WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
THE ELECTRIC THEATRE (GAIETY THEATRE)
St. George, Utah
LOCATION
68 E. Tabernacle StreetSt. George, UT 84770
(435)688-7469
HISTORY
The Electric Theatre was built in 1911. Builders include Charlie Whipple, Johnnie Pymm, and Sherman Hardy. The walls of the 220-seat theater are adobe and are nearly three feet thick. It was the first air-conditioned building in St. George.R. M. Reber purchased the Electric Theatre in 1930 for $10,000. He remodeled it. A contest offered five dollars to the person who could come up with the best name for the theater after which it was renamed the Gaiety Theatre.
The Electric Theatre was totally renovated in 1991 by R. M. Reber. The name Electric Theatre was restored.
The Electric Theater stopped showing movies after 1999.
In April 2003, the Flowers family roepened the Electric for music, bands, and live entertainment. 143 seats are available to the public on the main floor of the auditorium. The balcony is reserved for bands and their guests and includes 50 seats, couches, tables, and a buffet table.
PHOTOS
WCHS-00520 Front of the Electric Theatre taken 12/13/2009
REFERENCES
The Electric TheaterThe Academy at the Electric Theater