The Granada Theatre is officially open, after millions of dollars and years of work were spent to restore the historic building.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was held just before noon today, 79 years to the day after the Granada’s original dedication.
“That’s why we chose that date,” said Duane Henrickson, executive director of the Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance, the group that made the renovation possible.
In all, the group raised almost $3 million from 2000 to 2003. The alliance was formed in 1994 with the specific goals of saving the theater from destruction and giving it a new life.
“This is one of the most special ribbon cuttings that’s happened in quite some time,” said Richard Garber, board chairman of the chamber of commerce.
The Granada was first opened on Oct. 3, 1929, and the ceremony included a dedication speech by William Allen White. The Spanish-style theater, planned and built by Boller Brothers of Kansas City, was expected to cost $225,000.
According to a Gazette article published Sept. 6, 1928, “The new theater, which will seat 1,500, or 500 more than the Strand, will follow the general policy which has been in force at the Strand, with pictures, vaudeville and occasional road companies being presented.
“Equipped with a large stage, capable of handling the largest road companies, and outfitted throughout with the most modern devices for comfort and for the presentation of every conceivable stage production, the new theater will be the finest in any town of the same size in Kansas. A refrigerating system in addition to the regular ventilating fans will be installed, and, if the vogue for ‘talkies’ is still popular, the building will be wired for sound fixtures,” the article stated.
Early on New Year’s Day 1959, the Granada was damaged by a fire that started in an electric organ in the orchestra pit. Aside from smoke damage, the fire destroyed stage curtains, the movie screen, a grand piano and several rows of seats. After the fire, the theater was closed for several months for cleaning and remodeling.
In the intervening years, the theater’s popularity faded. Eventually, the building fell into disrepair. The Granada closed in 1981.
In 1985, the Granada was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
It was still in danger of demolition in the early 1990s, so the Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance was formed. Renovations to the theater began right away, but progress at first was slow. Work on the exterior of the building started in 2001, and the new marquee, which is a replica of the original, was installed in 2002.
On Dec. 21, 2003, the group finished its fundraising campaign to finance the restoration.
“In all, the cost was about $2.8 million,” Henrickson said.
The alliance had originally hoped to reopen the Granada in 2006, but repeated delays forced the date to be pushed back several times.
The theater, restored as closely as possible to its original style, is more versatile than the original. It is intended to be used for a mix of activities from shows to business meetings to private functions. In addition to the 419 permanent balcony seats, the theater is designed to allow different seating styles on the main floor, depending on the event. In all, the theater can seat 818 people.
Shortly before the ribbon cutting, Mary Johnson and Mary Wellnitz stood on the balcony and looked out across the theatre.
“We used to come here every Sunday,” Johnson said. “I never thought I’d see it finished. It’s beautiful.”
The first show in the new Granada will be Thursday. The Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $24 for adults and $10 for children. ESU students can attend for free. Tickets are available at the Emporia Arts Council, 618 Mechanic St., Sweet Granada and the Granada Coffee Co., adjacent to the theater in the 800 block of Commercial Street or by calling 343-6473.
The Granada will have grand opening activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11. The theater will be open to the public.
srochat (Scott Rochat) says...
This has been a long time coming ... indeed, for a while, it seemed like it would NEVER come. Congratulations to everyone who kept at it and finished the job! The next time I'm in Emporia, I will make sure to see this "jewel" in its finished form.
--Scott Rochat
Longmont, Colo.
October 15, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
It's very lovely and certainly a great deal of very hard work and special talent went into this project. After the show last week, I was saddened to see the lobby floor littered with spilled popcorn, wrappers, popcorn boxes, paper, cups. Does anybody really care anymore?
October 16, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gr8ggogli (anonymous) says...
What happened to Bones? why isn't he in the picture or the story?
October 17, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )