The Ritz Theatre, as seen today
Source: Bubba73 (Jud McCranie), CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The Ritz Theatre, originally the Grand Opera House, was built in 1899. The building included the opera house, retail stores, and the Brunswick and Birmingham Railroad offices. After a large hurricane destroyed the L’Arioso Opera House in 1898, plans to build a replacement opera house were quickly made. The three-story tall building was built in the Victorian style, and featured intricate brick and stone work.
During the 1920’s and 1930’s, as cinema took the world by storm, the Grand Opera House was converted into a movie theatre, and in order to keep up with the Art Deco architectural trends, the first story exterior was covered in carrara glass and an over-the-top elaborate marquee and sign were added. It took on its current name during this time — the Ritz Theatre.
The building fell into decline after years of neglect, but in 1981, the City of Brunswick purchased the building and it was modernized in order to keep up with the changing world. However, the original “Ritz” sign remained intact.
Currently, the Ritz Theatre hosts many events throughout the year, such as programs, concerts, public forums, beauty contests, dance recitals, etc. The lobby doubles as a visual art gallery, housing local works, and an information center for tourism. It is managed by the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association.
