Nobility Auditorium, USA

Nobility auditorium is a beautiful theatre that lays decaying in the eastern United States. This unassuming building goes unnoticed by the majority of people, hiding in plain sight on the grounds of an active hospital. The only telltale signs are a small sign above the door, and a green oxidised copper dome that is not quite in-keeping with the surrounding medical buildings.

The theatre was built in the early years of the 20th Century, and was part of a hospital that was already nearly half a century old. The facility acted as an asylum for those with mental illness. At this time there was pressure on psychiatric institutes to be self-sustaining, and to cater for all the needs of patients that resided here for long periods of time. The theatre was built to host events and provide entertainment, in addition to the medical services and psychiatric support provided by the hospital. In the latter half of the 20th Century these “complete institutions” fell out of favour, as the focus shifted onto shorter-term residence of patients. The theatre then became surplus to requirement.

The hospital ceased using the theatre in the 1960’s, although some community events were still held there in the 1970’s. In the auditorium’s heyday, movies would be show and performing arts groups put on regular shows. The stage was also used for high school graduations as well as church services. In the basement there was a roller skating rink, and community dance hall.

The theatre is very well-preserved, seemingly only gently decaying as the decades pass by. The hospital diligently maintain the roof and repair damaged windows in an effort to protect this building. The heating is also left on, to stave off damp and mold. There are nearly 1000 seats in the auditorium, which has a lower seating area in the stalls and a crescent-shaped upper level of chairs. There is a projection room, with two vintage film reel projectors. On the stage a dusty piano stands against the brightly coloured theatrical backdrop from the theatre’s last performance.