Ringling, Al, Theatre
About this property
The Al. Ringling Theatre is a performance center located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, United States. It opened its doors in November 1915 and has been operating continuously ever since. Designed by the architectural firm Rapp and Rapp, it was commissioned by Albert Ringling, one of the circus Ringling Brothers, for $100,000. Over the years, it has featured performances from vaudeville and silent movies to grand opera starring such notables as Lionel Barrymore and Mary Pickford. The design of the Theatre is based on the Orpheum Theatre, built by Rapp and Rapp in Champaign, Illinois in 1914. The decor of the auditorium is said to have derived from Ange-Jacques Gabriel's opera house of 1763-1770 in the Palace of Versailles but some believe it to be at least equally based on Victor Louis's 1780 Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. As of May 2024, the Theatre's capacity is 710 seats. Originally the Theatre had a Style 1 Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. Later a 9 rank, 3 manual Barton with a "circus wagon" style console replaced the Wurlitzer. As of early 2025, the Theatre is undergoing a $1 million renovation that includes the installation of an automated stage rigging system. The Al Ringling Theater was featured in an episode of PBS's History Detectives, where they investigated whether it was the country's first great movie palace. Media related to Al. Ringling Theatre at Wikimedia Commons
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Ringling, Al, Theatre
This page lists Ringling, Al, Theatre. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Ringling, Al, Theatre listed on the National Register?
Ringling, Al, Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 1976.
What type of historic resource is Ringling, Al, Theatre?
Ringling, Al, Theatre is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Ringling, Al, Theatre?
The period of significance for Ringling, Al, Theatre is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Ringling, Al, Theatre?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ringling, Al, Theatre will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Sauk County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Sauk County.
Explore SaukCounty ›More historic places in Wisconsin
Browse all historic places in Wisconsin.
View Wisconsinhistoric sites ›Wisconsin history
Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.
Wisconsinhistory ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Ringling, Al, Theatre will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.