Temple Theatre for the Performing Arts

This is the inside of our beautiful auditorium! The Temple Theater is a time capsule and a must see for everybody! We won't give away to much information but everything here is original from the tunnels to the dressing rooms (except for the carpeting, main floor seats and some of the parquet flooring). You'll see tunnels and catacombs to an original fall-out shelter from the cold war. When we don't have a live stage show we usually have current movies showing on our huge 40 foot screen. We encourage local artists such as Meridian Community College Student Films and other local artists to show off their local talents here. Give us a call or come for a tour. You won't be sorry!

History

By the early 1920s, the Meridian membership of the Hamasa Shrine had outgrown their building and wanted a larger facility that would not only accommodate their needs for the various meetings and ceremonies they conducted - but also as a multi-purpose facility to serve the community. Architect Emile Weil was engaged to design the building - as he was already well known for his grand designs. Mr. Weil delivered a plan that met the Shrine's expectations - and perhaps even more. Construction began in 1923 - with the Grand Ballroom being completed in November 1924. The Shrine moved in and conducted it's meetings and ceremonies there while the rest of the building was being completed.

The building today is much the same as originally built -exterior in Moorish Revival style with the interior featuring Byzantine motif decorations with exceptional attention to details. Being built on a corner allowed each part of the building to enjoy it's own street access - the theater facing onto 8th Street; while the ballroom is accessible from 24th Avenue.

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