The old East Side Theater is the last survivor among several historic venues which once catered to African-Americans in Jim Crow-era Savannah. Others, including the Star and the Dunbar, have been lost to history, while the nearby Melody Theater was repurposed as the St. James AME Church. The 675-seat Streamline Moderne structure was designed by local architect Oscar M. Hansen and opened on 14 March 1946. It cost its owner, the Bailey Company, $100,000 to build, which was quite extravagant at the time. Over the years, it also hosted live performers, including James Brown. It closed in 1969, and other than housing Hungry World Missionary and a storage warehouse for a few years, has been empty ever since.
In recent years, there has been some talk of saving the structure but many references about that effort have mysteriously disappeared as development of the immediate area appears to be going forward. Possible renovation and re-use could come with a new residential development slated to be constructed around it, this is dependent on zoning issues involving height variances. Who knows what the future holds.
Savannah isn’t losing a historic building, it’s gaining another coffee shop.
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I live around the corner from this and I can already see preparations to begin. Just like the church that use to be across the street this too will be torn down. A take over is happening…pure gentrification is in the works for sure…makes me sad. My family has lived in this area since 1977 and I even attended Hubert Middle…glad to see it still there new and improved. SAD SAD SAD Savannah. I’m sure they will tear down and build a convenience store or Walgreens. Alderman and officials still just lining their pockets as black neighborhoods get thinner and thinner with history. Thank u for reading.🫣😪
You would think that SCAD would renovate this building, as it has so many in Savannah!–elliott
On Sun, Mar 10, 2024 at 4:19 PM Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian