Aztec Theatre (San Antonio)

The Aztec Theatre is a historic theater in downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States.

Aztec Theatre
Aztec on the River
Exterior view of venue (c.2016)
Address104 N St Mary's St
San Antonio, TX 78205-2209
LocationDowntown San Antonio
OwnerAztec Family Group
OperatorLive Nation
Capacity1,477
Construction
OpenedJune 4, 1926 (1926-06-04)
Renovated2007-09, 2013-14
Closed1989-2009; 2012-14
Construction cost$1.75 million
($29.9 million in 2022 dollars[1])
ArchitectMeyer & Holler
Website
theaztectheatre.com
Aztec Theatre
ArchitectKelly, Robert B.; Pianta, Hannibal
Architectural styleMesoamerican
NRHP reference No.92001403[2]
Added to NRHPOctober 22, 1992

History
Closed Aztec Theatre in December 2003.

Erected in 1926, the Aztec Theatre is a notable example of the impressive exotic-theme motion picture palaces constructed in the United States during the economic boom of the 1920s. The Kellwood Corporation, owned by Robert Bertrum Kelly (the architect on record) and H.C. Woods, constructed the theater in 1926 with the financial backing of Commerce Reality at a cost of $1.75 million.

The Aztec Theatre was part of the Theater district that included the Empire (1914), the Texas (1926), the Majestic (1929), and the Alameda (1949).

Though the theater remained highly popular for many decades, by the 1970s, it was in decline. It was cut into three auditoriums as the Aztec Triplex, but this only slowed the eventual. In 1989, the Aztec closed. Since October 1992, the theatre has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which helped save it from demolition.

Based on San Antonio's Riverwalk, the new Aztec Theatre re-opened in August 2009 as a concert venue. San Antonio Rose Live was a two-hour live show featuring traditional country western, swing, and gospel music. The band featured nine world-class musicians from Nashville, Branson, Austin, and San Antonio. This show closed in February 2012 due to "the current and future economic circumstances".

The Aztec Theatre was leased in September 2013. The new leaseholders are turning the theatre into a multi-purpose event center, which will host public and private functions, as well as provide a venue for musical acts.[3]

In 2015, LiveNation acquired the Aztec Theatre and began hosting concerts, comedy shows, and other live events. The theatre also hosts corporate events, private concerts or parties, and weddings.[4] In 2020, an outside terrace was added off the side of the historic building on the second floor. The terrace space overlooks the Riverwalk and can be rented out for private events.

Architectural features
The theatre viewed from the River Walk in 2017

The Aztec was designed by the firm of Meyer & Holler. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1992, it is decorated with vibrantly-colored columns, sculptures, furnishings and murals, many of which are authentic reproductions of Meso-American artifacts. Hanging in front of the stage is the original fire screen, a painting depicting the meeting of the Aztec ruler Montezuma II and Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in 1519. The interior of the theater is embellished with fixtures, furnishings, relief carvings, sculpture, plaques, painted symbols and architectural elements inspired by the Aztec, Mixtec, Zapotec, Toltec, and Mayan cultures. The theater is housed in a six-story office building.

A massive three-ton chandelier dominates the theater lobby. Added to the theatre in 1929, the chandelier has been completely restored by the grandson of the original designer.[5] The chandelier was installed the same day the stock market crashed in 1929.

The Aztec Theatre is quoted in Patricia Schultz's travel book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.[5]

Noted performers

See also

References
  1. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. Olivio, Benjamin (September 5, 2013). "Aztec Theater gets a familiar tenant". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst Communications. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  4. Hendricks, David (2015-08-21). "Live Nation's House of Blues buys controls of Aztec Theatre". mySA. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  5. Schultz, Patricia (2017). 1,000 Places to See in the United States & Canada Before You Die. New York: Workman Publishing. p. 784. ISBN 9780761189893. OCLC 962068606.
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