Pabst Theater
Captain Frederick Pabst
Milwaukee's National Historic Landmark, Captain Frederick Pabst Theater is recognized as a treasure house of theater history.
the tribute
the theater
The theater's Victorian Baroque interior includes an Austrian crystal chandelier, a staircase crafted from white Italian marble, and a beautiful arch framing the stage.
at the foot of the marble staircase
For more than 100 years, virtually every great name in twentieth century music,
dance and drama has graced the Pabst stage.
seating layout
mezzanine entrance
The Pabst Theater, breathtakingly beautiful and
the oldest, most ornate theater in Milwaukee, was built in 1895. Designed by
Otto Strack in the tradition of the great European opera houses, the theater is
acoustically pure. It is considered the best-preserved German-American theater
in the United States, and is a reminder of a time when Milwaukee was known as
the “Deutsche Athens” (German Athens). It is also the fourth oldest operating
theater on the same site in the United States. The Pabst Theater was designated
a National Historic Landmark in 1991. Its golden curtain has risen over 25,000
times for virtually every great name in 20th century music, dance and drama
since the opening performance in 1895,
the chandelier
In 1976, the theater’s elegant Baroque interior was restored to its original opulence, which includes an Austrian crystal chandelier rich Italian marbles and gold-leaf embellishments throughout the building. The interior of the theater is simultaneously intimate and grand.
classic figures above the arch framing the stage
the original Gallery seats
back stage basement dressing room
"star" dressing room, just off the stage
the system of ropes and weights used to raise
and lower the scenery
(an innovation when it was first installed)
the Pabst Theater
