee there was the TOWER movie palace, and within a few years of its opening there appeared the Tower Drugs, Tower Cleaners, and Tower Records, among others. Once the theatre disappeared, so did such namesakes, one by one. Today, no resident there would attach any significance to the term 'Tower.' Sic transit gloria!

Here is a vintage photo of the Saenger Theater.

This is a recent photo of the Saenger Theater.

Wow, what a difference from the last time I was there a couple years ago....before the flood. I can't imagine what the Joy Theater must look like, as that one was abandoned even before the flood. When I was last there, it was Superbowl Sunday in 2004, and they opened up the Joy Theater for some sort of Superbowl event (I didn't go, as I went to something on Bourbon St, but I guess they projected the football game on the screen). Anyway, even though the Joy was abandoned for years prior, obviously, it was still somewhat "usable" for events, even if run down. I highly doubt it is now after the flood though.....
I hear even the gorgeous Orpheum recieved terrible water damage, destroying a lot of the wood, seating, and musical instruments.

Shouldn't this theater be listed as closed? If you click on the Related Websites above, it tells you that "As a result of significant damages sustained by Hurricane Katrina, the Saenger Theatre has been forced to postpone the entire 2005-2006 season".

Yes, as well as the Orpheum. Of course, they aren't closed (supposedly) permanently, which "closed" might suggest. The Joy was abandoned long before the flood, so "closed" is correct. I don't know how CT handles "temporarily" closed theaters such as these New Orleans theaters like the Saenger and Orpheum, as they really aren't supposedly "permanently" closed, but are only closed because of the New Orleans flood damage.

There are status options for "Closed/Restoring", "Closed/Renovating" and "Closed/Renovating/Restoring". The last one pretty much covers it. :) I hope they are going to re-open this theater. I haven't come across any recent articles about it.

Me too, it's such a shame, as it was a beautiful place, and I think it was doing well before the flood. As well as the Orpheum, which I think had the phiharmonic at it. Unfortunately, theaters are obviously ny design, sloped....so all the water just rolled in right to towards the stage that is even lower of course than street level. Bad, real bad.

That was supposed to read "by design, sloped", not "ny design"....

These are from two different September 2006 stories about the Saenger Theater from The Times-Picayune:

"More than a year after the hurricane’s howling winds roared over New Orleans and the flooding slowly crescendoed in the downtown streets, the city’s old-line music houses — the Saenger, Orpheum, Municipal Auditorium and Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts — remain at a full stop: dark, dank and unusable.

Though various restoration plans are under way, progress is slow. At minimum, the 2006-07 cultural season will pass before the lights go up on several of the city’s most venerable venues. Many observers believe the wait will be longer still".

"The Saenger Theater, the New Orleans mainstay of Broadway road tours, might have been looking forward to “The Lion King” this season and, perhaps, “All Shook Up” or “Monty Python’s SpamAlot.” But none of these trucked-in productions will be loading into the grand old silent-movie house’s backstage this year.

The Saenger was undergoing a $2.6 million refurbishing when Katrina struck. The floor seats had been removed, the carpets stripped and an enormous hive of scaffolding stretched to the theater’s starry domed ceiling, where the decrepit horsehair acoustic covering was to be replaced with a new synthetic coating.

In the months since the flood, the Saenger’s failing ceiling has been replaced, air conditioning has been restored and a skeleton crew of four is working to remove the ruined stage planking and make other small-scale repairs. But, as with most of the city’s historic theaters, a major restoration of the flood-blighted building has yet to begin".

Wow, very sad. I believe the Orpheum is at a similar progression unfortunately. very sad. Again, if these two theaters are in such horrible shape after the flood, just imagine what the Joy must look like, which was already deteriorating before the flood....

I was suppposed to go on business to New Orleans this coming year, but those plans were transferred elsewhere. I may get there in about a year though, so hopefully by then things will look brighter.

One more Bway:

"Like homeowners across the flood zone, theater owners have endured duels with insurers, FEMA stipulations, rising construction costs and the question of whether to stand pat or sell their properties.

According to Saenger representatives, the future of the theater is a chicken-and-egg situation. They have begun replacing the damaged electrical and air-conditioning systems and say they plan to restore the Saenger to its prestorm glory. But they’re reluctant to plunge into the venture until they’re sure a sufficient number of ticket-buyers have returned to the city.

