Page 37 - Summer 2022 inLEAGUE with 46th National Conference Program

to know if a theater actually held performances every 2) Multiple locations and multiple buildings ok
calendar year.
• Number of calendar years a venue has primarily
Actually, the gold standard for creating a top-10 list presented performing arts
based on activity would probably be counting of all
of the individual events held at each venue. However, • Primarily professional performing arts
without comprehensive, publicly available archives, this
is an impossible challenge at present. • No limit of number of locations or number of
buildings
Still, with the understanding that the numbers are only
estimates, it appears that the average number of years • No limit on number of calendar years performing
America’s pre-1900 venues have presented performing arts-dark
arts is around 73 years.
• Currently in operation (has held events in last 3
Here are my choices for the most meaningful years)
top 10 lists: 1. 208 years - Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
AMERICA’S LONGEST RUNNING PROFESSIONAL
PERFORMING ARTS THEATERS 2. 202 years - Thalian Hall, Wilmington, North Carolina
1) Single location, multiple buildings ok 3. 165 years - Academy of Music, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
• Number of calendar years a venue has primarily
presented performing arts 4. 157 years - Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn,
New York
• Primarily professional performing arts
5. 155 years - New England Conservatory of Music,
• Single location Boston, Massachusetts

• No limit on number of buildings 6. 147 years - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, New
York
• No limit on number of calendar years performing
arts-dark 7. 144 years - Washington Opera House, Maysville,
Kentucky
• Currently in operation (has held events in last 3
years) 8. (tie) 143 years - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin
1. 208 years - Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 9. (tie)143 years - Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio

2. 202 years - Thalian Hall, Wilmington, North Carolina 10. 141 years - Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara,
California
3. 165 years - Academy of Music, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
4. 147 years - Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy, New AMERICA’S OLDEST PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING ARTS
York THEATERS

5. 144 years - Washington Opera House, Maysville, 1) Single location, multiple buildings ok - no perform-
Kentucky ing arts 10 years or less

6. (tie) 143 years - Pabst Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Original founding date (date first opened to ticket
buying customers)
7. (tie) 143 years - Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Primarily professional performing arts
8. 141 years - Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara,
California • Single location

9. 133 years - Mabel Tainter Memorial Building, • No limit on number of buildings
Menomonie, Wisconsin

10. 131 years - Carnegie Hall, New York, New York (story continues next page)

46th National Conference & Theatre Tour July 2022 INLEAGUE | PAGE 35