Saenger Theatre

The Saenger Theatre in New Orleans was the flagship of several Saenger theatres throughout the South, and the New Orleans theatre was the largest of them all, seating 3,400. Designed in an Atmospheric style by architect Emile Weil, the Saenger Theatre cost over $2.5 million to construct, and its opening was celebrated with a parade attended by thousands along Canal Street. The Saenger Theatre was opened on February 4, 1927 with Adolphe Menjou in “Blond or Brunette” on the screen and two live Publix presentations on the stage:“The Inaugural Banquet” & “Lafayette’s Visit to New Orleans”.

Its cavernous auditorium’s ceiling, like other Atmospheric style theaters, was painted dark blue, and sprinkled with constellations over which clouds drifted before a show began. Its side walls were designed to look like a Renaissance Italian villa’s courtyard, with plaster archways, doorways and statuary decorated with greenery.

The enormous proscenium arch was heavily decorated by plasterwork, coated with gilding, and in a cartouche in the arch’s center, a shield with the letter “S” in it, surrounded by a plaster wreath.

A large crystal chandelier hangs in the marble and gold filled main lobby, one of a dozen that once hung throughout the Saenger Theatre. However, to finance its upkeep and renovation over the years, the other eleven have since been sold off.

A Robert Morton Wonder Organ, of 4 manual, 23 ranks, built specifically for the theatre, was opened by organist John Hammond and associate organist Ray McNamara. It is still in its original position. It was damaged during a concert by Red Hot Chili Peppers on December 15, 1989. Restoration began in 1996 and was completed in 1999.

Originally opened for motion pictures and live stage shows, the Saenger Theatre was sold just two years after it opened to the Paramount-Publix chain for just over $10 million. In 1964, its vast balcony was walled off and transformed into a second auditorium, known as the Saenger Orleans.

The theatre was added to the New Orleans landmarks list in 1977, and later in the same year, was listed to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1978, the Saenger Theatre was closed and sold to E.B. Breazeale, who spent over $3 million (on top of the $1 million he paid for the theatre) to transform the great movie palace into a performing arts venue. After nearly two years of meticulous restoration, the Saenger Theatre reopened, its seating capacity lowered to 2,736, appearing just as spectacular as it did when the Saenger brothers opened it nearly half a century earlier.

The Saenger Theatre is one of New Orleans' premiere venues for the performing arts, including Broadway shows, concerts and classic motion picture screenings.

The Saenger Theatre was closed by the Hurricane Katrina flooding of 2005, and needed extensive repairs when the flooding reached a height of 14ft. In January, 2008, a deal was announced for a $38 million renovation of the theatre. However, restoration/renovation didn’t begin until January 2012. It reopened on September 27, 2013 with sold out performances by Jerry Seinfeld. The owner donated the theatre to the city but will operate the theatre.

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