“The question is, ‘When will the audience return?’¤” said Allen Becker, Houston-based majority shareholder of the Saenger Theater Partnership, which has owned the theater since the late-1970s. “That’s the unknown question. One year? Five years?”

Becker said the calculations might take two years.

The levees are an essential consideration, he said: “When will the dikes be repaired?”

He estimates the cost of renovation at $12 million.

All of our revenue streams are in question, said Kirk Feldmann, the San Antonio-based Saenger director. “The reconstruction is the easy part; all questions are answered with money,” he said. We’ve been there 25 years; we’d like to be there for another 25 years”.


I think that they are waiting for New Orleans to get back to "normal" before investing too much money on this theater.

Actually, ALL of New Orleans right now is a chicken and egg scenario unfortunately. It's unbelieveable what happened to that city.

It is unbeliveable - I live in New Orleans. But, living in New Orleans all of my life it was almost inevitable that the socio-economic diaster that has hit would have eventually happened - Katrina or not. Orleans Parish has been slowly dying since 1927 when the Mississippi River flooded the city and sent the burgeoning financial industry scurring for higher ground. Over the ensuing 80 years unbelivably corrupt state and local politicians have literally chased the majority of the business interests out of the city. They have created a public school system which is essentially worthless. The primary industry is now tourism and the associated service industries which suport it. The tax base in Orleans Parish, with a
limited number of middle class families, an enormous number of people on public welfare, and a small upper class, is incapable of properly funding the city. Most politicians as well as most of the citizens (white, african-american , etc.) are horrible rascists only interested in mainatainig power over their part of the "chocolate city" as Mayor Nagin described it. Now the economic situation has caused everyone to scramble. I hope the Saenger, Loew's State, and Orpheum can come back soon. I miss attending the plays at the Saenger and the concerts at the Orpheum.

I loved your city the many times I have come to it (before Katrina), but yes, I did notice a strong disparity between "those that had, and those that didn't", and that was just from experiencing the city in a week or two week period at a time. Unfortunately, even I could see that the city's only real business seemed to be tourism, and once out of the tourist area, there was some real poverty there. I can't even imagine what it must be like now with the devastation outside of the main parts of the city. Even then a street such as Canal St was plagued with a "has been" look. Beautiful old buildings along it's stretch, but vacant stores on ground level, and vacant apartments above seemed to be the norm, especually as you ventured on Canal further away from the river.
There seemed to be a glow of hope once the streetcar was extended, and it seemed to be cleaning up each time I returned it looked a little better, but now, with the Katrina setback, I am sure everything is uncertain. It has to be a strange way to live.
Hopefully time will heal.

For extensive history and photgraphs about the Saenger chain of Theatres, go to this web site.
http://www.saengeramusements.com/

In 1945, a handicapped patron bought a ticket and was told that "cripples are not admitted to the theater on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays". He sued and was awarded $250:
http://tinyurl.com/yknbch

Unlike in the politically correct new millenum,handicap accessibility was not a public cause in 1945. Additionally, I believe that the word "cripple", although grossly thoughtless and unkind, was fairly common in public usage at the time. This sort of public insensitivity even led FDR to hide his disability from the public.

Well, FDR had political reasons for hiding his disability as well. Given that the country was mired in a depression in 1932, the people probably wouldn't have elected someone in a wheelchair. Interesting that the press played along as well. Imaging that today.

Here is a 2007 photo of the Saenger Theater.

Does anyone know if there are plans to restore the Robert Morton organ?

Here's a photo I took, very much like Geralds, taken just a month later, in the last week of July of 2000, when the Siggraph Conventions Film fest was held at the Saenger. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pulp-o-rama/847686784/in/set-72157594343161371/

Celloman, the Robert Morton is under the able care of John Hiltonsmith of Memphis. The management company is VERY supportive of the organ, knows its history and value and fully intends to maintain the organ in as close to original form as possible. That said, the economics involved in just getting the building open again are considerable. Word from John (who is also staff organist at the Memphis Orpheum and an award winning, multi-faceted, professional musician) is that the flood damage was minimal - confined to the blower and lower half of the console. The chambers were untouched - see my note from November 29 2005 above. The console suffered less damage than would be expected, it can be rebuilt rather than replaced. Obviously we can't fault them for not tackling the organ project before the venue itself is repaired.

This is a recent photo showing the Saenger Theater.

King Kong vs Godzila at the Saenger Theater.

