Princess Theatre

Decatur, United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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The Princess Theatre in Decatur, Alabama is a 677-seat performing arts venue with a layered architectural history. Originally constructed in 1887 as a livery stable, it was repurposed in 1919 into a silent film and vaudeville playhouse. The building received its defining Art Deco redesign in 1941, when local architect Albert Frahn painted the interior in burgundy and gray with glow-in-the-dark murals, and a bright neon marquee was installed to display the theatre's name. A notable terrazzo floor paved in an Alabama map—marking the Tennessee River and the city of Decatur—greets visitors at the entrance. After the theatre closed as a movie house, the city of Decatur purchased and renovated the building in 1978 for $750,000, reopening it as a premier performing arts venue. Recognized for its heritage significance, the theatre was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1981 and designated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and 2025.