Phoenix Theater
326 West Washington Street,
Phoenix,
AZ
85003
326 West Washington Street,
Phoenix,
AZ
85003
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Located at 326 West Washington Street, in Phoenix, Arizona. Housed in what was originally the Dorris Opera House built in the late 19th century. Heavily remodeled over the years and finally torn down.
Upstairs was used by the Elks Club for years. The building was three stories high with offices and two stores on each side at ground level. There was a simple marquee and vertical sign. After entering you had to walk down a long corridor to reach the theater in back.
There was a mural on the ceiling of three North American Indian maidens. Mild Art Deco painted decoration.
Contributed by
Ron Heberlee
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Here is a vintage postcard view of the Dorris Opera House (called the Elks Opera House on the postcard).
After looking at my photos of this theater, I see that the three sided marquee had phoenix birds rising from flames at the top. It must have been something else lit up at night.
This 1938 image is supposed to show the auditorium of the Phoenix Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. But I don’t see any American Indian maidens on the ceiling, so it could be of some other theatre. However, the gals could have been removed for what might be a “modernization” of the original auditorium:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/phoenix01.jpg
When I was a youing kid my parent would sometimes take us to the Phoenix Theatre. It had to be the early/mid fifties. The theatre had past its prime by then and was somewhat grungy and just plain in need of a good cleaning. I remember it was the only one we could afford. Little kids were 10 cents and adults were 25 cents. Sometimes we walked; must have been winter. Sometimes we must have been wealthy and drove in our old Model A Ford.
It was cool inside and I remember the Indian Maidens on the ceiling. That was a true work of beautiful art except I remember a long crack going through the art work. I wondered forever how they painted that, why and how scary it must have been to be working at such a height.
I remember movies I did not really care for at that tme such as Dancing In The Rain, Meet Me In St. Louis, Wake Of The Red Witch (that one really scared me). I have since come to admire and greatly appreciate these wonderful movies!
Here is another photo of the Dorris Opera House:
http://tinyurl.com/6aw6xo
From the 1940s a postcard view of the Rialto Theater in Phoenix.
Does anyone remember the AZTEC, or the AZTECA theatre, that was approximately inthis area of Phoenix??? – DAVE