Wells Theatre

Wells Theatre is a historic performing-arts venue in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. It opened on August 26, 1913, with The Merry Countess, a Shubert musical, and was developed as the flagship venue of Wells Amusement Enterprises. The theatre was associated with the Wells brothers' wider theatrical business, which eventually operated dozens of venues across several states. Its opening reflected the growth of Norfolk as a major port and commercial center, while its architecture embodied the period's interest in grand, technically advanced urban theatres. The building was constructed with poured-in-place, steel-reinforced concrete, an advanced method for its time. Its ornate interior was designed in a Beaux-Arts neoclassical style and originally contained approximately 1,650 seats, twelve boxes, and three balconies. The upper balcony was segregated, with a separate entrance and box office for Black audiences, illustrating the racial practices that shaped American entertainment venues during the early twentieth century. The building also contained spaces connected to the surrounding commercial life of downtown Norfolk, including a roof garden and the former Trustees Lobby, where Doumar's Cones and BBQ had its first Norfolk location. During its early decades, Wells Theatre presented touring drama, musical theatre, vaudeville, and other live entertainments. Performers associated with its stage included John Drew, Maude Adams, Otis Skinner, John Philip Sousa, Billie Burke, Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire, and Will Rogers. In 1916, Jake Wells added a movie screen and projection equipment. Although cinema became an increasingly important part of the programme, theatrical bookings continued to occupy much of the schedule for years. The venue remained open through the Great Depression, combining vaudeville and motion pictures. Around the beginning of World War II, burlesque was added to the programme. Norfolk's large population of sailors and military personnel made this commercially important, and the theatre reportedly drew thousands of servicemen. It continued as a movie house through the 1940s and 1950s. Like many downtown theatres, however, Wells Theatre suffered as entertainment patterns and urban retail shifted in the 1960s. It was converted into an X-rated cinema and sometimes hosted live burlesque. The former backstage area became the Jamaican Room, described in historical accounts as a nightlife venue associated with drinking and prostitution. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Since 1979, it has housed the Virginia Stage Company, a professional regional theatre company that uses the venue for theatrical productions and related programming. The City of Norfolk owns and operates Wells Theatre as part of The Seven Venues, a municipal group of performance and event facilities. Today, the theatre functions primarily as a preserved historic venue and a home for live theatre, while retaining architectural and cultural evidence of Norfolk's entertainment history.

Wells Theatre opened in downtown Norfolk on August 26, 1913, presenting The Merry Countess, a musical produced by the Shubert organization. It was established as the most prominent Norfolk venue associated with Wells Amusement Enterprises, the theatre business developed by the Wells brothers. The company ultimately operated approximately forty-two theatres in nine states, with Otto Wells managing the enterprise from Norfolk. The local circuit included venues such as the Granby, Academy, Colonial, NorVa, Strand, New Wells, and American theatres. The theatre's physical design was unusually ambitious for its era. Its poured-in-place, steel-reinforced concrete construction represented a modern engineering approach, while the interior used elaborate Beaux-Arts neoclassical decoration. The original auditorium seated about 1,650 people and included twelve boxes and three balconies. One significant feature was the segregated top balcony, which had its own entrance and box office for Black patrons. The building was also integrated into the commercial environment around it: a roof garden could be served by staff from Wong Ping's Chinese Restaurant, and the downstairs Trustees Lobby later became the first Norfolk location of Doumar's Cones and BBQ. In 1916, Jake Wells installed a cinema screen and projector. The addition allowed the theatre to participate in the expanding motion-picture business without abandoning live entertainment. For much of the following period, the schedule continued to combine plays, musicals, touring performers, vaudeville, and films. The venue hosted leading American entertainers including John Drew, Maude Adams, Otis Skinner, John Philip Sousa, Billie Burke, Fred and Adele Astaire, and Will Rogers. Wells Theatre remained active during the Great Depression by presenting both vaudeville and movies. Around the beginning of World War II, burlesque became part of its repertoire. Norfolk's naval and military population created a large audience for this type of entertainment, and burlesque helped provide the theatre with steady income. Through the 1940s and 1950s, Wells continued to operate substantially as a movie house while retaining a connection to live stage programming. The postwar decline of traditional downtown entertainment affected Wells Theatre. During the 1960s, as suburban cinemas and changing audience habits weakened many city-centre theatres, the venue was converted to an X-rated movie house and occasionally presented live burlesque. The backstage area became the Jamaican Room, a nightlife establishment remembered in local historical accounts as a notorious drinking venue and brothel. This period contrasted sharply with the building's original status as a prestigious touring theatre. The theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its architectural and historical importance. Since 1979, it has served as a home for the Virginia Stage Company, linking the historic building to professional regional theatre. The City of Norfolk owns and operates Wells Theatre as one of The Seven Venues, a municipal collection of performance facilities. Its current role is centered on live theatre, cultural presentation, and historic-venue use rather than cinema or adult entertainment. The building's survival preserves both the architectural ambitions of early twentieth-century American theatre and the changing social, commercial, and entertainment history of Norfolk.

• 1980

  National Register listing

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1979

  Virginia Stage Company residency

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Wells Theatre begins housing the Virginia Stage Company, establishing its continuing role as a professional regional theatre venue.

• 1960

  Conversion to an X-rated cinema

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1960s decline of downtown Norfolk, the venue becomes an X-rated movie house and occasionally stages live burlesque.

• 1941

  Burlesque enters the programme

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Around the beginning of World War II, burlesque is added and attracts large audiences of sailors stationed in Norfolk.

• 1930

  Vaudeville and film during the Depression

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre continues operating through the Great Depression with vaudeville performances and movies.

• 1916

  Cinema equipment added

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Jake Wells installs a screen and projector, adding motion-picture exhibition to the venue's live-entertainment programme.

• 1913

  Wells Theatre opens

  [1]Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre opens on August 26 with The Merry Countess, a Shubert musical.

A landmark historic theatre combining preserved Beaux-Arts architecture with contemporary live performance in downtown Norfolk.

• Performing arts · 1979

  Live theatre

  Wells Theatre's principal contemporary function is as a venue for professional live theatre. Since 1979, it has housed the Virginia Stage Company, providing an auditorium and stage for regional productions and related theatrical programming.

• Venue rental · 1913

  Historic venue and event spaces

  The preserved Beaux-Arts auditorium, historic lobbies, and associated spaces support cultural events and venue use. The building's architectural character and downtown location make heritage and event presentation an important part of its identity.

• Cinema · 1916

  Motion-picture exhibition

  The venue added a screen and projector in 1916 and operated partly as a movie house for decades, particularly during the 1940s and 1950s. Cinema is a historical rather than primary contemporary function.

• 1960

  Shift toward adult cinemaStrategy

  Background

  The decline of downtown Norfolk affected traditional theatres and reduced the viability of earlier entertainment formats.

  Action taken

  Wells Theatre was converted into an X-rated movie house and occasionally continued live burlesque presentations.

  Aftermath

  The building later returned to a cultural and theatrical role and became a historic-preservation asset.

  Source

• 1916

  Expansion into motion picturesOther

  Background

  The growth of cinema created a new commercial opportunity for established theatres while live bookings remained important.

  Action taken

  Jake Wells installed a movie screen and projector at the theatre.

  Aftermath

  The venue operated as a mixed live-performance and cinema house for much of the twentieth century.

  Source

1. 1Wells Theatreen.wikipedia.org