Granada Theatre
408 E. Commercial Street,
Springfield,
MO
65803
408 E. Commercial Street,
Springfield,
MO
65803
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The Granada Theatre launched on January 12, 1937 with Joe E. Brown in “Sons o' Guns.” It was closed by police on August 10, 158 with a triple feature of “Hollywood Peep Show,” “Raw Confession of a Nudist.” and “Chained for Life.” However, the police allowed all patrons to finish the final showing of “Chained for Life” to avoid having to provide refunds. Dickinson Theatre offered the building for sale “cheap.”
DJ Charles Burton took on the location showing “art” films as the New Lyric Theatre opening September 4, 1959. That lasted one month. The theatre then became a house of worship, the Freedom Temple in 1960. In 1961, it resumed as a live concert venue, the Lyric Theatre, with live country music. it ended operations on July 31, 1964. It became a furniture store before demolition.
The photo above of the empty lot at 408 E. Commercial St. is the correct location for the Granada. Here’s a partial photo of it in the late 1940s: http://php.news-leader.com/beforeafter/?image=50
This information is wrong. I attended the opening of the Grenada in 1939 when the Ritz Brothers in “The Three Musketeers” was shown. After that it showed third-run movies for years, plus serials on the weekends. It was open all through the 1950s as far as I know and closed when TV caused many theaters to shut down. You can still see where it was when you see street views of the south side of Commercial Street several blocks east of Boonville, Ave.
Can’t tell if it still stands or not. There’s a building 1-2 spots over from the Google address that may be it – plain brick wall on the side. Remodeled storefront looks currently vacant. But can’t be sure if that was it or not. At the exact address there’s a vacant lot.