Talladega's Ritz Theatre (circa 1936) is considered one of the best surviving examples of the Art Deco mainstreet theatres of the 1930's. Careful restoration of the landmark's extraordinary facade - comprised exclusively of opaque structural glass, a common constructoin material used lavishly during the Deco period in buildings like the Rockerfeller Center in New York City - was completed in late 1997 with perfectly matched antique vitrolite glass by renowned St. Louis artisan Timothy J. Dunn. The historic Ritz Theatre reopened on February 16, 1998 as the premiere performing arts center of East Central Alabama with a concert by the National Symphony String Quintet.