History of the Majestic Theatre

Located in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Majestic Theatre is the performance
home of the San Antonio Symphony. Completed in 1929, the Majestic is one of the
few remaining examples of the “atmospheric” movie palace, a genre of
lavishly elegant theatres constructed before the Depression to house traveling
vaudeville shows and the emerging entertainment medium of the motion picture.

Designed by architect John Eberson, who founded the “atmospheric” school, the Majestic
features a dazzling interior that simulates a Mediterranean amphitheater in a Moorish-Baroque style. The main lobby features a two-story rotunda of ornately decorated plaster sculpture and faux woodwork. Above hangs a massive, brightly ornamented chandelier of metal and cut glass. The elaborate ornamentation is vividly evident in the auditorium, with its breathtaking collection of niches, alcoves, grottos, and sculptures, all colorfully illuminated. The orchestra section and the two-level mezzanine contain 2,400 seats, surrounded by vines, trees, birds, and lush gardens held within the ornate walls. A simulated night sky is found overhead—dark blue, speckled with twinkling stars and with wispy clouds floating in and out of view.

Following the Great Depression (which began only four months after the completion of the theatre), the Majestic Theater had a successful life as a movie theater, but then fell into disuse for a number of years. Attempts at reviving it for other uses were unsuccessful, though each attempt brought minor renovations and changes. Decades of accumulated dust and grime began to overtake faded and cracking plaster works. In 1988, the City of San Antonio purchased the Majestic, along with its neighbor the Empire Theatre, and turned to the non-profit Las Casas to fund a complete restoration of the elegant theatre. At the same time, the San Antonio Symphony was invited to become the Majestic’s principal tenant. Eleven months later, a $4 million restoration was complete, transforming the dusty and damaged theatre into a sophisticated concert hall that combines 1920s elegance with 1990s acoustic technology. Below street level, the dark and musty basement shared by the Majestic and Empire has been remodeled into more than 20,000 square feet of modern space, including dressing rooms, the Symphony library, offices, and secured instrument storage areas.

For more information regarding the Majestic Theatre and upcoming events; visit them online.