Granada Theatre
1121 7th Avenue,
Beaver Falls,
PA
15010
1121 7th Avenue,
Beaver Falls,
PA
15010
4 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 50 comments
Again, this theatre should SADLY be noted as demolished.
This theatre is marked as closed and it has been demolished.
A book called “Beaver Falls: Gem of Beaver County,” by Kenneth Britten, says that the Granada was not new construction, but an extensive remodeling of the older New Colonial Theatre. This book is published by the Arcadia Publishing Company, and the author is (or has been) a member of the Beaver Falls Historical Society (Google Books preview.)
It says that the Colonial Theater was built in 1911, that it originally seated 300, and was renamed the New Colonial after being briefly closed in 1917. It was taken over by a Pittsburgh showman named only as S. Goodman in 1928, and subsequently remodeled and renamed.
I’ve been unable to find an S. Goodman mentioned in any of the trade publications from the period, such as The Moving Picture World. However, a snippet view of a 1929 issue of the trade publication The Lather mentions that architect Michael J. DeAngelis was designing a $500,000 theater project for Archie Fineman in Beaver Falls.
It does seem possible that at least parts of the 1911 Colonial Theatre building were incorporated into the Granada (the lower parts of the side walls, for example, might have dated from 1911,) but if Fineman did spend $500,000 on the project, the interior must have been quite opulent. The cost was well above the average for theaters of that size built at that time.
Yes, another sad story!
Another sad story,another one gone.
Found this set of demo photos through another flickr photographer.
View link
Joe: I like and I am pleased! Thank you!!
The pool links work for me, too. Flickr was probably having temporary indigestion.
Patsy: Check the Carlisle Theatre page. I posted a new link you’ll like.
Is anyone else having difficulty viewing the photos that have a “pool” number at the end? Yet the"cinemasignage" ones can be viewed?
Below is Elaine Savoldi’s reply to me in regards to the Granada Theatre. Elaine is based in Beaver Falls PA which is about 20 minutes from Beaver PA where the Granada was located.
Dear Patsy,
I am also saddened by the scheduled and certain demise of the Granada Theatre. I had the property listed for a time and that is why I put the information on Cinema Treasures, in the hopes that someone who would be able/willing to restore the theatre would discover it. I went so far as to send packets of information on the theatre with someone who attended a theatre convention in Las Vegas.
What also hurts is that my company, Town Center Associates, is heavily involved in downtown revitalization. Indeed, the Granada was on the waiting list to be put on the National Register of Historic Places, but none of the owners, nor the community, stepped forward to make sure that this very rare atmospheric theatre would be preserved. Restoring a theatre is an effort that needs community support.
I am not sure how I can help you because the process has already been started and I doubt can be reversed. Perhaps you could seek out other theatres in the country that still have a chance at being saved, and place your efforts there.
Sincerely,
Elaine Savoldi
“The auditorium was leveled with concrete and divided into tiny shops and offices. Above the suspended ceiling, the auditorium was left largely intact.” This quote was taken from the site http://www.spyndoctors.com/krooners.html
I can’t quite picture how this all must have looked…the word, strange comes to mind and very disturbing to think that the citizens of Beaver Falls didn’t band together to save this theatre. Even after it was closed for 13 years it was completely intact then and wouldn’t have taken much to restore it….then!
“This of course is on top of the other problems the building has such as the aforementioned ceiling.” Can anyone tell me about what was changed in regards to the original ceiling? Was a lowered ceiling put in and the original ceiling still remains?
And there was no email address provided to contacting Mr. Boak. If he were to get enough calls, it just might stop or at least delay the demolition. Look at the beautiful Fox in Atlanta……. it was saved at the 11th hour!
“Beaver Falls Mayor Karl Boak lamented the passing of the city landmark.” That’s nice to know, but it won’t save it come December 30th! My wish for the new year would be for someone to prove this community wrong and restore the Granada! Nothing is impossible!
posted by Patsy on Dec 27, 2009 at 12:42pmIf anyone is interested in contacting the Beaver Falls Mayor’s office in regards to the Granada, here is the address/number though time is running out for the Granada. A call would get to him much sooner!
Beaver Falls Mayor’s Office (Mr. Karl Boak)
715 15th Street, Beaver Falls, PA
(724) 847-2808‎
posted by Patsy on Dec 27, 2009 at 12:47pm
The spelling of her name was incorrectly typed..it is not Sovaldi, but rather Savoldi as in her email address though I wasn’t able to send an email to that address. If anyone wants to contact her, I suggest calling her busines number!
Native: I’m only familiar with this theatre through my CT membership so anyone can contact this theatre and let them know we aren’t in favor of it being demolished. I sent an email to Elaine Sovaldi () though it was deliverable so I left a phone message @ 724-728-0500. One of her posts goes back to 2005 so she and others have been trying to save this theatre for a very long time and time may not be on their side anymore. I will let everyone know what Elaine has to say when she calls me. I’m sure she will return my call since my message ended with “we have to talk”!
Patsy, can you do the contacting? You are more familiar with this theater than I am.
Here is a 1932 newspaper ad:
http://tinyurl.com/ydq6h92
David: I just found the flickr photos and am truly amazed after seeing them. I just can’t believe that Beaver Falls PA would adapt an urban renewal 1970’s mentality! Someone needs to contact someone who can step up to the plate and save this cinema treasure as December 30 is just around the corner!
And in this day and age, I can’t believe that Beaver Falls has chosen to bring this theatre down with its gorgeous facade like it was the 1970’s with 1970’s theatre mentality! Shame! Shame!
Sad to read that this theatre will be demolished. The architect, Michael DeAngelis is the same architect who designed my former hometown theatre in Westfield NY…the Grand Theatre. Though Beaver Falls City Administrator, Steve Johnson is quoted as saying…“It would be cheaper to build a new building”….it wouldn’t be the same, Mr. Johnson!
Demolishing this theater is a preservation travesty to all! The article references policians that doesn’t act on behalf of constituents and other theater preservationists and patrons. It is not at all beyond restorable.
Has City Council ever heard of acquiring grants after applying for State & National Register status? Landmark status? Working with the League of Historic American Theatres?
SHAME ON PA CITY COUNCIL!
It should be mentioned that in the link that CWalczak posted, there is another great website embedded within the readers comments section at the bottom of the article.
It includes some great pictures of the Granada and even it’s interior.
So be sure to read all the way down.
It seems there’s no mention in the article on what happened or why the non for profit effort failed. Though it seemed as recent as 2008 if I read correctly.
Longisland…Is there such a thing as the perfect Theatre? I mean even one that’s old, Shame is even though it'has been left to rot, it’s still probably better built than what you get today…
This theater is about to be demolished: story here:
View link