The América Theatre, with over 1700 seats, is one of the most interesting architectural works in Havana. It first opened on March 29, 1941 and is part of a large building complex located on one of Central Havana’s main commercial streets, Galiano.

The architects were Fernando Martinez Campos and Pascual de Rojas. The theatre is built within the Edificio Rodriguez Vazquez which is an 11 storey building, containing ground floor businesses, 64 apartments and includes another pre-existing theatre, the Casa de la Musica located next door.

The outside of the theater features simple vertical lines in the upper body in marked contrast to the horizontality of the marquee, which runs the entire length of the facade. The main lobby, which depicts a favorite element of Art Deco decorators, the sign of the zodiac, and all other interiors are decorated along lines of the strictest Art Deco. The theater has preserved to this day all of its original details, including the furniture.

The beautiful Teatro América movie theater, 1,770 capacity, with its elegant Art Deco interior design, had as its first film projection And Heaven Too, with Bette Davis and Charles Boyer. The first stage show starred the famous Mexican actor and singer Pedro Vargas. In 1943, the film Casablanca, was premiered and in 1950 Teatro America featured the black American diva, Josephine Baker.