KiMo Theater

To see a what the Kimo's exterior looked like prior to its 2000 restoration, see this 1980 photograph at this link. From the Library of Congress.

Oops, wrong link for the above comment...here is the correct link.

The corrected link looks more like the KIMO we went to on a cross country vacation in 1976.

Here is another link to a photograph of the KiMo dated 1943, showing its exterior when it had a vertical marquee. Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt" is playing, according to the marquee. From the Library of Congress.

The current seating chart for the Kimo Theatre shows 518 Seats on the Main Floor and 352 seats on the Balcony level for a total of 870 seats.

870 is incorrect. The seating charts on our webpage show the 'as intended' installation during the last renovation. The actual seating capacity is 650.

City of Albuquerque link to the history. Be sure to also click on the link in the first sentence for even more information:
http://www.cabq.gov/planning/histpres/kimo.html

old postcard:
http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/index.html

try again:
http://www.andreas-praefcke.de/carthalia/usa/images/usa_albuquerque_kimo.jpg

A 1933 photo of the Kimo Theater can be seen here:
http://www.class.uidaho.edu/arch453/Urban/Kimo_Theater_1933.jpg

Here is a website with photos and some history of the Kimo Theater in Albuquerque. There is also a virtual tour of the Kimo Theater at this site.

A Wurlitzer organ Opus 1667 Style D SP was installed in the KiMo Theater on 7/13/1927.

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/f7yfz

Here is a recent photo of the Kimo theater.

I was recently in Albuquerque on business, and stumbled upon the Kimo. It is open every day for touring, and the theatre is stunning.
The restoration is near flawless and is a incredible example of the Southwest Pueblo Indian style. The Kimo features murals by the German
artist Karl Von Hassler (who had his studio in the upstairs offices for a time) titled The Seven Cities of Cibola; they're a spectacular highlight. A visit to the Kimo is must for classic theatre buffs. You will not be disappointed.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977

Kimo Theater ** (added 1977 - Building - #77000920)
421 Central Ave., Albuquerque
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: McKee,Robert E., Boller Bros.
Architectural Style: No Style Listed
Area of Significance: Architecture, Art, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Auditorium, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade

This is a 2007 photo of the KiMo Theater.

A more recent photo of the Kimo Theater can be seen here.

I don't think it's right to call the style of this theatre "Pueblo Deco", since that is a term that must have been made up by someone in the past thirty years or so. Art Deco was virtually unknown in Albuquerque in 1927, and was just barely beginning in the U.S. in general. It's highly unlikely that the Boller Bros. somehow fused native and modernistic elements to produce "Pueblo Deco". This would be especially true since Art Deco was not called Art Deco in 1927. It was referred to as "Art Moderne". I'm sure that "Pueblo Deco" was not used by the architects, and that the term wasn't used at all until the 1970's, if even that early. It's probably a term made up by someone not knowledgeable enough to know how inaccurate it is. There really are no "Art Deco" themes in this theatre.

Ziggy, Pueblo Deco wasn't a term when the theater was built, but has since become a term. Read the theater's own website which so describes it as Pueblo Deco. The term Art Deco is often used to describe themes of the period.

Yes Howard, but just because a term is often used doesn't make it correctly used. I've seen "Art Deco" used to describe items and styles that are way outside the art deco period and style. The term "Art Deco" correctly refers only to items who's style is inspired by the themes of the 1925 Arts Decoratifs exposition in Paris. This style was a reaction against the historicism and romanticism which had been driving the decorative arts and architecture. The Kimo theatre, with its obivious roots in Native American style is a wonderful and unique expression of the historicism that american architects loved in the 1920's, but it is not "Deco" is any way, neithier "Pueblo" not "Art". Again, I suspect the name was made up by someone who either wanted to ride on the popularity of art deco, or because it sounded plausible, but it's a disservice to the actual style of the theatre to call it something that it's not.

This is a recent photo of the Kimo.

A 1984 view of the Kimo Theater in Albuquerque.

Proscenium Arch framing stage:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lloydthrap/2543411407/

more facing stage including curtain:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lloydthrap/2543411063/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wjohnpalmer/2073251117/

detail of curtain & Proscenium Arch:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lloydthrap/2543386063/

Bison head:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wjohnpalmer/2074042442/

This is a new link for the Library of Congress photo.

Another photo of the Kimo is here.

Howard, did you take the photos yourself? They are really great and clear photos.

This is a nice photo.

1986 photo of the Kimo Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c31%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=2&ProductID=30157

The Kimo in the early 1990s:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34152329@N06/3472105753/in/set-72157617054310351/

Ziggy:

The term "Pueblo Deco" was coined by architectural historian Marcus Wiffen who certainly did know what he was talking about.

He used it to describe a style of ornamentation that was a hybrid based on Native designs from baskets, pottery, jewelry and such and the more Moderne designs that we now call Art Deco - a term that was only invented around 1968 or so. We could argue about if all the ornamentation were stripped off the KiMo whether we would have a Deco shell of a Pueblo Revival shell, but I suspect that you'd loose were we to take a vote among deco enthusiasts if you still maintain that the KiMo is not a deco theatre.

Yes, its well worth the 15 minute stop as you could probably find a parking space almost outside on old Rt. 66 itself! Besides its FREE. Here's a virtual tour http://tinyurl.com/d8vtyz Who knows, you might run into the ghost http://tinyurl.com/lfdeyz
Hasta Luego ! Oh, check itsatrip.org for more exciting things to do/see in The Q.

This is the Kimo at night.

A very atractive theatre. I am glad it is in good hands.

Carptrash:

I am not writing this in an argumentative tone. I just wanted to state that up front so that people won't "read" an attitude where there isn't meant to be one.

Your post regarding the phrase "Pueblo Deco" proves my point. I stated that it must have been made up by someone in the last 30 years or so because it's certainly not a term that the architects themselves would have used. You state that the term was coined in 1968. As an architectural historian myself, my contention is that the Kimo is not art deco. Even if art deco enthusiasts (of which I am one) were to say that it is, it would only show that those enthusiasts are misinformed.

Again, I am not writing this to start an argument, and if you want to continue this discussion I will be very happy to exchange ideas and comments with you via email. I love discussing architecture with anyone who will listen, and I promise to keep things on a professional, and good natured, level.

Carptrash:

I already find myself having to write a clarification. You did not state that "Pueblo Deco" was coined in 1968, but that "Art Deco" was coined in 1968 (a fact I was already aware of), but it sort of makes me think.....if I want to really be a stickler about things, I wouldn't use the phrase "Art Deco" either, since it also was just "made up" by someone long after the style came and went.

Oh well, you all go ahead and use the phrase "Pueblo Deco" all you want, and I won't use it, and we can all be happy.

My invititation to discuss architecture via email still stands.

Here is a recent photo.

This is a nice photo of the Kimo.