Pennyroyal Arts Council - Hopkinsville, KY

The Alhambra Theatre is located at 507 South Main Street in downtown Hopkinsville next to the Christian County Court House. There is plenty of free parking behind the theatre. The Alhambra is handicap accessible.

ALHAMBRA THEATRE RENTAL INFORMATION

Groups or individuals who would like to rent the Alhambra Theatre for performances should contact the Pennyroyal Arts Council at (270) 887-4295.

ALHAMBRA THEATRE SPECIFICATIONS

The Alhambra is a proscenium theatre with seating capacity of 780. There are 591 Orchestra seats and 189 Balcony seats. It is handicap accessible and preferred seating can be arranged for patrons with visual or hearing impairments. The Orchestra Pit is 6' by 23' and will accommodate 30. Beneath the stage there are 4 dressing rooms, 2 bathrooms, a commons area, and a mechanical room. There is a loading dock at the rear of the building which loads directly to the back of the stage.

ALHAMBRA THEATRE HISTORY

The Alhambra Theatre is a community landmark with a long and colorful history. In May of 1928, when the theatre was completed, it was described by the local newspaper as "the most beautiful and practical theatre in America."

The theatre was part of a joint city-county building project which also included an armory. The building effort was led by Capt. Joseph M. Kelly of the local state guard and Postmaster Vego E. Barnes. Members of the non-profit planning commission for the Alhambra were Dr. Robert L. Woodard, Dr. Gant Gaither, Mrs. M.E. Bacon, Harry Keach, Henry Saurie and W. B. Anderson.

A community-wide celebration was held on Armistice Day 1928 to lay the cornerstone, but this stone cannot be located today. Schools were dismissed and parades were held for the occasion. It was named the Alhambra after the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, where Queen Isabella gave Christopher Columbus the funds to sail to the new world.

The theatre's name dictated a Spanish-Moorish décor. Old ivory and gold colors were used in the lobby with heavily upholstered furnishings. The auditorium depicted a Spanish castle and gardens with coat of arms appearing over the doors and climbing roses and vines around the casement windows.

The stereoptic sky could be given either a rolling cloud effect or a snowy look with the use of a lighting mechanism and colored disc located in the orchestra pit. The hand-painted fire screen canvas which slides down on tracks to cover the stage opening represents a view from the castle of the Spanish countryside. Herfurth Studio of Cincinnati did the interior design. John T. Waller of Hopkinsville was the architect.

In 1937, the Alhambra was one of two buildings in Hopkinsville to be air-conditioned. In 1942, the front entry of the theatre was relocated, a new marquee added, and the lobby expanded into an area which once had been a soda shop.

The building is owned by Christian County Fiscal Court, which purchased the city's interest in the building a number of years ago. In 1929, the theatre was leased to Crescent Amusement Company. Martin Theaters of Atlanta picked up the lease in 1961 and then vacated the building in 1983 with the construction of new theatres at the Pennyrile Mall (now Bradford Square Mall).

The Alhambra opened on May 28, 1928, for both live stage shows and silent movies. Admission was seventy-five cents. The opening movie was John Barrymore in "Don Juan" with additional comedies, newsreels, and a live orchestra. Advertisements called it "The Theatre Beautiful." On September 11, 1929, the first sound movie shown at the Alhambra was "His Captive Woman." The sound process was called Vitaphone Talking Movies.

Movie bills changed almost daily and a new stage show was brought in by train every week. Vaudeville, Broadway, touring groups, star performers and local talent headlined the entertainment bill. Billy Sunday spoke from the stage in July, 1928. Other performers included Andy Devine, Tom Mix and his horse Tony, Boots Randolph and family, Gene Autry, Desmond's New York Roof Garden Revue, and local radio personality Dink Embry. There were also fund-raising performances such as the 1938 men's beauty contest sponsored by the local B&PW Club. Radio station WFIW had live broadcasts from the Alhambra in a studio beneath the stage. In 1931, a Mickey Mouse club was organized giving its members reduced rates to the theatre from the usual 15 and 25 cents for afternoon shows and 20 and 35 cents for evening performances.

The Pennyroyal Arts Council began leasing the building from the county in the fall of 1983 to be used as a community performing arts center. Prior to 1983, much research and planning had been done by dedicated citizens to enhance the arts in the area and find a performing arts facility. This work "set the stage" for the day when the Alhambra finally became available to the community.

The Pennyroyal Arts Council began July 19, 1977 with a meeting of the Steering Committee of Concerned Citizens for Civic and Performing Arts Center. The first Board of Directors included Carolyn Self, Chairperson, Mary Helen Adams, Sarah Bostock, Henry Clayton, Sarah Flowers, Marjanna Frising, Nada Fuqua, Ray Glenn, Charles Jackson, Ann Ruby McCoy, Carolyn Self, Duard Thurman, Lee White, and Becky Williams. This group did feasibility studies on potential audiences, community needs, funding sources, and available performance facilities. About the same time, a news article reported there was a plan to turn the Alhambra into courtroom space when the Martin Theater’s lease expired. The newly formed arts committee turned its focus to "Save the Alhambra" as a community performing arts facility and incorporated as The Pennyroyal Arts Council, Inc. The 1983 lease of the Alhambra from Fiscal Court was the culmination of this effort.

Since 1983, donations and grants have provided the resources for renovations to the Alhambra. Over the years theatre seating was repaired and recovered, lighting and sound system updated, dressing rooms painted, stage floor refinished, and new stage curtains added. The most recent and extensive renovation was completed in 2008 with $700,000 in funding from the Kentucky State Legislature. These funds provided for a totally redesigned lobby, large handicapped accessible bathrooms, an office/kitchen area, a new sprinkler system, some needed stage lighting, and a glassed-in entrance surrounding the ticket booth. Progress has been made, but much still needs to be done to the stage area, dressing rooms, heating and air conditioning, sound system, and lighting to ensure the Alhambra can continue to meet the community’s needs. Renovations made 25 years ago also need updating such as the stage curtains and seating repairs.

For many years now, the Alhambra has fulfilled its purpose as the center for the performing arts in the region. The "Live at the Alhambra" series brings nationally recognized performers to Hopkinsville. Every year thousands of school children attend "smARTS" (Students meeting the Arts) performances at the Alhambra. In addition, schools choirs and bands, dance studios, churches, and community organizations utilize the Alhambra as a performance facility. The Alhambra Theatre is not only a link to our arts heritage from the past, but it is also a promise for many exciting events and developments in our future.