Granada Theatre
1020 Massachusetts Street,
Lawrence,
KS
66044
1020 Massachusetts Street,
Lawrence,
KS
66044
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Commonwealth Amusement Corp., United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: Carl Boller, Robert O. Boller
Firms: Boller Brothers
Functions: Concerts, Nightclub
Nearby Theaters
The Granada Theatre opened September 7, 1934. It was designed by the Boller Brothers architectural firm of Kansas City. It was operated by Commonwealth Amusement from at least 1941 to 1950. The Granada Theatre was closed November 16, 1989.
The Granada Theatre officially opened as a nightclub in 1993. Currently the Granada Theatre hosts live music and DJs. Not much of the original theatre remains, the decorative plaster has been removed. A bar is set up in the lobby, the restrooms are still located in the balcony.
Contributed by
Clay Jarratt
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
This theatre originally seated 920. According to the Boller Brothers Record of work this theatre is attributed to the Los Angeles office.
Old photo from 1952.
http://www.uss-rangerguy.com/Kansas/Granada.htm
1997 photo – sure isn’t as nice as my previous 1952 post:
http://www.todddavis.com/showpics.html
The interior is basically as follows. There is about a 5 foot deep pit in front of the stage, which is connected to stairs to the upper level. There is a circular bar on the left corner, and band merchandise is on the right. The floor of the upper floor level is slanted slightly.
As the description above said, there WAS a balcony. It is more like a small platform now, with restrooms on the right. I would say its like 10 wide and 30 feet long. The concessions on the lower level is now a bar. There is still some decor by the old exits, but thats about it. It is still a good place for shows.
Original facades of the Lawrence, KS, GRANADA Theatre and Oklahoma City’s PLAZA Theatre are somewhat identical. Boller Bros designed both of these movie houses.
Seating capacity for each cinema was around 900, though I doubt the interiors matched as the Plaza did not have a balcony.
From 2010 photos of the Granada Theatre Here and Here in Lawrence.
Last day of operation as a movie theater was Thursday, November 16, 1989—a week before Thanksgiving—showing Woody Allen’s CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS. There had been major property tax hikes just before the closing—as much as 100% local increases on businesses—which probably didn’t help. Granada’s Lawrence KS Journal-World final ads were listed under a United Artists Theaters banner (and beforehand the previous year as Commonwealth and then UA-Commonwealth).