The Saenger Theatre - also known as The Grand Dame of Palafox. Lady Saenger. The Crown Jewel of Downtown Pensacola. Pensacola’s Showplace. Whatever you choose to call her, she’s long been the star of the show in the Pensacola community, a stage where memories are made and history unfolds.
Now, as Lady Saenger approaches her remarkable 100th birthday in April, we’re going to throw her a grand party!
But first, let’s take a look back at her extraordinary history and why she means so much to me and our city. For more than four decades, I've cherished this iconic venue as if she were a dear friend.
The first time I walked into the Saenger Theatre, I fell deeply in love. So much so that 44 years later, I’m still working on her behalf. When I first moved to Pensacola, I learned about a group of citizens saving an old theatre (and the pipe organ housed within it) on Palafox Place. That theatre was the Saenger, and I’ve been a part of Friends of the Saenger ever since.
In 1952, the Saenger adapted to modern cinema by removing its box seats to accommodate Cinemascope, ushering in an era of larger screens and new technology. But movies weren’t all she had to offer. She was a place for stage plays, talent shows, and community events—my grandfather, Dr. Maxwell de la Rua, even performed here as a child, playing his ukulele in talent competitions!
Beyond entertainment, the Saenger also provided vital community services. During World War II, long before television, she stayed open 24 hours a day, screening newsreels for a city desperate for updates from the front lines.
For decades Lady Saenger helped keep the downtown area vibrant - but in later years the theatre began to suffer the fate of other great movie palaces and hit hard times. During the 1970s downtowns across the country suffered a crisis as shopping centers, malls and multi-plex theaters sprang up on the outskirts of town. Many people simply stopped frequenting the downtown areas, closing businesses, including the Saenger Theatre.
Although the Grand Dame was brought back to life and arts groups began springing up and calling Lady Saenger home, she was doing things she had never actually been designed to do. Symphonies, operas, ballets and Broadway shows, along with incredible musicians and comedic acts, were all appearing on a stage originally built for Vaudeville. There were just a few ‘under the stage’ dressing rooms, and those were drippy and wet at that. (They didn’t name it Spring Street for nothing!)
She housed a small orchestra pit, no backstage storage, no real space for trucks to unload, and offices for administrative staff had to be improvised. There wasn’t even a lobby. Guests waiting to attend a show had to gather out front in all kinds of weather, and concessions simply weren’t available due to the lack of space.
Despite those shortcomings though, everyone loved going to the Saenger. So, Friends of the Saenger got back to work.
In 1995 we worked with generous citizens and the city to build the Grand Lobby on Palafox. Finally, the theatre could become more profitable with concessions available and patrons could enjoy a better theatre-going experience overall.
Still, as further demand grew, her limitations became even clearer. So in 2007, Friends of the Saenger and community leaders embarked on a massive $15 million renovation, expanding the theatre by more than 30,000 square feet to add dressing rooms, office space, storage, and a proper backstage area.
The list of artists and performances that have graced Lady Saenger’s stage could fill pages. Shall I name a few?
Through thousands of shows and millions of guests, through hurricanes and economic downturns, she has remained a cultural and economic beacon for Pensacola. Thanks to those who care, her future is brighter than ever.
To honor her 100th birthday, we’re throwing a party – and everyone’s invited!
On Sunday, April 6, we’ll close the street in front of the Saenger for a Grand celebration - complete with live performances of all kinds, branded merchandise, food and drink vendors and lots of fun for all. There will be tours of the theatre, demonstrations of the Great Saenger Pipe Organ, and the classic 1925 silent film “Phantom of the Opera” will be shown at 4 and 7pm - free to the public. (A film from 1925 – the same year the Lady Saenger opened - pretty cool, huh?)
This remembrance is about the one and only Crown Jewel of Palafox, Lady Saenger. It’s about Pensacola…..and it’s about you! Thank you for your support. We hope to see you there!
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