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The Morton Building was built in 1910 by Monroe Bowers ("Pink") Morton. Although Morton had little formal education, he became a successful businessman and prominent figure in Athens' history. In 1896, he was chosen as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. He was also a contractor and owned over 30 buildings, the Morton being the largest. At one time, the Morton building formed the core of the downtown black business district. The Theatre opened in 1910 and hosted such renowned performers as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Bessie Smith, and Louis Armstrong. In 1980, the historic Morton was purchased by the nonprofit Morton Theatre Corporation, with state and federal funds, to be refurbished and dedicated to the arts. Local bands of fame such as R.E.M., Dreams So Real, and The B-52's have since used this space for rehearsal space and filming music videos. In 1993, reconstruction was fully completed. This 544-seat theatre now functions as a community performing arts space and host touring shows. The Morton Theatre is also available for rent for lectures, seminars, small banquets, meetings, conferences, and receptions.
Features:
544-seat, acoustically superb auditorium
Audio system appropriate for broadcasting tapes and voice amplification
Available for seminars, rental, tours
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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