Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts
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| Missouri Theater | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | Columbia, Missouri |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1928 |
| Architect: | Boller Brothers |
| Architectural style(s): | No Style Listed |
| Added to NRHP: | June 06, 1979 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 79001349 |
| Governing body: | Private |
The Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts is a concert and entertainment venue in downtown Columbia, Missouri, occupying most of a city block between 9th street between Locust and Elm Streets. It was designed after the Opéra Garnier by the Boller Brothers, built in 1928, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It Columbia's only surviving pre-Depression movie palace and vaudeville stage. It is also the resident home of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra as well as a performance venue for many of Columbia's non-professional community groups and for touring artist from around the world. The theatre is often simply called The Missouri Theatre
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[edit] History
The theater opened on October 5, 1928 to a flurry of excitement from the community of Columbia. It was built at a cost of over 400,000 dollars which is equivalent to over 4.5 million dollars today. Advertisements in the Columbia Daily Tribune proclaimed the "Formal Opening of your new Missouri Theatre—Friday Evening… A $400,000 Showhouse of Unrivaled Beauty and Extravagant Setting in Central Missouri. The Magnificent Splendor of This Palace of Amusement Will Dazzle and Thrill You." Telegrams were received from The United Artist in Hollywood, as well as from actors such as Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson, congratulating the managers of the theater. On opening night the performers included The Missouri Rockettes (later to become the Radio City Rockettes) and Jack Keith and his Missouri Orchestra. It was rumored that Bob Hope also made an appearance. The Theatre operated much in this fashion as well as a movie palace until 1953. [2]
Because of its size and extravagance The Missouri Theatre was difficult to maintain and was leased to Commonwealth Theaters, Inc. in 1953 who operated it as a single-screen movie theater until 1983. In 1979 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The advent of the multiscreen cinemas in Columbia lead to the eventually purchase of the theatre by the Missouri Symphony Society on January 7, 1988.
Today the theatre serves as one of the premiere fine art venues in Columbia. It is the headquarters of the Missouri Symphony Society (MOSS) and the Columbia Art League (CAL). It serves as an educational center for The MOSS Youth Orchestra, MOSS Children's Choir, and the Missouri Technical Theater Institute. A full-restoration of the auditorium will begin in 2007 closing the center for ten months. [3]
[edit] Architecture
The interior of the building is ornate baroque and rococo style of the Louis XIV and XV periods. It was designed after the Paris Opera House by the Boller Brothers Architects of Kansas City, Missouri. Much original detail still exist, including Belgian marble wainscoting, plaster reliefs, stained glass and, one of the most notable features, an 1800-pound Italian auditorium chandelier featuring crystal prisms and etched panels. At one time, the deep red carpet in the grand lobby had the Great Seal of Missouri and the letter M woven into it.
[edit] Events
[edit] Annual series
- Mary Nell Porter Premiere Series
- Blind Boone Ragtime Festival
- Mozart-Higday Music Trust Series
- True/False Film Festival
- Hot Summer Night Concert Series
- Ragtag Cinema's Missouri Theatre Film Series
[edit] Competitions
- Plowman Chamber Music Competition
[edit] Local arts organizations
Two professional ensembles and many non-professional community groups use the theatre as their main performance venue. These include:
[edit] Professional
- Missouri Symphony
- Missouri Contemporary Ballet
[edit] Community groups
- Boonslick Chordbusters
- Columbia Chorale
- Columbia Civic Orchestra
- University of Missouri Show-Me Opera
- P.A.C.E. Youth Theatre
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2008-04-15).
- ^ Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts : About MTCA
- ^ Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts : Restoration
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