I was watching "Ray" last night. I noticed the marquee of the Saenger and they did a performance inside the theater in 2004. You can just make out that it's atmospheric from the stage looking out on either ends of the walls leading up to the balcony. Wish you could see it all, though.

Here is another recent photo of the Saenger Theater.

WHAT a sad state the Saenger has fallen into since the last time I saw it 4 years ago! Here's a photo I took of the Saenger Theater about two weeks ago when I was in New Orleans for Mardis Gras. New Orleans looked good...at least the touristy areas like the French Quarter, Downtown, and the Garden District looked as beautiful as usual.... They need our tourist dollars desperately, so please visit New Orleans, they are ready and waiting, and there's nothing wrong with the areas anyone would visit as a tourist.

But since they did get some water along Canal St during the flood, the theaters along Canal suffered greatly. Even though it wasn't terribly flooded like other areas, remember a foot of water on Canal St is brutal for the theaters, which remember, you enter at ground level into, but SLOPE down to the stage...so a foot of water may not seem like much outside....but as it rushes into a theater towards the stage, it inundates an orchestra level.... All four of the theaters along Canal, the Saenger, the State, and the Joy are now closed (the Joy was closed prior to the flood, but usable). The Orpehum alos had serious damage, but I forgot to check the place out to see if it reopened.

Anyway, here's a photo of the sad Saenger Theater, which certainly saw better days. It's status can also be changed to closed until further notice too....it even had a for sale sign on it....

Click here for some current photos of the Saenger Theater

Click here for photo 1

Click here for photo 2

Click Here for photo 3

Too bad the Saenger sign from 1963 didn't remain.

Any restoration updates?

As of my photos that I took about 6 weeks ago linked above, it didn't appear they were doing anything with the building. I hope I am wrong.

Also notice, that there is a "for sale" sign on the building....so that would sort of make me believe who ever currently owns it doesn't plan to renovate. Hopefully someone will come along and buy it.

The Saenger Building is actually two seperate buildings. Along the Canal Street facade the Saenger only owns the entrance and arcade beyond. The remainder of the Canal Street facade is retail on the first floor with a small hotel on the upper floors. The two halves of the hotel are joined by corridors that pass immediatly behind the Canal Street entry arch. The commercial/hotel structure is for sale. The last I heard, was that a group of investors were attempting to buy the Joy, Loew's State, Saenger, and Orpheum theatres to restore/re-open them as a live performance complex. This was several months ago.

The Saenger has had it's roof replaced and has been dried out since Katrina. The building is currently stablized and I believe that the HVAC system is being used to prevent further damage.

The Loew's state also has had it's roof replaced and the HVAC system is operational. The building has seen extremely limited use since Katrina and was closed due to fire code violations. I do not know if any of these have been corrected.

I belive that very little has been done to the Joy Theatre since Katrina.

The Orpheum Theatre was purchased for slightly less that $700,000.00 shortly after Katrina. There was some work done to remove some of the storm damage. I do not know the current state of the building but believe that it is still awaiting repairs.

Thanks so much for this update jazzland. Please update us further if you hear more.

This is an interior view of the Saenger Theatre taken in the 1950's
http://louisdl.louislibraries.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/CLF&CISOPTR=9086&CISOBOX=1&REC=2

What state is the Saenger currently in now? Have they begun the restoration? it would be a crying shame to see this building go.

I tend to doubt that it will go. It is more likely it will sit for some time while all the factors in play work themselves out.

Let's just hope they restore it back to how it originally looked, and restore the 1920s marquee.

It looks as if the Saenger Theatre will be restored and reopened in 2001 I hope it works out. This link

http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1231828826259640.xml&coll=1

Should bring you to the story in the New Orleans Times Picayune.

2001 has passed. I think that you mean 2011.

I heard from John Hiltonsmith on Sunday. He cares for the Saenger's Robert Morton organ. He had been contacted by the theatre management and told of the renovation plans. They are planning to renovate the organ, however, details, funding etc are not yet finalized. They indicated that he would be "kept in the loop."

It would be great if the Saenger, State Palace, Orpheum and Joy could all be restored! A criotical mass of that size could attract a lot of performances, witness Playhouse Square in Cleveland with their four restored movie palaces.

According to this article:

http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1231914211231780.xml&coll=1

Both the Saenger and Orpheum are starting to move forward, the Orpheum hopes to have reopened by the end of 2009. Owners of the State Palace and Joy theatres are still deciding whether to renovate, sell or demolish.

