POWERGRAMS

31 Lyric Theatre meline Jan. 14, 1914 – The Lyric Theatre opens. 1914-1920s – Henry Edmonds, founder of Independent Presbyterian, hosts church services at the Lyric. Edmonds is moved to spearhead social services across Alabama for the poor. 1914-1920s – The Lyric is a premier vaudeville theatre, attracting stars such as the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Will Rogers, Sophie Tucker, Milton Berle and Buster Keaton. 1927- The Lyric begins showing "talking pictures." 1913 Construction begins on the Lyric Theatre, a joint project with B.F. Keith and Jake Wells. 1930 or 1931 – The Lyric closes due to competition from movies, radio and economic conditions of the Great Depression. 1932 – Brothers Ben and L.A. Stein of Jacksonville, Fla., reopen the Lyric as a movie theatre. Later that year, they sell it to the Paramount and Wilby-Kincey circuit to show second-run movies. 1940s – The Lyric undergoes a major renovation with new projection equipment, while manager Oliver Naylor continues to operate as a second-run house. 1954 – Under Naylor's management, the opera boxes are removed to accommodate a 15-foot high by 36-foot wide screen for CinemaScope films. Live performances are brought back with a weekly "Saturday Night Jamboree" hosted by "Uncle" Jim Atkins and broadcast live on WBRC-AM. Gene Autry and Roy Rogers are among the musicians who take the stage. 1958 – Theatre closes

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