El Rey Theatre
622 Central Avenue SW,
Albuquerque,
NM
87102
622 Central Avenue SW,
Albuquerque,
NM
87102
2 people
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Related Websites
Historic El Rey (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Commonwealth Theaters Corp.
Architects: J.B. Burwinkle
Functions: Live Music Venue
Styles: Mission Revival
Previous Names: Reel Art Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jan 23, 2004 — The El Rey Celebrates Its Grand Reopening
This historic former movie theatre opened on June 27, 1941. On July 30, 1969 it became the Reel Art Theatre screening adult movies. It was closed in 1972. It became a nightclub. It is located on the old Route 66. By 2019 it was operated as a live music venue.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Don, It opened as the El Rey Theatre (in 1940’s and 1950’s editions of Film Daily Yearbook), then (I believe) its final times as a movie theatre it was re-named Reel Theatre. It has now gone back to its original name El Rey.
Ah, that clears that up. Things are never as simple as they seem around here!
I drove through Albuquerque last year with this theater on a list of places to photograph. Somehow I missed it.
Here is a March 1948 ad from the Albuquerque Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/4ldxml
The El Rey in 1995.
View link
This evening’s “Better Call Saul” episode with the twin (prop) pay telephones was set along the outer wall of the El Ray Theatre.
June 27th, 1941 grand opening ad in photo section.
Reopened as a adult theatre called Reel Art on July 30th, 1969 by Commonwealth Theatres. Its grand opening ad (outside of the CW listings) can be found in the photo section. Closed 1972.
Boxoffice, April 22, 1950: “Claude Graves has sold the El Rey at Albuquerque, N. M., to Marlin Butler, who now has three theatres there”
Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 11, 1952: “Albuquerque Exhibitors Inc. have bought the El Rey and La Sambea from Marlin Butler. Butler still retains the Ernie Pyle and Sunset drive-in.”
Live music venue today.
Official website below uses 622 Central Avenue SW as the address.
https://elreylive.com/
I think I saw Buckwheat Zydeco here around 1990.