Lyric Theatre
100 Conti Street,
Mobile,
AL
36602
100 Conti Street,
Mobile,
AL
36602
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The Lyric opened in 1906, seating around 2200, as a vaudeville house. The theater was designed by the Stone Brothers. It also presented live stage shows, and ocassional movies. The Lyric contained two balconies and two sets of boxes, a large, ornately decorated proscenium, and a fire curtain decorated with scenes of Mobile’s Bienville Square. It was also said to have wonderful accoustics.
Many famous names played the Lyric during its vaudeville days, including Richard Strauss, Sarah Bernhardt, Burns & Allen, W.C. Fields and in 1913, President Woodrow Wilson spoke to members of the Latin-American Congress at the Lyric.
After Saenger Amusements opened their Mobile Theatre across the street from the Lyric in 1927, the Lyric was seen as competition to the new theater, and was acquired by Saenger later that same year. The Lyric primarily was by this time a movie house. By the 30s and 40s, the Mobile was playing first-run fare, while the Lyric was reduced to second-run movies, and most often B-grade ones at that.
After the Lyric closed in 1950, it was demolished to make way for a parking lot.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Here is a link to a photograph of the Lyric, circa 1910, from the Library of Congress.
A post card of the Lyric Theatre.
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A Robert-Morton theater organ was installed in the Lyric Theater in 1927.
Here is a new link to the Library of Congress photo.
This theatre is mentioned in a book about Nelle Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird) by Charles Shields.