KiMo Theater
423 Central Avenue NW,
Albuquerque,
NM
87102
423 Central Avenue NW,
Albuquerque,
NM
87102
10 people
favorited this theater
Opened on September 19, 1927, with an original seating capacity of 1,321, the Albuquerque KiMo Theater is ornately decorated in the Pueblo Deco style, which combines the Indian cultures of the Southwest with the flavor of Art Deco. Stylish in every way, the KiMo almost met the wrecking ball in 1977, but was saved and in that year was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The KiMo was beautifully restored in September, 2000 and is now a prime venue for concerts, civic events, and the performing arts. The theater’s resurgence represents the city’s recent upturn with new development and stores popping up throughout downtown.
As the focal point of the burgeoning arts community, the KiMo is a proud reminder of the past and a symbol of the city’s future.
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Recent comments (view all 38 comments)
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.
Very Very Nice.
From the 1940s a postcard view of Central Avenue along with the Kimo Theater in Albuquerque.
An article about the KiMo with pictures is here.
The December 2012 issue of “Signs of the Times” has a long article on the KiMo. Although it’s mostly about the blade sign, it gives quite a bit of historical background on the theater as well. Unfortunately the article is not available online.