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Lecture Tour of America 1882

Writing and Research on Oscar Wilde

Savannah

Georgia


The Savannah Theatre

Wednesday, July 5, 1882    


The Decorative Arts

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Verification

Newspaper report

The Wilmington Morning Star, July 8, 1882, 1


Savannah Morning News, July 6, 1882

"The audience which filled the Theatre last evening was composed of the best class of our citizens."

Venue

The Savannah Theatre

Chippewah Square, Savannah, GA (now 222 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401)


Built: 1818 (William Jay, architect)

Opened: December 4, 1818* 

Seating capacity: 1000

History: several fires, various remodeling, and a hurricane, all resulting in the redesign of its interior and exterior appearances

Today: extant as an unrecognizable movie theatre


* The oldest theatre in America at which Wilde lectured.

Screven House in the 1880s

Accommodation

Screven House

1 East Congress Street, Savannah, GA


Opened: 1854 (Charles Sholl, architect)

Remodeled: 1857 

Demolished: 1923

Ephemera

WILDE'S BLACK VALET

The Atlanta Constitution, July 6, 1882, 7


John Cooper on Oscar Wilde © 2026