Elks Building and Theater facts for kids
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| Address | 117 E. Gurley St. |
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| Location | Prescott, Arizona |
| Type | Theater and Performing Arts Center |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1904 |
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Elks Building and Theater
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
| Built | c.1905 |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| MPS | Prescott Territorial Buildings MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 78003226 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1978 |
The Prescott Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center is a really old and beautiful theater in Prescott, Arizona. It was built over 100 years ago in 1905! This theater can seat more than 500 people. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This theater was one of many "Elks' Opera Houses" built across the country. But guess what? Today, it's the only one still standing!
Contents
A Long History
When the theater first opened, it hosted all sorts of fun events. There were plays, live performances, and big dances. Around 1915, silent movies started to be shown here. Then, in 1929, "talkies" arrived, meaning movies with sound! Movies continued to be a big part of the theater until the 1980s.
New Owners and Big Changes
After many years and different owners, the theater was given to the Arizona Community Foundation in the early 1980s. They wanted to bring the theater back to its original amazing look.
In 2001, the City of Prescott bought the opera house. The Foundation and the City worked together to start fixing it up. They restored the lobby, dressing rooms, and other parts of the building. The main restoration work was finished in 2010. This big project cost about $1.75 million!
A New Chapter
In 2012, the City sold the buildings to a non-profit group. This group is called The Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center (ETPAC). After finishing the theater's restoration, ETPAC started planning to fix up the three-story Elks Lodge #330 building.
Amazing Renovations
The new restoration project continued for several years. By December 2016, all the construction was complete. Many cool new things were added to the lodge building.
Modern Dance Studios
Two super modern dance studios were built. One has a special "floating Hickory" dance floor. The other has a "sprung Marley" surface. These floors are designed to be great for dancers. Each studio has its own adjustable lights, heating, and air conditioning. They also have awesome sound systems!
Music Practice Booths
On the second floor, you'll find five special Wenger music and voice isolation booths. These are perfect for practicing music or singing without disturbing others. There are also plans to add a digital recording board.
Event Spaces and Kitchen
The third floor of the ETPAC has two separate banquet halls. These halls can hold up to 200 people. The entire floor has a great sound system. A brand new chef's kitchen was also installed. It has warming ovens, grills, griddles, and more!
Hidden Treasures and Original Charm
During the renovations, the builders tried hard to save original parts of the building. That's why you can still see the original barrel ceilings. These ceilings have cool tin stamps.
They also uncovered a hidden staircase! This staircase was saved, along with an original stained glass "clock." The Brotherhood of Elks placed this clock in the building. It points to 11 o'clock. This is when Elks members traditionally make a toast to friends who are not there.
And don't forget "Bill"! Bill is the original copper Elk statue. He was made locally and still lives on the roof of the performing arts center.
A Special Mission
The ETPAC is a non-profit organization. This means it's a charity! When they bought the building, a special fund was set up. This fund helps pay for the theater's ongoing operation and maintenance.
The main goal of the ETPAC is to make the community of Prescott better. They do this by offering space for people to practice, rehearse, and learn performing arts.
The Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center is a three-story building. It was built around 1905. It is about 95 feet (29 m) wide and 125 feet (38 m) deep. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
