Alhambra Dinner Theatre


The Alhambra Theatre & Dining in Jacksonville, Florida, is the oldest continuously-running professional dinner theater in the United States, and the only professional resident theatre in Northeast Florida.

History

The Alhambra was built by Jacksonville businessman Leon Simon in 1967 and purchased by Tod Booth, Sr. in 1984. Booth moved to Jacksonville from Chicago, where he worked as artistic director for the Drury Lane Theaters. His family has frequently been involved, with daughter Jessica Booth and wife Lisa Valdini appearing in a number of shows and son Tod Jr. contributing in various aspects, including acting, directing and stage managing of the dinner theatre before becoming general manager and director of the Alhambra's Children's Theatre.
As with other dinner theaters of the 1970s, Alhambra initially relied on the appeal of former stars of film, television and music to attract customers. Alhambra's first such headliner was in Barefoot in the Park in 1969, which featured former Gilligan's Island costar Dawn Wells. Stars earned weekly pay between $1,500 and $5,000 for six to eight weeks as well as being able to enjoy the weather and amenities in Florida. According to Booth, "When their careers cooled, a star could learn a show and take it on the dinner theater circuit. That one show could be a meal ticket for a year or two."
Other celebrities, including soap opera cast members, hosts from TV game shows, and Playboy Centerfold gals appeared in productions.
In the early 1980s, however, it became difficult to hire former big names to act in dinner theatre. Booth explained: "They could make more in a day doing a commercial than they could make during the entire run of dinner theater show, and they didn't have to travel. Plus, a lot of the stars just started dying off." As a result, few of the performers had familiar names, but all were professionals, most with extensive experience on stage, in movies and TV. The show itself was promoted, rather than the headliner.

Notable appearances

Since the 1970s, over 100 stars have graced the Alhambra stage:

