The Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts and Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Opening in 1935, Carver Theatre was one of the leading venues for film and the performing arts for the African American community of Birmingham. Built during the Great Depression and expanded in the boom years following World War II, this theater offered all of the beauty and modern conveniences of some of the grandest downtown venues with air-conditioning and seating for 1300 patrons by 1945. Like other theaters, this downtown venue fell into disrepair as fewer residents patronized downtown theaters in the 1980s. In 1990, the city of Birmingham launched a project to restore the historic theater, which opened two venues—the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Museum and the performing arts center—in 1993.
Backstory and Context