Grand Opera House
651 Mulberry Street,
Macon,
GA
31201
651 Mulberry Street,
Macon,
GA
31201
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The Academy of Music was built circa 1883-84 and had 2,418 seats. It was designed by W.R. Gunn. Around two decades later, the Academy of Music was renovated, and opened again as the Grand Opera House in 1905. The Grand Opera House became a movie theater in 1936.
As a movie theater, the Grand Theater closed in 1965 and faced demolition. The building was saved from demolition by the Macon Arts Council. After being restored, the Grand Opera House opened again on April 6, 1970.
The Grand Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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National Register of Historic Places information:
Grand Opera House *** (added 1970 – Building – #70000196)
Also known as Academy of Music
651 Mulberry St., Macon
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Gunn,W.R., Blair,Alexander
Architectural Style: Gothic
Area of Significance: Social History, Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Music Facility, Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Music Facility, Theater
As the Academy of Music, this theater is listed under Macon GA in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It lists a seating capacity of only 1,061, however. The Mgr. was Henry Horne. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1. The auditorium was on the ground floor. There were 7 in the house orchestra. The proscenium opening was 28 feet wide X 32 feet high, and the stage was 38 feet deep. Newspapers were the Telegram and the News. Hotels for show folk were the Brown House, Hotel Lanier, Park, Pierpont, and Stubblefield. The 1897 population of Macon was 35,000.
The 2,418 seat count comes from the Grand Opera website. Who knows how accurate these seat counts are. Many times they are exaggerated.
A 1909 photo of the Grand Opera House can be seen here.
Albert A. Weis took over the Grand Opera House in 1910, according to an item in the New York Times of June 28 that year. The article said that Weis controlled a circuit of theaters in Texas, Mississippi, and adjoining states.
The Grand was Macon’s premier movie theatre in the 50’s and 60’s, superb with double balconies and terried box seats on each side, what a magnificent theatre it was, the large marquee is gone and now Mercer University owns it. It was completely restored and now is the palace it always was with live shows, concerts etc. The Grand has one of the largest stages you will find in any theatre and the entire Macon community enjoys this grand venue.