CelebrityProductionYear
Alan SuesSend Me No Flowers1972
Ann B. DavisLullaby; 3 on a Honeymoon1972
Artie JohnsonThe Seven Year Itch1973
Barbara BrittonForty Carats1972
Barbara EdenSocial Security2014
Barry WilliamsThe Odd Couple2011
Bernie KopellThe Sunshine Boys2005
Betty GrableBorn Yesterday1973
Bill DailyTribute1981
Bob CraneBeginner's Luck1973
Bob DenverPaisley Convertible1973
Broderick CrawfordThe Second Time Around1976
Cesar RomeroNever Get Smart with an Angel1978
Cindy WilliamsWeekend Comedy2013
Claude AkinsI Ought to Be in Pictures1984
Cyd CharisseKindling1978
Cyd CharisseBell, Book and Candle1981
Dana AndrewsBest of Friends1974
Dawn WellsBarefoot in the Park1969
Dennis ColeAnd All the Girls Came Out to Play1970
Dennis JamesThe Impossible Years1979
Don AmecheGirl in the Freudian Slip1971
Dorothy LamourFallen Angels1973
Dorothy LamourPersonal Appearance1976
Dwayne HickmanNatalie Needs a Nightie1974
Eddie BrackenHotline to Heaven1976
Elaine Joyce6 Rms Riv Vu1982
Esther RolleNearlyweds1976
Fabian ForteLove is a Time of Day1971
Fannie FlaggOnce More, with Feeling!1972
Forrest TuckerPlaza Suite1977
Forrest TuckerCaptain Outrageous1981
Frank GorshinBreaking Legs1995
Frank SuttonThe Last of the Red Hot Lovers1972
Gail BlissA Closer Walk with Patsy Cline2000,01,02,04
Gale GordonNever Too late1977
Gale GordonLove & Kisses1979
Gary BurghoffBoney Kern1982
Gene BarryHot Shot1977
Gene RayburnLovers Leap1980
George Hamilton6 Rms Riv Vu1974
Georgia SimmonsTobacco Road1970
Gig YoungHarvey1974
Gordon JumpNorman, Is That You?1983
Hugh O'BrianCactus Flower1974
Imogene CocaA Girl Can Get Lucky1970
Imogene CocaPlaza Suite1971
Jack CassidyMurder Among Friends1976
Jack KelleyUnder the Yum Yum Tree1975
James DruryCatch Me If You Can1972
James DruryThe Prisoner of Second Avenue1976
James DruryCalifornia Suite1979
Jay ThomasChapter Two1980
Jamie FarrLend Me a Tenor2011
Joan CaulfieldButterflies are Free1972
Jay ThomasSee How They Run1982
Jay ThomasA Gentleman and a Scoundrel1982
Joey BishopThe Seven Year Itch1981
John CarradineTobacco Road1970
Jonathan HarrisThe Pleasure of His Company1972
Joyce DeWittRemember Me2012
Judy CarneMary, Mary1977
June WilkinsonPajama Tops1970
June WilkinsonPajama Tops1975
June WilkinsonPajama Tops1976
June WilkinsonThe Ninety Day Mistress1978
Keith CarradineTobacco Road1970
King DonovanA Girl Can Get Lucky1970
King DonovanPlaza Suite1971
Lance E. NicholsDriving Miss Daisy2013
Lara ParkerThe Ninety Day Mistress2013
Lauren TewesBorn Yesterday1981
Leanza CornettBarefoot in the Park1997
Lee MeredithChampaign Complex1968
Lee MeredithThe Marriage-Go-Round1980
Liv LindelandWill Success Spoil Rock Hunter?1972
Lyle WaggonerBoeing-Boeing1970
Loretta SwitMurder Among Friends2013
Mamie Van DorenIn One Bed, Out The Other1971
Mamie Van DorenA Dash of Spirits1977
Marjorie LordHow the Other Half Lives1974
Martha RayeEverybody Loves Opal1979
Martha RayeEverybody Loves Opal1983
Martin MilnerThe Tender Trap1980
Meredith MacRaeSunday in New York1971
Michael LearnedDriving Miss Daisy2013
Mickey RooneySee How they Run1973
Milt KamenTake My Wife1971
Morey AmsterdamWho Wants Fat Hair1978
Morgan FairchildPaisley Convertible; The Seven Year Itch1973
Nancy KulpBusybody1976
Paige O'HaraThe Sound of Music1979; 1982
Pam BlairCactus Flower1974
Pamela MasonThe Marriage-Go-Round1975
Pernell RobertsAny Wednesday1974
Pat O'BrienParis is Out1974
Patty WeaverAny Wednesday1978
Pia ZadoraThe Drunkard1971
Randolph MantoothArsenic and Old Lace1983
Ray WalstonYou Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running1976
Richard EganHanky Panky1978
Richard EganBroken Up1979
Richard KarnI Ought to Be in Pictures2014
Robert MorsePlay It Again, Sam1978
Robert MorseMurder at the Howard Johnson's1980
Robert MorseWally's Cafe1984
Robert Q. LewisNorman, Is That You?1971
Robert ReedWake Up, Darling1974
Ruta LeeGoodbye Charlie1972
Sal MineoHow The Other Half Lives1974
Sally StruthersHello Dolly2012
Sandra DeeThe Ninety Day Mistress1975
Sandy DennisSame Time, Next Year1979
Selma DiamondFunny Girl1977
Sid CaesarThe Last of the Red Hot Lovers1982
Stephen DouglasI Do! I Do!1970
Sue Ane LangdonThe Owl and the Pussycat1975
Tab HunterThe Tender Trap1973
Tab HunterHere Lies Jeremy Troy1975
Vera MilesForty Carats1972
Vera MilesPainting Churches1986
Veronica HamelCactus Flower1974
Vivian VanceArsenic and Old Lace1974
Dawn Wells"Come Blow Your Horn "2017


The theatre features three-course served dinners and a full bar service. The bar hosts patrons who arrive early for happy hour. The facility uses a Thrust stage to give all 408 seats an excellent view. Several staff members have been at the venue for over 25 years.

Brief closure

On August 31, 2009, the Alhambra Dinner Theatre suspended operations, citing the effect of the Late-2000s recession on attendance and expenses. The sale of the theatre to Theatre Partners, a group of local investors, was announced on October 28, 2009.
The group stated that operations would resume December 1, 2009, with Christmas Carole, which has been a fixture in Jacksonville for more than 20 years. Former owner Tod Booth agreed to direct the shows, which were the primary attraction. The food was placed under the direction of DeJuan Roy, a popular local restaurateur, who has changed the menu with each show; table service replaced the buffet style of serving. The building's decor has been spruced up with new flooring, fixtures, paint and table place settings.
The new ownership group hosted a free outdoor dinner show on November 7, 2009, to celebrate the revival of the local theatre landmark. Chef Medure cooked on a grill and performers entertained with classic show tunes. It was announced that the first show for the 2010 Season would be High School Musical beginning December 30, 2009.