Granada Theatre
110 E. 11th Street,
Anderson,
IN
46016
110 E. 11th Street,
Anderson,
IN
46016
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Principal Theaters Corp. of America, Publix
Previous Names: Grand Opera House
Nearby Theaters
Stephen T. Jackson, Madison County historian, published a history of Anderson theatres in the Daily Bulletin on December 6, 2009.
The Grand Opera House opened on October 22, 1895, with 1,400 seats. According to the Sanborn Maps of 1900, the Opera House adjoined the Grand Hotel at 1034 Main Street, in a separate building, and was entered through the hotel lobby. Following a remodel, it reopened as a movie theatre in February 1915. As vaudeville faded it was renamed the Granada Theatre in 1924 and began to show movies and the new entrance was opened on 11th Street. By 1934 Film Daily Year Book listed the 900-seat Granada Theatre as closed.
As reported in the Daily Bulletin, the Opera House was demolished in July 1949 and the Grand Hotel met its demise in January 1959 and the site was turned into a parking lot. Since 2004 the Anderson Police Department and the City Courts building has been located on the site.
Stephen Jackson mentioned other long gone and forgotten silent theaters. There was the Park Theatre at 122 E. 9th Street, the Bijou Theatre at 124 E. 9th Street, the Crystal Theatre at 116 E. 8th Street, and the Airdome at 2911 W. 11th Street. Less known were the Lyric Theatre, located on the north side of the public square on 8th Street and the Wynn Theatre, located on the west side of Main Street.
Opening between 1912 and 1918 were: Nickelodeon, 17 E. 9th Street; Cozy Theatre, 1022 Meridian Street; Orpheum Theatre, 912 Main Street; Princess Theatre, 1038 Meridian Street; Royal Theatre, 746 Main Street; Star Theatre, 932 Meridian Street; Starland Theatre, 1115 Meridian Street (in 1942 it became the Times Theatre); Isis Theatre, 19 E. 9th Street; Indiana Theatre, 920 Main Street; Meridian Theatre, 933 Meridian Street.
After World War II came: New Capitol Theatre, southwest corner of 13th Street & Meridian Street; Palace Theatre, northeast corner of 12th Street & Meridian Street; Victory Theatre, 1035 Meridian Street; Fawn Theatre, 924 Main Street; Regent Theatre, (formerly the Isis Theatre), 19 E. 9th Street; Ritz Theatre, 918 Meridian Street.
Mr. Jackson counted 36 theatres and locations in all, with 16 being on Meridian Street.
Contributed by
ron pierce
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The February 6, 1915 issue of Moving Picture World reported that the Grand Opera House at Anderson, Indiana, was being remodeled and had been leased to J. B. Dennison, who would operate it as a movie theater.
In early 1927 banker Neel McCullough and Fred Mustard were operating the Riviera, Starland and Granada theaters through their M&M Realty Company. In March 1927 M&M sold the three theaters for $250,000 to Col. Fred Levy, Lee Goldberg, and Sam and Harry Switow (dba Anderson Realty Company). McCullough, Levy, Goldberg and the Switows incorporated Anderson Theatrical Enterprises Corporation in March 1927 and began operating the Riviera, Starland and Granada on March 20, 1927. In October 1927 Anderson Theatres Corporation, owned by Levy, Goldberg and Leo Keiler, all of Louisville, KY, acquired the Riviera, Starland and Granada and affiliated with Principal Theatres Corporation, forming the West Coast circuit’s first group of Eastern theaters. In January 1930 Publix took possession of the Riviera, Starland, and Granada, leasing them from Principal. Publix assumed active management on January 11, 1930, though the deal was effective six days earlier. The Anderson Herald reported on January 12, 1930, that the Granada, one of the oldest theaters in the city, had been closed, except for intervals, for three years and probably would not reopen.