Jefferson Theater
Why it's listed
Completed in November 1927 at 345 Fannin Street in Beaumont, the Jefferson Theatre was designed by Emile Weil, Inc. of New Orleans and built by the Jefferson Amusement Company at a cost of about $1,000,000. Its symmetrical facade mixes classical elements, cast stone relief panels representing music, art and architecture, marble panels, and a green Spanish tile roof. Inside, a Spanish-style motif runs through the lobby, the 1,800-seat auditorium and the proscenium. The stage house holds five levels of dressing rooms and an original counterweight system that can handle 50 drops. A Robert Morton organ with 778 pipes sits on a disappearing platform. The theatre reflects the civic and cultural building that followed the Spindletop oil discoveries of 1901 and 1925. After closing in 1972, it passed through several owners to a preservation society that hoped to restore it as a regional performing arts center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theatre illustrates the cultural and civic improvement that followed the oil discoveries near Beaumont in the early twentieth century. It is a very good example of the multi-use entertainment facility of its era. Its slightly altered condition makes it a strong candidate for restoration as a performing arts venue.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002962, listed January 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 345 Fannin St., Beaumont |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | January 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002962 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Emile Weil, Inc. (architect); Jefferson Amusement Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | No particular style; combines classical elements with cast relief panels and stone detailing, with a Spanish-style interior motif |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Jefferson Theatre Preservation Society, which hopes to renovate it as a performing arts theatre; the form lists condition as good and altered, and the theatre closed in 1972. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Beaumont Commercial District |
| Coordinates | 30.08199, -94.09784 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002962.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6175603
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.