Meyer Theatre
117 S. Washington Street,
Green Bay,
WI
54301
117 S. Washington Street,
Green Bay,
WI
54301
3 people
favorited this theater
The original Wurlitzer pipe organ, in the Bay Theatre was put back into this historic Atmospheric style movie palace as part of a $5.5 million restoration.
The theatre originally opened as the Fox Theatre on February 14, 1930 and from 1933 had been renamed Bay Theatre. Later converted into a triplex, it closed as a movie theatre in 1993.
The Wurlitzer organ was constructed in 1930 and has been rebuilt using the original blueprint. The organ was purchased in 1989 and kept in storage for 12 years. The old Wurlitzer was a key part of the theater’s renovation, which was completed in 2002 when the Bay Theatre reopened as the Meyer Theatre.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Here are two interesting photos from 1929:
http://tinyurl.com/lhamt
http://tinyurl.com/o5saw
This 1931 film must have been popular:
http://tinyurl.com/o34qe
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2000
Fox Theatre (added 2000 – Building – #00000256)
Also known as Bay Theater
117 S. Washington St., Green Bay
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Immel Construction Company, Larsen, L.P.
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Local Gov’t
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 2091 style 190 was installed in the Bay Theater on ¼/30.
Does anyone know anything about the Green Bay Theater, which was in Green Bay, WI, on numbers 217-221 of some street? See my postcard in my flickrstream: View link
It sure doesn’t look like it could be the Bay theater.
Here is a photo of the Meyer Theater.
The Fox Theatre opened on Feb. 14th. 1930.
This is a 1979 photo of the Bay 3.
Meyer Theatre to receive new marquee
Design will include features of Fox’s facade of 1930s
By Scott Williams
Green Bay Press-Gazette
January 17, 2011
Five years after a windstorm destroyed the Meyer Theatre marquee, the historic Green Bay venue will get a facelift.
Theater officials plan to spend more than $100,000 for a new marquee that will harken back to the downtown attraction’s original facade of the 1930s.
In contrast to the current rounded sign, the new marquee will be squared, three-sided and lighted – reminiscent of old-time movie houses.
Although the exterior sign is only one element of the 1,000-seat theater at 117 S. Washington St., officials say it is vital to the venue’s visibility and personality.
“It’s the front door,” said Rob Riordan, president of the theater’s board of directors.
The old marquee was destroyed in a March 2006 windstorm that left letters blowing down the street and panels in pieces on the sidewalk.
The current exterior sign became a low-cost replacement, but officials later decided it was not a good long-term solution.
Officials are moving ahead with a replacement after receiving financial support from benefactor Betty Meyer’s foundation and from Reinhold Sign Service Inc. of Ashwaubenon.
Riordan said the project could cost $120,000.
Rob Ott, spokesman for Reinhold Sign, said his company is excited to support the project and provide the labor.
Calling the Meyer a “cornerstone” of downtown Green Bay, Ott said the new marquee will be a highly visible addition to the central business district.
“There really isn’t anything like this around the city,” he said. “This is a unique project, just as the Meyer is a unique place.”
The venue opened as the Fox Theatre in 1930. After a run as the Bay Theatre, including a stint as a movie house, it underwent an $8 million restoration and returned to live stage productions in 2002.
The new marquee has been designed to look like the Fox Theatre’s original facade. Standing about 7 feet tall and 36 feet long, it will be equipped with lighted digital screens that will promote not only the theater’s productions but other downtown events.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring and take three months.
Riordan said he hopes to have the new marquee in place before the theater kicks off its summer season. Giving a nod to the old Fox Theatre is important to the project, he said.
“This is our showpiece to everybody,” he said. “We want to make sure we’re true to the heritage of the theater.”
The new marquee is up.