Miller Theatre
708 Broad Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
708 Broad Street,
Augusta,
GA
30901
8 people
favorited this theater
The Miller Theatre, designed in Art Moderne style, complete with a glass block facade and circular neon marquee, opened in 1938. It was designed by architect Roy A. Benjamin, whose other notable theaters include the San Marco Theatre and Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Marion Theatre in Ocala, Florida.
In 1957, the world premiere of the movie “The Three Faces of Eve” starring Joanne Woodward, a Georgia native, took place at the Miller Theatre. The two psychiatrists who wrote the book on which the film was based were from Augusta.
The theater closed in 1983, but is currently in the midst of a restoration project.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 193 comments)
Henry, Michael Deas is on Facebook, he is taking care of the theatre .i know he would be glad to talk about the MILLER.
IMO, the best solution for the Miller is to knock out the back wall and extend the stage back. For many reasons – 1) preserve 1500 seat capacity 2) add more dressing rooms downstairs 3) add more restrooms downstairs 4) create new load in door which will keep 18 wheelers from completely blocking Ellis Street.
Amen! This makes a lot more sense than an enlarged stage intruding itself into the house, which IMO would destroy the unique character of the Miller that we all admire. It would preserve the pit elevator, a rarity in any but the most elaborate production houses, while providing the opportunity to rebuild and re-equip the stage, backstage, and wing space, bringing them up to modern standards. IIRC, there is empty land behind the stage house; wonder what the ownership situation is?
Give it to Mike Deas and Augusta Amusements. He will maintain its' historical integrity and work well with area arts groups.
Is the old Bell Auditorium, built around the same time as the Miller, still open for public events?
Cajun, The Bell Auditorium was built as a WPA project post-depression era, with federal money and next to free labor. Yes it is still open, but pretty much a dump. The Miller opened in 1940 with private sector money, with smart business people at the helm. The eonconmy of the 1960s & 1980’s pretty much did the Miller in. But the building, now stabilized by the efforts of Peter Knox IV, is structurally very sound. It just requires some additional work to get it up and running again. We will see what happens.
Mordan, Thanks for update. I grew up in Augusta and went to all the old downtown theaters(Miller, Imperial, Rialto, Modjeska) as well as the auditorium. In fact my 1958 high school graduation from Richmond Academy was held at Bell Auditorium
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I went to this theater in the summer and fall of 1965. I was station at Ft Gordon. It was nice to go to. Made me forget about the army for a few hours. Was a beautiful cinema.
It was Augusta’s Largest,if they expand stage, which they will have to do, they figure to lose about 500 seats.Right now there are NO seats on the bottom only the balcony.