Ritz Theatre
The Historic Ritz Theatre, circa 1936, was built as part of a chain of movie houses in the city of Talladega, Alabama. Careful restoration of the landmark’s extraordinary facade comprised exclusively of opaque structural glass called vitrolite, a common construction material used lavishly during the Art Deco period in buildings like the Rockerfeller Center in New York City was completed in 1998. The multi-phase restoration included the main hall, upgrades to the theatrical rigging, lighting, HVAC and electrical systems. Several adjacent buildings were acquired to accommodate an extended lobby, larger dressing rooms, other backstage facilities, a fully independent Studio Theatre, Educational Center and other multifunctional spaces.