Granada Theater

My hubby & I went to the movies together for the very first second times together in late 1989 early 1990. I was so sad when they tore it down.

I had nothing but EXCELLENT viewing experiences at this theater. I grew up in the '70's and 80's and this, to me, was the best theater in town. I saw: Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Aliens, Empire Strikes Back, Porky's, Return of the Jedi, Dances With Wolves, Madonna Truth or Dare...all great films on a huge screen with the best sound (at the time) in Reno in the main auditorium. The second auditorium (the former balcony) had it's share of great films: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Nothing in Common, Popcorn and Silence of the Lambs...to name a few. It was this audiorium's stadium seating that I LOVED. Never a bad view even in the front row.
GREATLY MISSED by us!
The theater was sadly displaying on the marquee "End of an Era" before it was finally torn down to make way for a multiplex across the street. Disappointing this multiplexing is.

Here is an article from the Reno Gazette in August 1954:

MOVIE STARS HAIL RENO'S NEW THEATER

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES FROM FILMDOM'S ELITE ARE
RECEIVED BY LOCAL MANAGER

Stars of the motion picture world have been sending congratulatory telegrams to the managers of the T & D Junior Enterprises in Reno.
Upon hearing that the Granada theater would open on Wednesday
at 7:30 o'clock, many of the top stars, all of them well known to
Reno theater goers sent their bestwishes for the success of the west's most modern show place.

Although not in the picture, Bing Crosby, a Nevada resident, very
well known in Reno where he is a frequent visitor said:
"Congratulations" on the grand opening of the Granada theater
and to all patrons who will enjoy this excellent new showplace.
It is another first for Nevada."

James Stewart, who stars in "Rear Window," and who, a few
short years ago was parading down the street on which the Granada
theater stands with Mrs. Stewart, waving gayly to the people who
soon would be honoring him with the "Silver Spurs" award for his
"She Wore a Yellow Ribbon," wired Homer Le Ballister, Granada
theater manager as follows:
"Just heard the great news that you are opening the fine Granada theater. Naturally I am honored that "Rear Window" will be the first picture to play there. All my best to everyone in Reno. That is one city I will never forget, and always love."

POLICY OF NEW THEATER IS SET

Popular prices will prevail at the new Granada theater, it was
announced. Despite the fact that all of the modern devices are to
be found in Reno's new show house which will open its doors at
7:30 Wednesday evening, the popular prices that were in vogue
when the old Granada was serving the people of the community will
prevail. Ken Workman, district manager, and Homer Le Ballister,
resident manager, stated this morning that the Granada would
be a first run theater, showing only the top films obtainable. It
is not expected that any picture will run at the Granada "for more
than one week. If the demand is so great that the picture cannot
satisfy the Reno audiences in a week at the Granada it will be
moved to another T & D theater. Thus, it is believed, that only
the finest productions will be shown in Reno's newest playhouse.
Equipped as it is to show every type of picture, the Granada can
afford to be very choosy in selecting the films to be shown.

There is an article in the Nevada State Journal dated 1/23/53 which describes the total destruction of the Granada in a fire. Presumably the new Granada opened in 1954 as seen in the article above.

The NEW Granada Theatre (the one after the fire) was a stadium type theatre with no balcony. This is the theatre that was later converted to two-screen. Ken Workman, the district manager quoted in the Gazette article, was also the manager of the co-owned Majestic Theatre a few blocks away on E 2nd and Lake Street.

Correction: Majestic was E FIRST Street.

Here is a 1946 ad from the Nevada State Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/29leb5

Flickr user Indignico provides this photo showing the old Granada. Other pictures of the set, all depicting Reno during a 1950s flood, have cars in them, and the newest cars I can spot look to be about 1949-50 models, so I'm guessing this particular flood was the one in 1950 (the Truckee River used to inundate downtown Reno every few years.) This has the be the pre-fire Granada Theatre. Still haven't found a picture of the 1954 Granada.

The United Artists GRANADA THEATRE on W. 1st St. was operating as a twin theatre up until the flood of 97, which devastated the theatre and every business around it. Every building on that side of the street was torn down due to unrepairable damage. My wife and I got an inside view of the Granada from the front door and the entire lobby was in 3 to 4 feet deep in silt. We were unable to pass through the front doors. It was soon demolished and replaced with a beautiful 14 floor condo building. A new 12 plex CENTURY CINEMA sits directly across the street, entrance facing the Truckee River.

1982 night photo of the Granada Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c28%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=4&ProductID=29843

1984 daytime photo of the Granada Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c28%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=29842

The Granada Theater is listed in 1950 with 1217 seats. The address given in the Film Daily is 24 West 1st Street.

Yes, the original Granada suffered major damage during a fire in the early fifties. The roof caved in and the only things left standing were the four walls. When rebuilt it had stadium type seating, at least for the rear of the theater, which was eventually to become theater #2. I remember that fire well as Cecil B. DeMille's "Greatest Show on Earth" was playing there at the time and I never got to see it.