Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center
A historic theatre and performing arts venue in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center, commonly called The Rose, is a historic theatre and performing arts venue in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The building was originally designed as the Riviera Theatre by architect John Eberson, a prominent designer of atmospheric theatres, and was constructed by A. H. Blank. Although the building dates from 1926, its inaugural public opening took place on March 26, 1927. The theatre was conceived as a lavish entertainment facility combining motion pictures with stage presentations. Its atmospheric design drew on the popular 1920s idea of transforming an interior auditorium into an outdoor Mediterranean-style setting. The auditorium incorporated theatrical effects intended to suggest an open courtyard under a night sky, including representations of stars and drifting clouds. The exterior combined Moorish and Classical influences, with a large copper-domed central tower, two smaller flanking towers, patterned brickwork, oriel windows, decorative cornices, glazed terra-cotta details, free-standing columns and griffin ornamentation. At its original scale, the building contained 2,776 seats and was promoted as one of the Midwest's most elegant entertainment venues. The venue's early commercial history was unstable. By 1929, its operating costs were reported to have reached $13,000 per week, and the theatre was experiencing financial losses. A. H. Blank consequently sold it to Paramount Pictures, which renamed it the Paramount Theatre. During the 1930s and early 1940s, the building experienced several closures. Paramount experimented with additional attractions, including a miniature golf course in the lower lobby, in an effort to draw customers. Film operations ended in June 1952, while attempts to use the facility for winter theatrical productions did not produce a lasting recovery. In 1953, its owner, Tristates, considered selling or demolishing the property. The building then passed through several uses and operators. Paramount vacated its lease to Creighton University in 1957. After a period of closure, the property was leased to J.S.B. Amusement and renovated for use as a bowling alley. That conversion lasted approximately a year before the building was remodeled again for theatrical use. In 1962, the venue reopened as a cinema under the name Astro Theatre, operated by the Dubinsky Brothers. Its capacity was reduced to 1,465 seats, and it continued operating until June 1980. The theatre received important historic recognition during this period. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and designated an Omaha landmark in October 1980. Despite that recognition, the closed building again faced possible demolition. Creighton University sold it to Rose Blumkin, founder of Nebraska Furniture Mart, on June 24, 1981. Renovation work in the early 1990s converted the property into the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center. The Omaha Theater Company began performing there in 1995, establishing the renovated venue as a home for live theatrical productions. The Rose therefore represents several overlapping identities: a 1920s atmospheric movie palace, a Paramount-branded cinema, the Astro Theatre, and a later performing arts center named for Rose Blumkin. Its significance rests both on its architectural design and on its repeated adaptation to changing entertainment markets. The official venue website presents The Rose as an operating theatre and performing arts center, although detailed current programming, ownership and management information is not established by the supplied reference material.
History
The building now known as the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center was designed in 1926 by John Eberson, whose atmospheric theatres used architectural illusion to make enclosed auditoriums resemble romantic outdoor courtyards. Built by A. H. Blank, the Omaha theatre combined Moorish and Classical elements. Its exterior included a copper-domed tower, smaller companion towers, patterned brick facades, oriel windows, elaborate cornices, glazed terra-cotta coping and ornamental columns supporting griffins. The auditorium originally held 2,776 seats. The theatre opened to the public on March 26, 1927, as the Riviera Theatre. It presented both films and lavish stage entertainment and was regarded as a major Midwest entertainment facility. Its financial performance soon became difficult, however. In 1929, operating costs were reported at $13,000 per week, and Blank sold the property to Paramount Pictures. The new owner renamed it the Paramount Theatre. The venue suffered repeated closures in 1934, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941 and 1942. Paramount introduced a miniature golf course in the lower lobby as an attraction during this period. The theatre stopped showing films in June 1952. Winter stage productions were attempted but were not sufficiently successful to sustain operations, and the venue closed again. In August 1953, Tristates, identified in the historical account as the owner, considered selling or demolishing the property. Paramount vacated its lease to Creighton University in 1957. After remaining closed for several years, the building was leased to J.S.B. Amusement and renovated as a bowling alley. That use lasted about one year, after which the structure was remodeled again for theatre operations. The building reopened as a cinema in 1962 under the name Astro Theatre. The Dubinsky Brothers operated the venue, whose capacity had been reduced to 1,465 seats. The Astro continued until June 1980. The property had already gained historic recognition: it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and became an Omaha landmark in October 1980. Nevertheless, its closure left it vulnerable to demolition. Creighton University sold the theatre to Rose Blumkin of Nebraska Furniture Mart on June 24, 1981. Renovation during the early 1990s transformed the former cinema into the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center. The Omaha Theater Company began performing there in 1995. The renamed facility thus became a live-performance venue while retaining the architectural character and historical associations of its earlier identities as the Riviera, Paramount and Astro theatres. The theatre's documented history is defined by repeated changes in ownership, name, format and physical use. It moved from a large movie palace with stage shows to a Paramount cinema, briefly to a bowling alley, back to a cinema, and finally to a performing arts center. Its preservation status and continued association with live theatre distinguish the current Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center from the commercial cinema operations that occupied the building during much of the twentieth century.
- 1995
Omaha Theater Company begins performances
[1]Following renovation in the early 1990s, the building operated as the Rose Blumkin Performing Arts Center and became a home for the Omaha Theater Company.
- 1981
Acquisition by Rose Blumkin
[1]Rose Blumkin purchased the property from Creighton University on June 24.
- 1980
Omaha landmark designation
[1]The theatre was designated an Omaha landmark in October after closing earlier that year.
- 1974
National Register recognition
[1]The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1962
Reopening as the Astro Theatre
[1]The venue reopened as a movie theatre operated by the Dubinsky Brothers, with capacity reduced to 1,465 seats.
- 1957
Creighton University lease transition
[1]Paramount vacated its lease to Creighton University. The building later underwent temporary conversion to a bowling alley before returning to theatre use.
- 1952
Film operations end
[1]The theatre stopped showing films in June, while later winter stage productions failed to establish a durable operating model.
- 1929
Sale to Paramount Pictures
[1]Facing high weekly operating costs and financial losses, A. H. Blank sold the venue to Paramount Pictures, which renamed it the Paramount Theatre.
- 1927
Riviera Theatre opens
[1]The theatre opened on March 26 with 2,776 seats and programming that combined motion pictures with stage entertainment.
- 1926
Construction of the Riviera Theatre
[1]John Eberson designed the theatre as an atmospheric venue combining Moorish and Classical architectural elements. A. H. Blank built the structure.
Products and positioning
Historic Omaha performing arts venue combining live theatre programming with a nationally notable 1920s atmospheric-theatre setting.
Performing arts · 1995
Live theatre performances
The Rose functions as a venue for staged theatrical productions, including performances associated with the Omaha Theater Company after the building's conversion into a performing arts center. Specific current titles and seasons are not identified in the supplied reference material.
Cultural venue · 1927
Historic atmospheric-theatre venue
The building itself is a principal offering of the venue: a preserved 1920s atmospheric theatre with Moorish and Classical exterior details, a domed tower and an auditorium originally designed to evoke an outdoor Mediterranean courtyard beneath a night sky.
Sources2 sources
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