Huntridge Theater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Huntridge Theater
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Huntridge Theater in 2010
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 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1208 E. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, Nevada |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1944 |
| Built by | Pioneer Construction Co. |
| Architect | Lee, S. Charles |
| Architectural style | Moderne; International |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000686 |
| Added to NRHP | July 22, 1993 |
The Huntridge Theater is a famous building in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is known for its cool Streamline Moderne style. This theater is so important that it's listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. A famous architect named S. Charles Lee designed it.
The Huntridge Theater first opened in 1944 as a movie theater. Over the years, it also hosted live stage shows and concerts. For almost 17 years, the theater was empty and unused. But in 2021, it was bought by a new owner. The plan is to fix it up completely and open it again soon!
Contents
Discovering the Huntridge Theater's Past
Building a New Theater in 1944
Work on the Huntridge Theater started on April 6, 1944. This was announced in the local newspaper, the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The theater officially opened its doors on October 10, 1944. It was a big deal, with room for 950 people. The theater even had special projection equipment. This equipment was made very carefully to prevent eye strain.
The theater was first run by the Commonwealth Theater Company. Later, the Huntridge Theater Company took over. The land for the theater was once owned by a rich businessman, Leigh S. J. Hunt. He left it to his son, Henry Leigh Hunt. The Huntridge Theater and the area around it are named after the Hunt family.
Fun Times and Big Changes
In 1951, a company called Nevada Theater Corp. took over the Huntridge. They were managed by Lloyd Katz. He made a big change by allowing everyone to come to the theater, no matter their race. This was a very important step.
Kids in the neighborhood loved Mr. Katz. He charged only 25 cents for Saturday morning movies! These "Kiddie Matinees" showed Disney films, Roy Rogers westerns, and Looney Tunes cartoons. In 1963, the Huntridge Theater even hosted the very first showing of the movie Love Is a Ball.
In 1977, Frank Silvaggio bought the theater. He changed it into a two-screen movie theater in 1980. But in 1992, Richard Lenz leased the theater. He removed the dividing wall and turned it into a place for live music and shows. It became known as the Huntridge Performing Arts Theater.
Saving the Huntridge's History
Richard Lenz worked with a person who helps save old buildings, Elizabeth von Till Warren. She helped get the Huntridge Theater added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This list helps protect important historical places.
Elizabeth Warren had many questions about the theater's early days. Why was such a big theater built in a small Las Vegas during World War II? How was it allowed when building materials were hard to get? Her son, Jonathan Warren, later wrote a book in 2015 to answer these questions. All this research helped the Huntridge Theater get added to the City of Las Vegas Historic Register in 2021.
The Roof Collapse and Later Years
On July 28, 1995, a punk rock band called Circle Jerks was supposed to play at the theater. But hours before the show, the roof of the theater collapsed! Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. The band's singer, Keith Morris, said they just played in the parking lot for the people who were still there.
The theater was built during World War II. At that time, steel was very hard to find. So, the roof was made with Douglas Fir pine wood. This wood got very hot in the Las Vegas sun for 50 years. Eventually, it just gave out.
A group called Friends of the Huntridge Theatre, Inc. tried to save the theater. But the group stopped its efforts in 2002. The Huntridge Theater finally closed its doors on July 31, 2004, almost 60 years after it first opened.
New Hope for the Huntridge
For many years, the theater sat empty. In 2012, a local group called The Huntridge Foundation worked to save the theater. They collected old photos and stories from people who remembered the theater. They planned to give these items to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries.
In 2013, there was a plan to fix up the theater. It even got a new coat of paint outside. But the plans didn't go forward at that time.
Finally, on March 31, 2021, a company called Dapper Companies bought the theater for $4 million. The owner, J Dapper, had wanted to buy the Huntridge for almost ten years. He had been working to improve the area around the theater. The company plans to spend about $10 million to fix up the theater. They hope to finish the work within three years.
On April 7, 2023, Dapper Companies held a special event. They turned on the theater's cool neon sign again! People could go inside to see old photos in the lobby. They could also see the main stage and enjoy live music. It was also announced that Soho Playhouse will help run the theater and book shows when it reopens.
