Liberty Theater
317 Southeast 4th Avenue, Amarillo, Texas, United States
About the Liberty Theater
The Liberty Theater, located at 317 Southeast 4th Avenue in Amarillo, Texas, is a historic building with a rich past. Built in 1921, the theater has stood the test of time but is now in need of restoration. Saved from demolition by Downtown Amarillo Inc., the organization is working to preserve this cultural landmark for future generations.
With its significance as the only theater that allowed African Americans entrance during segregation, the Liberty Theater holds a special place in Amarillo's history. The organization's goal is to transform the aging theater into a vibrant performing arts space for the city, as well as a broadcast center for HPPR, the public radio station.
Despite the building's stable structure, the theater requires significant renovations, including a new roof and removal of the deteriorating balcony. Downtown Amarillo Inc. is seeking funding to bring the Liberty Theater back to life and create a community gathering space in downtown Amarillo.
Preserving historic buildings like the Liberty Theater is crucial for maintaining the city's heritage and character. With the right resources and support, this iconic theater could once again shine as a cultural asset for Amarillo. To learn more about how you can help restore the Liberty Theater, visit downtownamarillo.com.
Reviews of Liberty Theater
"Amarillo's first theater to cater to a mixed audience, today this important part of civil rights history sits by the wayside threatened by encroaching surface parking. The historic theater was built in 1921 with 1 screen and 331 seats."
"The historic Liberty Theater sits on 4th Avenue and holds a long and storied history inside of its walls. The theater was built in 1921 and sits next to an adjoining building that was built in the 1950's. The buildings have long been thought to be a possible location for restoration but have not been put into practice. In 2015, Downtown Amarillo, Inc. announced its plans to revitalize the building with the support of donors. The organization planned to renovate the buildings for use and had planned the development of greenspace next to the buildings. The City of Amarillo, which owns the property, placed a parking lot on top of the proposed greenspace in 2015. After that, discussion of the theater went quiet. Russian Jewish immigrants to Amarillo opened the now-empty Liberty Theatre in 1921 it was the Liberty at 317 S.E. Fourth Ave. that sold tickets to a segregated audience. Now living in Dallas, Julius Mendel, 90, recalled the theater his father Morris Mendel, uncles Louis Jacobson and Sam Zukav and other relatives owned or ran, each at various times, during much of its more than three decades of operation. "The Liberty was a very small theater," Mendel said. It had two balcony areas. One of them was for Afro-Americans - it may have been the first theater in Amarillo to do that - and I think Latinos used the other side of that balcony." The Liberty Theatre was the only establishment Joyce Williams recalled offering entertainment to black customers until the Rialto began to do so. Today this important piece of history sits mostly forgotten after just barley being saved from the wrecking ball in 2009."
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