It would be a real shame if the State was demolished. I'm not sure if the Joy is worth worrying about, aside maybe from retaining the facade. Can anyone provide insight on how elaborate or exciting the interior of the Joy was?

The text with this photo claims that the Joy could be demolished. There are other exterior photos of the Joy in that album.

Will Dunkin: If one wanted to send in a donation towards the restoration of the Morton organ (or, for that matter, the Saenger itself), whom would you send it to?

How bad was the damage from the flood? I know this part of Canal St did flood at least a little bit. The problem with theaters are that they are even further below ground level than street level, as you walk in at street level, and the stage slopes down from there....so a foot of water at street level could be many many feet flooded of the orchestra level, as it's a few feet downwards towards the stage.

If memory serves, the Saenger's stage is only one or two steps down from the sidewalk. Water in that particular area was not nearly as deep as elsewhere in the city. The Saenger was already closed for a renovation and the seats and other equipment had been removed. The organ console was raised to the top of the lift. The water rose to just below the bottom manual keyboard. Aesthetic damage to the theatre was minimal, but the mechanical systems were ruined. And of course, the water was polluted beyond belief, so every duct, gap, Economics of running the facility have been dicey since the disaster: reduced population means fewer possible ticket sales.

The city already owned and operated the Mahalia Jackson Theatre. Though the MJT is far less interesting architecturally, it was also in much better condition, (and let's face it, MUCH better equipped) so the city concentrated on getting it open first.- (it also needed far fewer repairs.)

There's a nice article about the MJT here

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99175021

The agreement between the Saenger's manangement company and the city of New Orleans seems VERY similar to that worked out between the Memphis Orpheum (q.v.) and the city of Memphis, where the city technically ownes the building (and land) but leases it for a nominal amount back to the management company. (The rent is something like $1 a year.) This has been HUGELY successful in Memphis and we can hope the Saenger does as well.

Ooops, sorry, that should read, "...polluted beyond belief, so every duct, gap, crack, crevise and cranny has to be cleaned and repaired. Anyone who has ever been in the basement of a movie palace knows that could be an incerdibly daunting job."

Sorry, the boss walked in and distracted me while I was writing.

Here is another article about the proposed opening by 2011.

Here's a photo that shows the Loews State and the Saenger all lit up on Canal St. Some difference from when I was there last year!

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+orleans&ProductID=27891

http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+orleans&catpagesize=100&ProductID=27909

And a daytime image in 1982:
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=new+orleans&catpagesize=100&ProductID=27900

The following appeared as part of a public notice in the New Orleans Times-Picayune on 08-10-09:

The renovation of the Saenger Theatre will be partially funded in the amount of $13,000,000 by HUD CDBG funding (Community Development Block Grant).The proposed improvements consist of the following: "Complete restoration of historic public lobbies, lounges, and the audience chamber. "Reinstallation and restoration of decorative architectural lighting and replication of other interior design elements. "Upgrade and improvement of concession areas and bars. "Relocation of administrative offices, secure count-out rooms, and concessions storage and office space in the existing basement. "Replacement of the existing stage house with a new stage area and fly tower. "Newly designed loading facilities, back-of-house dressing, wardrobe, and crew room function areas to support the stage house. "Replacement of all mechanical, HVAC, and electrical systems. "Modification of the exterior to facilitate the new stage house and new entrance marquees at the three main entrances.

It appears that plans for the renovation are underway.

That is excellent news.

I don't see any mention of restoring the organ or maybe it's in with "replacement of ALL mechanical, HVAC, and electrical systems".???
Who knows?

More good news about the Saenger and a color interior photo at this website.

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/08/saenger_theatre_redevelopment.html

My favorite place to see a movie in the late 50's to mid 60's, maybe ever! I remember my granddad taking me to see a Martin & Lewis comedy in the 50's. Some of my best movie memories of "Barefoot in the Park", "Sunday In New York" and "This Property Is Condemned" were had at the Saenger. It seems like only yesterday. I thought it was sacrilige when they divided the house, cutting off the balcony and was later thrilled when it was restored.

As a "live" theatre saw "42nd Street", Liza Minnelli, and Whitney Houston at the Saenger. What a fabulous venue.

Here are more photos from 1982:

Photo1

Photo2

Photo3

Check out the latest on the Saenger restoration at this site

http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/10/post_70.html