Needles Theatre

The Needles Theatre seated 700 people.

The address for the Needles Theatre is 823 Broadway, Needles, Ca. 92363.

Here is a picture of the Needles Theater in 1940, from the Pomona Public Library:

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cpom/kt6s2019xp/hi-res/B/B9672.jpg

A recent photograph of the Needles Theater:
http://rushcreekeditions.com/lfop/

I passed through and past this theater a bout a year or two ago when I was in the Las Vegas area. It's a small little town in what seems like the middle of no where.

Here are two recent photos from Cinematour:
http://www.cinematour.com/picview.php?db=us&id=28327
http://www.cinematour.com/picview.php?db=us&id=28328

What is the Needles currently being used for?

Here is a photo I took in July 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/y4wssb

It still looks more like a "Temple" then it does a theater.

It looked empty when I went by several months ago. I don't think it's being used for anything.

I think the Needles Theater has a new owner and is being renovated. There is a news item about it somewhere on CT.

Yes, it does sort of look like a temple or mosque or something doesn't it!

The banner headline on the front page of the Needles Nugget newspaper dated Friday, February 15, 1929 read, “New $60,000 Theatre Bldg.” The accompanying article related that the new building, at the corner of F Street and Broadway will house a Theatre with the most modern “talkie” equipment of the age. The plans also include a pipe organ, the “latest” stage equipment, and the “smartest” of furnishing. The Masonic Temple occupied the 2nd floor.

In early March of 1929, the Masons led a five-day stock campaign that closed with $72,550 in signed applications, a truly amazing feat for the time period, and for a town the size of Needles.

The final building contracts were signed in late July of 1929, and the Theatre opened for business on March 1, 1930. Total cost of the building was estimated to be $120,000.

Mr. C.A. Simons, the proprietor of the Liberty Theatre, was given a long-term lease of the 1st floor. Mr. Simons also sub-let the two downstairs shops. The shop on the east side of the Theatre housed Simons Real Estate and the west side housed The Sweet Shoppe.

The history of the Theatre is being developed and cataloged on an ongoing basis. We know that the building had a water based heating and cooling system that was very modern for the day. Not only did the Theatre have a nice sized cinema screen, but it also included a full stage with orchestra pit. We know that in the early years that several performance troupes of the day appeared at our Theatre. The Theatre showed 4 single movies a week, and they were all first run. Occasionally a short film or cartoon would be included. The cost of a child’s admission was 15 cents, with adult tickets ranging from 35 to 50 cents. The Miss Needles contest was held at the Theatre in later years, and community-based music and dance recitals were held there. The Fort Mohave Indian Band performed on a regular basis on the weekends on a bandstand located in the street outside of the Theatre. One long time resident recounted the story that when Gone With the Wind showed at the Theatre, the line to buy admission “went way up around the block!”

At some point in time, the stage was extended out over the orchestra pit, and then a false wall was built to hold a much larger cinema screen, and at least 1/3 of the seating capacity was reduced.

The Theatre closed its doors sometime in the early to mid 1980’s. Heavily damaged by fire in the 1990’s, the building was donated to the Needles Chamber of Commerce by the Masons. The fire insurance policy held by the Masons secured a replacement roof, and the Chamber took steps to exclude the roosting areas set up by multiple pigeons.

Rodney and Kirsten Mouton purchased the property from the City of Needles and escrow closed on 2-20-06.

At the present time, debris is being hauled away, and a general clean up of the inside of the building is taking place. The extension built out from the stage has been removed and the old orchestra pit has been uncovered. The room has been returned to its original full dimensions. The original stage and surrounding artwork is intact but it has suffered smoke damage. The overall integrity of the structure is good as it is constructed of concrete and steel. The construction was quite a marvel in 1929.

The outside of the building has been repainted and the original ironwork reinstalled. All of the original window casings are intact.

Fund raising events are being held by the Friends of the Needles Theatre and it is anticipated that the marquee and the neon theatre sign will be restored in the near future.

Here is another photo of the Needles Theater. Date given is 1941.

It doesn't appear to have changed much in 65 years, at least from the outside.

I guess.

This has nothing to do with drugs or sewing. Here is the Friends of the Needles theater website.

does anyone know where the blue prints are held?

contact me

Chris Hammontree
Xanadu_dream_llc@yahoo.com

928-565-1659

m-f 10am-1pm Arizona time

Thank You
Chris

Needles Theater photo.

Hi Lost Memory... I visited once in 1967 enroute to Miami from San Francisco... can't remember what I saw.
It's always good to see any theater photo but it's a shame there's a car blocking the view and other distracting "stuff" in the picture.
Personally, I like to "crop" my picture view finder by ONLY having the actual subject in the frame and nothing else; like other buildings or people walking by!

What's the current status of this building?

Still standing Bway :)

Here is a 2009 photo.

Here's an old postcard
http://www.usgwarchives.org/ca/sanbernardino/postcards/nmason.jpg