Sunshine Theatre

Through the years with “GWTW”: Boxoffice

Thanks ken mc.

I’m at my wit’s end. I first attended the Sunshine in 1973 for GONE WITH THE WIND, and my immature mind could not put a finger on what was wrong. I attended regularly in the late 1970s when it was a repertory house, and I still could not put my finger on what was wrong. Now I can. The entire interior of the theatre was drastically remodeled in 1948 in art moderne style. The only remaining trace of architect Henry C Trost’s and the anonymous decorator’s original design is the plaster mold surrounding the proscenium. Many moons ago I went through the microfilms of the local papers from circa May 1924 and found a single illustration of the original interior: a detail of an exit door, which was framed by three arches, all traces of which have been erased forever. The Henry Trost archives appear to have nothing about the Sunshine. The Albuquerque Public Library has nothing. The Albuquerque Museum has no illustrations of the original interior, and UNM’s Center for Southwest Research has papers relating only to the hideous 1948 remodeling. Does anyone, anyone, anyone at all have illustrations of the original 1924 interior? Many thanks!

When theatres are allowed to deteriote and go down hill like that, it’s clearly a wake-up call that it’s demise is around the corner, so to speak. Not a good sign, imho.

Here are two 1983 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

Here is a recent photo. Compare it to the photo that Don posted. When was the marquee replaced?

This is the website for the Sunshine Theater.

The Sunshine Theater is now a disgrace. I paid $30 to see a major musician there last night. Because it was “General Admission,” I got there early and waited outside in the cold for an hour (they also opened late). Patrons were frisked like prisoners upon entry. The venue seems to be unheated; it was VERY cold inside. It is decrepid, dirty and in ill-repair. The bathrooms are like the worst bus station you’ve ever been in; stinky, no soap, stall doors don’t even close. I’ve lived in under-developed countries and have rarely been in a theater that is so gross. I am embarrassed for Albuquerque. Hopefully someone will buy this building and rennovate.

A Hillgreen-Lane organ Opus 755 Size 3/14 was installed in the Sunshine Theater in 1923.