The Jefferson Theatre is a historic performing arts theatre located on Fannin Street in downtown

Beaumont, Texas Beaumont is a coastal city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat, seat of government of Jefferson County, Texas, Jefferson County, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur, Texas, Port Arthur Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area, metropo ...

. Designed by

Emile Weil Emile Weil (January 20, 1878 – January 19, 1945) was a noted architect of New Orleans, Louisiana. He studied with New Orleans artist William Woodward. A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Works i ...

and built in 1927, it is an example of Old Spanish architecture and seats over 1400. The theatre was built by Jefferson Amusement Company, which was owned by Saenger Amusements. The theatre is featured on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

and recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. The theatre recently underwent a comprehensive multimillion-dollar renovation. It is also one of the few theatres in the country containing its original Morton organ, produced by the

Robert Morton Organ Company The Robert Morton Organ Company was a producer of theater pipe organs and church organs, located in Van Nuys, California. Robert Morton was the number two volume producer of theatre organs, building approximately half as many organs as the indu ...

History

, the Jefferson Theatre opened November 14, 1927 at a cost of nearly $1 million. Originally designed for Jefferson Amusement Company the theatre boasts a 3-manual, 8-rank Robert Morton organ. "It's A Wonderful Life" 1946 premier was held at the Jefferson Theatre, with star

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...

and director

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s ...

in attendance. The theatre closed in 1972 due to a loss of interest in downtown. By 1997 the theatre was operational again, but was closed in September 2000 for a complete restoration and renovation. The 6.5 million dollar restoration was completed in 2003. , the City of Beaumont operates the theatre while the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society oversees the preservation, promotion and use of the theatre.http://www.beaumont-tx-complex.com/images/Jefferson_Theatre_Restoration.pdf

Performances

Since the renovation, a number of high-profile artists have performed at the theatre, including

Joan Rivers Joan Alexandra Molinsky (June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014), known professionally as Joan Rivers, was an American comedian, actress, producer, writer and television host. She was noted for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona—heavi ...

The Temptations The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...

Lou Rawls Louis Allen Rawls (December 1, 1933 – January 6, 2006) was an American record producer, singer, composer and actor. Rawls released more than 60 albums, sold more than 40 million records, and had numerous charting singles, most notably his s ...

George Carlin George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time, he was dubbed "the dean of countercul ...

Doobie Brothers The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band formed in 1970 in San Jose, California, known for their flexibility in performing across numerous genres and their vocal harmonies. Active for five decades, with their greatest success in the 1970s, ...

, and

Lyle Lovett Lyle Pearce Lovett (born November 1, 1957) Lyle Lovett Pageat Allmusic – Lovett's Genre and Styles. Retrieved February 2, 2007 is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. Active since 1980, he has recorded 13 albums and relea ...

. The theatre also hosts various local acts and events and is home to an annual film festival.

Hurricane Rita

In September 2005, the

Vince Vaughn Vincent Anthony Vaughn (born March 28, 1970) is an American actor. Vaughn began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in minor television roles before attaining wider recognition with the 1996 comedy-drama film '' Swingers''. He has appeared in ...

Wild West Comedy Show performance was canceled due to

Hurricane Rita Hurricane Rita was the most intense tropical cyclone on record in the Gulf of Mexico and the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. Part of the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, which included three of the top ten L ...

(which damaged the theatre and prompted a temporary closure for maintenance and repairs). The theatre reopened for business in December 2005.

Photo gallery

Image:Jefferson Theatre Auditorium Beaumont, from Balcony.jpg, The auditorium. Image:Jefferson Theatre Beaumont, Panorama.jpg, Seating Image:Jeffarch2.jpg, Proscenium arch. Image:Jeffwallshot_2.jpg, The detail from the stage. Image:Jeffersontheaterinteriorangle.jpg, Looking up. Image:Jefftheatreupperwall.jpg, Mezzanine decoration detail. Image:chandalierjefferson.JPG, The Grand Chandelier Image:Jeffaudstat.jpg, Auditorium Statuary Image:Jefflobbyceiling.jpg, The lobby ceiling. Image:Jefflobstairs.jpg, Grand Staircase Image:Jefflobbystat.jpg, Lobby Statuary Image:Morton Organ, Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont, Texas.jpg, Robert Morton Organ Image:Jeffthtrmarquee.jpg, Jefferson

References

External links