Theater At The Theatre

Story By Hannah Lester Photos Contributed By The Alabama Theatre

Imagine watching “White Christmas” or “It’s A Wonderful Life” from a historic theater built in 1927. The Alabama Theatre is located in downtown Birmingham and has served as a movie palace for almost 100 years since opening in 1927. In 1987, it was purchased by Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. The company strives to preserve the theater, which still hosts movies and events.

“In 1998, the Theatre underwent a complete front door to back door restoration,” according to the theater’s website. “The work was done by EverGreene Studios from New York City. In eight months, the [theater] went from its look of faded grandeur to a sparkling 1927 look with all the gold leaf paint either replaced or cleaned.

“In addition to the restoration, new carpet was installed in the ladies lounge and new drapes were installed on the stage and organ chambers.”

The Lyric Theatre, down the street from the Alabama Theatre, was built in 1914 and was a vaudeville and movie theater. It underwent renovations in 2014 before reopening in 2016 for its 102nd anniversary.

“Both the Alabama and Lyric are rented to promoters who bring artists they have contracted for concerts,” said Brant Beene, president and executive director of Birmingham Landmarks, Inc. “We do not actually book or present any artists or productions directly other than movies in December, around Valentine’s Day and during the summer. In the springtime, we’re home for more than a dozen dance competitions and recitals that happen each weekend from January until June. These, too, are rentals. We occasionally rent for meetings, weddings or other special events. We’ve had politicians speak at both theaters, book tours — Fannie Flagg, Bush Sisters, Brian Kilmeade, Prairie Woman — and religious services. Recently, we had a 300-member, joint choir from 10 churches perform and record.

“If you can think up any variety of meeting, concert, book tour or other such event, we have probably done it — after all, the Lyric is over 100 years old and the Alabama will be 100 in 2027.”

Beene, as president and executive director, is responsible for the care and preservation of the theater.

“I am involved — in some fashion or other — with all our efforts to preserve the theaters and make them enjoyable places to visit for the people in our community and state,” he said. “That means in hiring, fundraising, bringing in new business, repairs and maintenance and managing expenses. Others are directly responsible for positive results in each of those areas and must work together for the same goal. It is my task to make sure they do.

“Familiar architectural structures seem to give us reassurance and a sense of stability and place. When places that we knew as children are still around and still making us happy, it gives us a real sense of home and security.”

Beene said that often parents or grandparents bring their children by and show off the place they knew as children.

“It’s a great feeling when you can make someone happy and a very good reason to encourage people to come,” he said. “We hope people will choose an event they would like to attend and see the [theater] when it is in full use and in its full glory. I wish we were open 24 hours a day so people could just drop in for a visit, but it is impossible to do that and really not the best way to see it.”

Photos that were taken right after the theater’s opening help the team keep it historically accurate. Most furniture has been

restored. A few pieces have been replaced with custom-made counterparts.

“Imagine what it would be like if you had a 100-year-old house and you had 150 parties a year with food and drink spilled everywhere,” Beene said. “And, those parties had 1,000 to 2,000 guests, and you did this for 100 years. This would help you understand how much wear and tear there is on the bathrooms, the carpet, the glass, the lightbulbs (14,000), the plaster, the sound and light equipment, the seats, the decorative furniture and artwork, the stairs, 30 ladies’ restrooms and 15 for men. Imagine. We have to clean the house fully after each performance and then try to squeeze in deep cleans and repairs on HVAC, plumbing, paint and plaster and electrical — including all those light bulbs. It is a monster task but one we relish.”

Christmastime is one of the most popular times of the year for the theater. During parts of December, there is a different Christmas movie shown each night and some during the day.

“First, we get plenty of sleep before the series begins,” Beene joked. “Actually, it all starts in the summer when we select the movies and place them strategically on the dates we think are best. We must get permission from the film distributors who license us to show the films. That alone can take a month. We have to schedule workers, concession menus and bartenders and work around any concerts that we have scheduled during the weeks that we show the movies. We also have to schedule security, cleanup crews, box office personnel and ushers and ticket scanners. We also have to take two or three days to decorate the theater with the giant tree and lights. Much planning, much doing, in a short time. But, after 30 years, we have it down pat. It just takes scheduling around other events. And it’s a lot of fun.”

Beene said the theater doesn’t pick the movies — the customers do, by their attendance. And many come back year after year. But that doesn’t mean the theater has access to any Christmas movie.

“Many people tell us that they plan their family gathering around our Holiday Film Festival, so we take it very seriously.

“… We try to show the films that people like the best so that we can sell more tickets and make the most people happy. Sometimes we try new ones such as ‘Die Hard’ — which is not about Christmas but happens during Christmastime. The same could be said about ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ — it’s not about Christmas either, but it is a Christmastime favorite.”

This year, the theater will host “NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet” on Nov. 29, and the 2022 Holiday Film Series

begins Dec. 9.

Currently planned films include: “White Christmas”, “The Polar Express”, “Christmas Vacation”, “Miracle on 34th Street”, “Elf”, “Home Alone”, “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “A Christmas Story”, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “White Christmas Sing-Along” and “Die Hard”.

For the schedule, see: www.alabamatheatre.com/event/ coming-soon-2022-alabama-theatre-holiday-film-series/.