The Crescent Theater was a single-screen movie theater located in Mobile, Alabama. The theater mainly shows independent and arthouse cinema, though several mainstream films have been included. It also operates as the home of local cinema and film competitions, and has been used for music and improvisational comedy. It was first opened in 1885 as the Crescent Theater for vaudeville entertainment. In the intervening years, the building became a cinema and later was used for restaurants, before being reopened in October 2008 by Max Morey, the theater's owner and operator.
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 Interactive map of Crescent Theater, Mobile, Alabama | |
| Address | 208 Dauphin St Mobile, Alabama United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°41′29″N 88°02′36″W / 30.6915°N 88.0433°W |
| Owner | Max Morey |
| Capacity | 90 |
| Type | Film |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1885 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Reopened | October 31, 2008 |
Years active | 2008–2023 |
| Website | |
| www.crescenttheater.com | |
History
editThe Crescent Theater first opened at 208 Dauphin Street in Mobile in 1885, offering vaudeville and burlesque shows. In 1912, it was converted to show silent films.[1][2]
In the late 20th century, the building was used for several restaurants, and by 2006, it was operating as Derry's Ole Tyme Cafe. It suffered damage that year when a neighboring bar, Monsoon's, caught fire.
The building was later rented to Max Morey, who reopened as the Crescent Theater on October 31, 2008. Morey had first visited the city in 1992 and, according to the Press-Register, "vowed that he was going to save his money and build a movie theater there."
Following its 2008 reopening, the theater primarily screened independent and arthouse films.[2] The theater was credited with revitalizing downtown Mobile.[3] In 2012, it nearly shuttered when costs mounted for a switch to digital projection, but a Kickstarter raised over $84,000 to keep the theater operating. In 2017, it again faced closure when its rent rose,[4] but met its $72,000 goal to stay open.[5] The theater was financially supported by the Crescent Theater Film Society, a nonprofit group.
The theater was ranked the "coolest movie theater" in Alabama by Cosmopolitan.[6]
After financial struggles, the theater closed in April 2023.[7][8] In September 2025, the venue reopened under new operators Zeke Buckhaults and Stu Schayot, who announced plans to focus on comedy, cinema, and live arts.[9]
References
edit- ↑ "Crescent Theater - Mobile, Alabama, Independent Movie Theater". CrescentTheater.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- 1 2 Estes, Cary. "Alabama's Official Travel Guide". alabama.travel. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ↑ Specker, Lawrence (December 30, 2010). "Downtown Mobile festivities showcase area's growth". Press-Register. AL.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ Matthews, Michelle (April 6, 2017). "Crescent Theater in downtown Mobile set to close". Press-Register. AL.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ Matthews, Michelle (June 24, 2017). "Crescent Theater meets fundraising goal, will stay open for two more years". Press-Register. AL.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ Beckman, Kate (July 26, 2017). "The Coolest Movie Theater in Every State". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ↑ Leibold, Whitney (2023-04-13). "Crescent Theatre in downtown Mobile closes doors for good". WKRG News 5. Archived from the original on 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ↑ Specker, Lawrence (2023-04-12). "'I guess that's it': Barring a last-minute miracle, Mobile's Crescent Theater is gone". al. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ↑ Specker, Lawrence (2025-08-27). "The Crescent Theater abides: 'Grand re-re-re-re-opening' set for beloved Mobile venue". al.com. Retrieved 2026-06-03.