Hill Event Center: Difference between revisions

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m (Hills Arts Center moved to Hill Arts Center: I seem to have a problem with S's in this title.)
(Hopefully finally got the name right, got address, and added a photo.)
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'''Hills Art Center''' is an arts center and banquet hall for the [[Alabama Theatre]], located next door to it on [[3rd Avenue North]].  It is named for [[Ora Lee Hill|Ora Lee]] and [[Ernie Hill]].  The center's director is [[Holly Morgan]].
[[Image:Hill Arts Center 2009.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Hill Arts Center in 2009.]]
The '''Hill Arts Center''' is an arts center and banquet hall for the [[Alabama Theatre]], located adjacent to it at 1811 [[3rd Avenue North]].  It is named for [[Ora Lee Hill|Ora Lee]] and [[Ernie Hill]].  The center's director is [[Holly Morgan]].


[[Birmingham Landmarks]], owners of the Alabama, purchased the former [[Goldstein's Furs]] building in [[1992]].  Ironically, the building stands on space Paramount had originally intended to use as part of the Alabama before construction, but the existing building's owners had refused to sell.  After Birmingham Landmark's purchase, a passage between the two buildings was constructed backstage at the Alabama and the second story of the building, previously Goldstein's cold storage area, was converted for use as a rehearsal hall.
[[Birmingham Landmarks]], owners of the Alabama, purchased the former [[Goldstein's Furs]] building in [[1992]].  Ironically, the building stands on space Paramount had originally intended to use as part of the Alabama before construction, but the existing building's owners had refused to sell.  After Birmingham Landmark's purchase, a passage between the two buildings was constructed backstage at the Alabama and the second story of the building, previously Goldstein's cold storage area, was converted for use as a rehearsal hall.
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{{Succession box | title=181_ [[3rd Avenue North]] | years=[[2008]]–present |
{{Succession box | title=1811 [[3rd Avenue North]] | years=[[2008]]–present |
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before=[[Goldstein's Furs]] | after=(current)}}
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Revision as of 20:33, 16 March 2009

The Hill Arts Center in 2009.

The Hill Arts Center is an arts center and banquet hall for the Alabama Theatre, located adjacent to it at 1811 3rd Avenue North. It is named for Ora Lee and Ernie Hill. The center's director is Holly Morgan.

Birmingham Landmarks, owners of the Alabama, purchased the former Goldstein's Furs building in 1992. Ironically, the building stands on space Paramount had originally intended to use as part of the Alabama before construction, but the existing building's owners had refused to sell. After Birmingham Landmark's purchase, a passage between the two buildings was constructed backstage at the Alabama and the second story of the building, previously Goldstein's cold storage area, was converted for use as a rehearsal hall.

Renovations to turn the space into an arts center around 2008 cost approximately $800,000. According to Cecil Whitmire, Opera Birmingham patrons Ora Lee and Ernie Hill had "wanted a space … to memorialize their interest in the arts." As a result, the Hill estate paid about half the cost of renovating the space. Center directory Holly Morgan, who has a degree in interior design, oversaw decoration.

The Arts Center features two lobbies, downstairs and upstairs, a catering kitchen, and a 3,000-square-foot ballroom. It also houses several local artifacts that have come into Birmingham Landmarks possession, including five chandeliers from the original Tutwiler Hotel and a gold-leafed directory from the Lyric Theatre's office space.

References

  • Hollis, Tim. (June 25, 2006). "Showplaces of the South, Part 1". Accessed June 25, 2008.
  • Seale, Kathy. (June 24, 2008). "The arts of the Alabama." The Birmingham News.
Preceded by:
Goldstein's Furs
1811 3rd Avenue North
2008–present
Succeeded by:
(current)