The Savannah Theatre
Located on Savannah’s Chippewa Square is one of architect William Jay’s most esteemed works in the city, the Savannah Theater. Its elegant three story design is composed of wrought iron detailing on the facades, and ornate windows on all sides, and was known for being a deluxe experience in the city. Savannah residents watched its construction progress, eagerly awaiting opening night in 1818, and became a top entertainment destination offering live music, and performances daily through the next several decades. The Savannah Theater shaped the future of Chippewa Square, bringing in thousands of guests and performers further enriching the city’s entertainment scene.
While it was a much beloved theater, it suffered operationally as it was passed down from owner to owner during its first twenty years of existence. It was even auctioned off multiple times, as no one seemed to have a good grasp on how to run the business. Once a successful stock company took ownership of the operations in 1838, they turned things around for the better. The theater began to thrive as appropriate business practices were implemented, and the theater became a profitable operation.
The artists that graced the stages at the Savannah Theater were talented, and oftentimes nationally renowned performers. Visitors would travel to Savannah to see the most awaited showings including those by Oscar Wilde, Otis Skinner, Julia Morlowe, and Edwin Booth.
August of 1898 would prove to be an unfortunate time for the Savannah Theater. A strong hurricane swept through the city, ripping the theater’s roof off of the structure, which caused major flooding throughout. Restoration efforts were expedited to repair the damage done by the hurricane, but just eight years later, tragedy struck again.
In 1906, a fire engulfed a part of the city, reaching the Savannah Theater. Extensive damage to the building’s facade was irreparable, and its iconic facade could not be recreated. The repair efforts this time gave the theater a new brick facade, losing a part of its identity from what architect William Jay had originally designed.
The theater remained a hub of entertainment despite these few instances of closure. Business continued to grow, and the Savannah Theater continued to be the top destination for artists to perform in the city. After almost four decades of smooth operations, the theater was, once again, facing damage due to another fire. In 1948, a fire reached the building yet again causing damage requiring extensive redesign.
The renovation efforts were more expansive than any of the previous times, and the interior of the building was renovated in an Art Deco style, which was the popular architectural design style at the time. The live performance theater itself was converted into a movie theater during this renovation, with its first showing being on October 21, 1950. As one of the oldest theaters in the country, the Savannah Theater continues to operate to this day. Visitors can peruse the calendar of showings, and visit for an opportunity to see traces of the original design, and each of the renovation efforts that have taken place over the years.
