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Granada Theater

Introduction

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The Granada Theater has entertained visitors in The Dalles since it was built in 1930. It was the first movie theater west of the Mississippi River to show "talkies" and its distinctive Moorish Revival architecture makes it one of most recognizable landmarks in the city. Notable features include domed towers, an arcaded parapet, horseshoe-arched windows with twisted spiral columns, and a marquee that wraps around the southeast corner. It is a contributing property of the The Dalles Commercial Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Built in 1930, the Granada Theater was the first theater west of the Mississipi River to show "talkies." It also a fine example of Moorish Revival architecture.

Built in 1930, the Granada Theater was the first theater west of the Mississipi River to show "talkies." It also a fine example of Moorish Revival architecture.

Backstory and Context

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Architect William Cutts designed the theater (he designed a total of around 60 theaters for the Universal Film Corporation). The Granada was built during the peak of the silent film period but it included new sound technologies called the Vitaphone and Movietone, which enabled it to show new "talkie" films. Interestingly, the building plans originally had a room where mothers could watch movies with their babies and not bother other patrons. The Granada was restored between 1993-1996 and operated for a few years, showing movies and hosting live performances. However, it was closed during the 2000s. The city bought it in 2010 but it appears that plans to renovate it fell through. The current owners bought the Granada in 2017 and proceeded to restore the old theater. Today it shows classic movies and hosts live performances.

Sources

Dodds, Linda et al. "The Dalles Commercial Historic District." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. November 4, 1986. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/86002953_text.

Doussard, Robin. "The Dalles busy historic theater." Oregon Business. September 2010. Retrieved from the WebArchive August 18, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20110215105508/http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/90-september-2010/4000-the-dalles-buys-historic-theater.

"Granada Theater." Cinema Treasures. Accessed August 18, 2020. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2019.

"Granada Theater." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed August 18, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=112027.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Ian Poellet, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grenada_Theater_-_The_Dalles_Oregon.jpg

Additional Information