National Theatre
500 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard,
Louisville,
KY
40202
500 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard,
Louisville,
KY
40202
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Keith-Albee, Y. & W. Management Corp.
Architects: Alfred Joseph, Oscar Joseph, Albert Kahn
Firms: Joseph & Joseph
Styles: Beaux-Arts, Neo-Classical
Previous Names: B.F. Keith Theatre, B.F. Keith's National Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The National Theatre opened at S. Fifth Street and Walnut Street in 1913. In 1914 it was taken over by B.F. Keith. This 2,800-seat showplace originally was a vaudeville house but later began to show movies as well. In the late-1940’s it was taken over by the Y & W Management Corp chain and was remodeled. It became an African-American theatre, but closed in January 1951 and was demolished in 1952. The site became a parking lot.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Now re-named W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard.
I’m looking for a Rapp and Rapp designed theatre in Louisville that was under construction in 1915. I have the following article from the Rockford Morning Star for Sunday, February 31, 1915 which states the following in an article heralding the opening of the Palace Theatre in Rockford, Illinois: (note the end)
“…Messrs. George and C. L. Rapp have specialized in theater designing and among their latest masterpieces at the New Oprheum in Champaign, the Orpheum in Quincy, the Columbia in Davenport, Ia., the New Palace in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Hippodrome in Chicago, the Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wis., and the Palace in Rockford. They also have theaters under construction in Louisville, Ky. and Grand Rapids, Mich.”
I’m a Three Stooges Fan Club member, trying to confirm a personal appearance by the “3” Stooges (Moe Larry and Shemp), on a bill with Wee Bonnie Baker, the Barretts and Don Hooton, after an appearance by the A.B. Marcus Revue. The movie “Queen of Burlesque” was also shown. I have a display ad, but no dates (or town shown). Believe it was the Summer of 1946, and may have been Shemp’s first appearance after Curly’s strokes. The National was advertised as air cooled and showed a phone number of JA-7863.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks Frank Reighter fereighter@aol.com
According to the records of the New York Terra Cotta Company, the National Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Joseph & Joseph, with Albert Kahn associated. Joseph & Joseph, founded in 1908, is still in business.
A 1928 photo of the National Theatre appears on the Historic-Memphis.com website’s Theatre page. Here’s a link to the page.
National Theatre in Melbourne, Australia (built 1921 as The Victory)still stands and is remarkably similar. Website www.nationaltheatre.org.au
I believe my Dad saw Billy Eckstine and Connie Boswell perform here in early 1945 during his basic training at Fort Knox.
Here is something about the heating system of the new National Theatre, then under construction in Louisville, from he March 29, 1913 issue of Domestic Engineering: “A. J. Anderson & Company, Main Street steam-fitters, recently secured the contract for heating equipment to be installed in the new National Theater, the foundation of which is now being sunk at Fifth avenue and Walnut street in this city. The theater itself will be one of the largest in the south, seating more than 3,000 persons, and the structure housing it, containing a number of stores and offices as well, will cost more than $250,000. A representative outfit of modern steam heating equipment, with temperature and humidity registers throughout and several hundred feet of radiation connections, is to be installed by the Anderson Co.”