Seventy-five years ago, the Bama Theatre opened its doors for the first time, welcomed by a parade featuring The University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band and a marquee reading “Alabama’s Finest and Most Modern Showcase.”
Since its opening in 1938, the Bama Theatre has served as a movie theater, a performing arts center and has welcomed many legendary acts such as The Police in 1979, Vincent Price in 1981 and Aimee Mann in 2008.
“When I arrived in 2003, the theater was primarily used for community theater, dance and beauty pageants,” said David Allgood, director of the Bama Theatre. “The Arts Council had begun a movie series, The Silver Screen, that was mainly a summer event.”
The Bama Theatre’s role in the Tuscaloosa community evolved from movie house to concert venue after one show in particular.
“The turning point came when the Arts Council celebrated the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Bama Theatre by bringing Joan Baez for a concert,” Allgood said.
After Baez’s performance, the Bama Theatre began to attract well-known acts, and received calls from regional and national promoters. Since Baez’s performance, the Bama Theatre has welcomed notable acts such as Ryan Adams, Drive-By Truckers, The Avett Brothers, Bryan Adams, Needtobreathe, John Prine and more.
Out of the band’s multiple performances at the Bama Theatre, Drive-By Truckers band member Patterson Hood said the show in September of 2011 was the most memorable for him.
“I had recently severely cut my hand, which then became very infected, and I was all bandaged up that night,” Hood said. “We had done several dates with a substitute guitar player, but Bama Theatre was my first night actually trying to play. It was brutal, but we got through it. It is also noteworthy that our opening act that night was Alabama Shakes. It was our first time playing with them and they just blew everybody away.”
The Bama Theatre, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, currently serves as a prominent venue for independent film, regional theater and musical performance.
“I believe that in last 10 years, The Bama Theatre has returned to its role as the ‘living room’ of Tuscaloosa and the west Alabama region,” Allgood said. “As people turn out for various events all through the year; we have well over 300 days or nights a year that the theatre is in use.”
The Bama Theatre still strives to be “Alabama’s Finest and Most Modern Showcase,” just as the marquee read on opening day in 1938. To celebrate 75 years of performance and tradition, the theater will be hosting iconic folk singer and and instrumentalist Judy Collins Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The Arts Council is also recognizing the Bama Theatre’s 75th anniversary with a party prior to the first film of the Bama Art House Fall Series, “Mussel Shoals,” on Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature live music at 6 p.m. with the Mussel Shoals, Ala.-based group “The Bear.”
