Lucille Ball Little Theatre

Lucille Ball Little Theatre is a nonprofit community theatre company and venue in Jamestown, New York. The organization developed from the Jamestown Players Club, the local theatrical group with which Lucille Ball became associated during her early acting years. It was incorporated in 1936 under the name Little Theatre of Jamestown and subsequently became one of the community institutions most closely connected with Ball's hometown legacy. The company operates from a theatre at 18 East Second Street in downtown Jamestown. The property has a long entertainment history that predates the current organization. Constructed in the nineteenth century as Allen's Opera House, the building later became Samuels Opera House after a change of ownership. In the early twentieth century it was acquired by the MA Shea Corporation and substantially renovated in 1925 in a Spanish-influenced architectural style. The venue first hosted live entertainment, including vaudeville, before later being converted into a cinema. By the early 1960s the cinema had closed and the building had fallen into disuse. The Little Theatre of Jamestown purchased the property in 1968 and created a theatre within the shell of the historic building. The renovated facility opened in 1969 and has served as the company's home since that period. The venue contains a full stage, a lobby, and seating for approximately 402 people, allowing the organization to function both as a producing community theatre and as a local performance venue. Lucille Ball's relationship with the organization extends beyond the theatre's name. Ball began acting with the Players Club, the predecessor associated with the company, and returned to Jamestown in 1945 to appear in a series of skits with the group at Chautauqua's Smith-Wilkes Hall. During her career she supported the organization through cash contributions and donations of costumes connected with her film and television work. A costume from Gone with the Wind has been retained and used by the company, linking its local theatrical history with Ball's professional career. In 1991, both the company and its theatre were renamed Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown to honor Ball, who is widely identified with Jamestown and remains the city's most prominent entertainment figure. The organization is therefore positioned not as a commercial entertainment brand but as a community-based cultural institution: it provides live theatrical programming, maintains a historic performance space, and preserves a tangible connection to Ball's early artistic life and local philanthropy. Publicly available reference material identifies the theatre's history and facilities but does not provide a complete current season listing, detailed organizational leadership roster, or independently verified financial information.

Lucille Ball Little Theatre traces its institutional origins to the Jamestown Players Club, a community theatrical organization associated with Lucille Ball's early acting experience. Ball began performing with the Players Club before achieving national fame in film and television. The organization that developed from this local theatrical tradition was incorporated in 1936 as a nonprofit corporation called Little Theatre of Jamestown. The company's present home has an older and independent history. The building at 18 East Second Street in Jamestown was originally constructed in 1881 as Allen's Opera House under proprietor Abner E. Allen. In 1898, Allen sold the property to Charles Samuels, after which it became known as Samuels Opera House. The MA Shea Corporation acquired the theatre in 1919 and carried out a major refurbishment in 1925. The Spanish-style treatment from that renovation remains visible in the building's exterior. The venue was initially used for vaudeville and other live entertainment. As vaudeville declined, the building was converted into a cinema. That use eventually ended, and by the beginning of the 1960s the property was vacant or substantially underused. The Little Theatre of Jamestown purchased the building in 1968. Rather than replacing the historic structure entirely, the organization built a modern theatre inside the surviving shell. The renovated facility opened in 1969 and became the company's long-term base. Ball maintained a relationship with the organization after her early work with its predecessor. In 1945 she returned to the area to perform in a group of skits with the company at Chautauqua's Smith-Wilkes Hall. She also supported the theatre through monetary gifts and by donating costumes from her film and television career. One costume associated with Gone with the Wind remains in the company's collection and has continued to be used by the organization. The company and its building received their present name in 1991, when both were renamed Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown. The change recognized Ball's importance to Jamestown and formalized the connection between the local theatre tradition and the actress's legacy. The facility includes a full stage, a small lobby, and seating for about 402 people. It continues to operate as a community theatre and local performance venue. Available reference material establishes the organization's origins, building history, relationship with Ball, and principal facilities, but does not document a complete list of recent productions, current executives, or financial results.

• 1991

  The company and venue are renamed

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Both the organization and its theatre adopt the Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown name in honor of the actress.

• 1969

  Renovated theatre opens

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A theatre is constructed inside the shell of the historic building and opens as the company's new home.

• 1968

  The company purchases its future home

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Little Theatre of Jamestown acquires the former opera-house and cinema building on East Second Street.

• 1945

  Lucille Ball returns for performances

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Lucille Ball returns to perform in a series of skits with the company at Chautauqua's Smith-Wilkes Hall.

• 1936

  Little Theatre of Jamestown is incorporated

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The community theatre organization is established as a nonprofit corporation under the name Little Theatre of Jamestown.

• 1925

  Major Spanish-style refurbishment

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building undergoes an extensive refurbishment, producing the Spanish-influenced facade associated with the historic structure.

• 1919

  MA Shea Corporation acquires the building

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The MA Shea Corporation acquires the theatre property during its earlier commercial entertainment history.

• 1898

  The venue becomes Samuels Opera House

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Abner E. Allen sells the property to Charles Samuels, after which the venue takes the name Samuels Opera House.

• 1881

  The theatre building opens as Allen's Opera House

  [1]Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building that later housed Lucille Ball Little Theatre begins its life as Allen's Opera House in Jamestown.

A locally rooted nonprofit community theatre that combines live performance, civic cultural service, historic venue stewardship, and the preservation of Lucille Ball's connection to Jamestown.

• Live theatre

  Community theatre productions

  The organization's central offering is live theatrical programming produced for a local community audience. The available reference material identifies the company as a community theatre but does not provide a complete current or historical production catalogue.

• Performing-arts venue · 1969

  Lucille Ball Little Theatre venue

  The company's principal venue is the renovated theatre inside the former opera-house building at 18 East Second Street. It includes a full stage, a small lobby, and seating for approximately 402 people.

• 1991

  Adoption of the Lucille Ball nameStrategy

  Background

  Lucille Ball had early ties to the organization's predecessor and was recognized as Jamestown's most prominent entertainment figure.

  Action taken

  The company and its theatre were renamed Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown.

  Aftermath

  The renamed institution strengthened its public connection to Ball's hometown legacy while continuing as a community theatre.

  Source

• 1968

  Purchase and adaptive reuse of the historic theatre buildingStrategy

  Background

  The former opera house and cinema had become derelict after its earlier entertainment uses declined.

  Action taken

  Little Theatre of Jamestown purchased the property and developed a theatre within the shell of the older building.

  Aftermath

  The renovated facility opened in 1969 and became the company's continuing home.

  Source

1. 1Lucille Ball Little Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Lucille Ball Little Theatre official websitelucilleballlittletheatre.org