Riverfront in Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
America's Only Thunder Roll
High above the stage of Historic Thalian Hall hides a unique piece of theatre history. Historic Thalian Hall is the only theater in the country that still creates a thunderstorm indoors using an original 19th century theatrical sound effect system known as the Thunder Roll. It consists of angled wooden troughs where cannon balls are released in sequence, combined with a wooden cylinder that is turned to imitate rain, and a thunder sheet which is shaken and struck to produce the clap of thunder. The resulting thunderstorm has delighted audiences from the age of candlelight to today. This piece of 19th century technology is still used occasionally in productions to this day.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment.
Location. 34° 14.236′ N, 77° 56.742′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, North Carolina, in New Hanover County. It is in Riverfront. Marker can be reached from Chestnut Street just east of North 3rd Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, just to the right of the north/front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 310 Chestnut Street, Wilmington NC 28401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Thalian Hall (here, next to this marker); The Beginning of Wilmington (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilmington City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); U.S.S. Maine Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); President William H. Taft (within shouting distance of this marker); Major General Joseph A. McNeil (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas F. Price (within shouting distance of this marker); Gabriel Johnston (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Thalian Hall
Also see . . . Historic Thalian Hall: Art & Archive Collection.
Our theater building is not the only notable historical artifact that we care for. Thalian Hall houses the only original and operational Thunder Roll in the US. The Thunder Roll is a special effects device that was used in the 19th Century to create the sound of thunder indoors, well before modern electrical sound equipment.(Submitted on June 23, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 119 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 23, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.