On August 13, 1974, the Astro Theater at 2001 Farnam Street in Omaha, Nebraska was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This venue was renovated in the 1990s and renamed the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center or The Rose.
The Astro Theater was also previously known as the Riviera Theater. When it was nominated for the National Register, Creighton University was the owner.
When the theater opened in 1926, it was called the Riviera. It as designed by John Eberson (1875-1954) as an atmospheric theater, a style that was popular in the 1920s. Eberson was known for developing and promoting movie palaces with the atmospheric style giving the moviegoer the feeling of being in a Mediterranean courtyard. In his lifetime, Eberson designed over 500 theaters.
John Adolph Emil Eberson (1875-1954); photo taken c. 1912.Photo byChicago Daily Journal, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
This historic theater was known for its extravagant stage performances and movies. The theater seated 2,776. It also had an artificial sky, a vaulted ceiling, and hanging artificial clouds and doves. The recessed lighting gave off the effect of stars.