Grand Theatre
320 Eighth Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
320 Eighth Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
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The correct address was 320 8th St. The building faced 6th on the southwest corner of 8th & Greene.
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.
I think all the above info is about I can find,unless someone else wants to give it a shot locally.
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 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.
I will try and nail it down Thursday if I can find the book I was looking at at Borders.
Can anyone come up with a “for sure” address, more info, or photos?
620 Greene Street is the location,I think.
Nick.I have a picture of the Grand,if you could get it on.
I could only Find Greene Street which is off Broad Street.
There was a Grand Opera House listed under Augusta GA in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. Unfortunately, there are no street addresses in this Guide. The seating capacity was 1,650 and Sanford Cohen was the Mgr. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1.; the house had electric illumination, was on the ground floor and had 8 members of the pit orchestra. The proscenium opening was 34 feet wide and the stage was 36 feeet deep. There were 4 daily newspapers and one weekly. Hotels for show folk were the Arlington, Planter, Continental, and Virginia House. The 1897 population of Augusta was 45,000.