The Carver Theatre in Treme and 15 adjacent properties will be available for auction starting July 17. Bidding closes July 23.
The theater, located at 2101 Orleans Ave., opened on Sept. 29, 1950, during segregation. It was named for George Washington Carver, an African American scientist and educator.
“A large ad announcing the grand opening featured a picture of the theater with the claim ‘America’s finest theater for colored patrons only,’” the theater’s National Register of Historic Places nomination reads. (The theater was added to the National Register in August 1998.)
It cost $300,000 to build. There was seating for 1,050 people and the theater included modern amenities for patrons and the latest in film and sound technology when it opened.
“When The Carver opened in September 1950, it was the ‘ultimate’ all-black movie house,” the National Register nomination reads.
The theater quickly became a neighborhood hub and “provided a vital space for African Americans to enjoy entertainment during a period when segregation limited such opportunities,” the auction listing reads in part.
The theater closed 30 years later.
“By 1984, it had been repurposed into the Carver Medical Clinic, primarily serving nearby Lafitte Housing Development residents,” the auction listing reads. “Dr. Eugene Oppman, an optometrist, began leasing space in 1987 and purchased the building in 1991. Under his leadership, the clinic expanded to include general practitioners, a dentist, a pharmacist, and an ophthalmologist, becoming a crucial healthcare provider for the community.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina left the building under six feet of water. It would remain vacant for years.
“Determined to restore the Carver Theatre to its former glory, Dr. Oppman spearheaded an $8 million renovation project. The restoration preserved the theatre’s historic façade and marquee while modernizing the interior to accommodate contemporary performances,” the auction listing reads. “The theatre reopened on April 30, 2014, as a versatile venue for live music, theatre, and community events.”
The 17,613-square-foot facility once again boasts state-of-the-art technology and hosts jazz, big band, blues and other performances.
The auction includes 15 adjacent properties on Orleans Avenue and St. Ann Street for parking or future commercial, retail, or residential development.
“With seating for approximately 600 guests, the Carver Theatre has reestablished itself as a cultural cornerstone in the Tremé neighborhood,” the auction listing says.
Bidding begins at 9 a.m. Central on July 17 and ends at 3 p.m. Central on July 23.
