One of Milwaukee’s most famed destinations, the Pabst Theater is a landmark of the Brew City known for hosting a variety of live events. An icon of German heritage, art, and German Renaissance Revival style architecture, this venue is known for many things—including its otherworldly residents. Join Brew City Ghosts on a journey through this building’s mysterious past, and learn why some of its long-dead ghosts refuse to take their final bows.
QUICK FACTS:
- The Pabst Theater opened on November 9, 1895
- Located at 144 E Wells St, it was designed by famed German architect Otto Strack
- Colloquially known as “The Pabst,” the theater played an important role in the German-American culture of Milwaukee
- It remains the fourth-oldest continuously operating theater in the United States
GERMAN ART AND CULTURE IN MILWAUKEE
In the mid-19th century, thousands of German immigrants came to the state of Wisconsin in droves for various religious and political reasons in search of inexpensive farmland and places to establish a new life. With Milwaukee’s prime location on Lake Michigan, Germans began flooding the city and wasted no time establishing breweries and other such businesses, causing a significant “boom” in Milwaukee’s economy.
By 1900, German-born residents made up approximately ten percent of the total population and around 47 percent of the foreign-born population in Wisconsin. The impact Germans had on the city of Milwaukee is undeniable, particularly when it comes to the rise of the city’s brewing industry. In 1950, persons of German heritage dominated 41 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties—the primary ancestry in both Green Bay and Milwaukee. Today, an estimated 40 percent of Milwaukee residents claim German ancestry.
With one of the nation’s largest German-American populations, it’s no surprise that the city of Milwaukee features an abundance of German culture. Whether it’s the annual Oktoberfest celebrations, German-inspired artwork found at the Grohmann Museum and the Milwaukee Public Museum, or one of Milwaukee’s many beer history tours, reminders of the city’s German roots can be found nearly everywhere.
THE PABST THEATER’S PART
In 1890, legendary brewer Frederick Pabst purchased the Nunnemacher Grand Opera House with the hopes of bringing German-language productions to downtown Milwaukee. He immediately renamed it Das Neue Deutsche Stadt-Theater (The New German City Theater), but unfortunately, the existing building wouldn’t stand for much longer. The structure was damaged by arson in 1893 and, shortly after, was completely destroyed by fire in January 1895. However, Pabst was persistent in keeping his vision for a grand theater alive and ordered it rebuilt at once. It reopened as The Pabst Theater in 1895, as it continues to be known today.
Iconic performers have taken to the stage throughout the years, but perhaps none are as well remembered as Liberace, who made his classical debut as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a concert held here in 1939. Since then, it has gone on to host an array of performers, including Black Sabbath, the Beach Boys, David Byrne, and several others. Because of its cultural significance, the Pabst Theater was designated a National Historic Landmark of the US in 1991.