Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Famous Theatre
Destination
— Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
1. Famous Theatre Marker
During the entertainment boom of the 1920s, The Famous, an African-American movie theater, joined the Frolic, Lincoln, Champion, Dixie and Savoy Theaters as places of entertainment for African-Americans who were left out of Birmingham's racially segregated society. After the theater closed, the building housed the offices of the Birmingham Urban League until 2001. In 2006, African-American attorney and architect Nolanda H. Bearden purchased the vacant building and, beginning in 2008, she redeveloped it as loft residences and offices for her architecture firm, NHB Group. Inside the lobby are original photos of the Famous Building, which dates back to 1928, during its former use as the main movie theater for Blacks in Birmingham's Jim Crow segregation era.
“The adaptive re-use of the historic Famous Theater was a true labor of love.”
Nolanda Bearden
African-American Attorney, Architect and Developer of the Famous Theater.
Lesson C19: What do the words “adaptive re-use” mean? Why is the historic preservation of old buildings a good idea?
Erected by the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail. (Marker Number C19.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
this page online
Location. 33° 30.928′ N, 86° 48.657′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker is on 4th Avenue North west of 18th Street North, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1717 4th Ave N, Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Eddie Kendricks Memorial Park (here, next to this marker); Brock Drugs Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Eddie James Kendrick (within shouting distance of this marker); Green Acres Café (within shouting distance of this marker); 4th Avenue District (within shouting distance of this marker); Fourth Avenue Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Dunbar Hotel Building Urban Impact Office, (within shouting distance of this marker); Alabama Penny Savings Bank/Pythian Temple Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
Regarding Famous Theatre. The Civil Rights Activist
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
2. Famous Theatre Marker
Also see . . . Bhamwiki for the Famous Theater. (Submitted on December 10, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
3. Famous Theatre
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 445 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
