Official Alabama State Historic Theatre

Alabama's official state historic theatre opened on December 16, 1927, in downtown Birmingham. It was named the "Showplace of the South" by the movie vanguard Adolph Zuker. The theatre is home to "The Mighty Wurlitzer" organ.

The theatre was in operation for 55 years until it closed in 1981. In 1987, Birmingham Landmarks, Inc., a non-profit organization, purchased the theatre and turned the movie palace into a performing arts center.

The theatre annually draws 400,000 people into downtown for a wide variety of events: Broadway shows, ballets, operas, concerts, parties, weddings, fashion shows, beauty pageants and classic films.

The Alabama Theatre for the Performing Arts was designated the state historic theatre in 1993.