KiMo Theater facts for kids
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Kimo Theatre
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| Location | 423 Central Avenue NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Boller Brothers; Carl Boller |
| Architectural style | Pueblo Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000920 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 2, 1977 |
The KiMo Theatre is a special old theater and a historic landmark in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It's located right on the corner of Central Avenue and Fifth Street. Built in 1927, it has a very unique style called Pueblo Deco. This style mixes the rounded shapes of traditional adobe buildings, like those found in Pueblo Revival architecture, with cool designs from Native American cultures. It also has the tall, straight lines and repeated patterns you see in Art Deco buildings.
Contents
The KiMo Theatre's History
How the KiMo Theatre Was Built
The idea for the KiMo Theatre came from an Italian-American couple, Oreste and Maria Bachechi. Maria Bachechi wanted to create something special to honor the Native American people. They had welcomed her family into their community.
After looking at many designs, they chose one from Carl Boller. He was an architect from the Boller Brothers firm. Carl Boller studied the cultures and building styles of the Southwest very carefully. His design for the theater was a three-story building made of stucco. It had stepped shapes, like traditional pueblo buildings. It also featured the strong vertical lines of Art Deco skyscrapers. Both the outside and inside of the theater show many Native American designs. For example, there's a row of terra cotta shields above the third-floor windows.
Choosing the KiMo's Name
In June 1927, the Albuquerque Journal newspaper held a contest. They wanted people to help choose a name for the new theater. The winner would get $50. The rules said the name had to be "Indian" and fit the theater's unique style. It also couldn't have more than six letters.
More than 500 ideas came in from all over the state. Pablo Abeita, who used to be the governor of Isleta Pueblo, won the contest. He suggested the name "Kimo." This word means "mountain lion" in some Native American languages. It's sometimes thought of as "king of the beasts."
The Grand Opening of the KiMo
The KiMo Theatre first opened its doors on September 19, 1927. The opening night was a big event. It included Native American dancers and singers. There was also a performance on the theater's new $18,000 Wurlitzer theater organ. The main show was a comedy film called Painting the Town.
Many important people attended the opening. These included Senator Sam G. Bratton and former governor Arthur T. Hannett. Famous Hollywood stars like Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks sent messages to congratulate them. Even director Cecil B. DeMille sent a note. He said the theater showed how much the movie industry was growing.
Changes Over the Years
In 1935, the Bachechi family joined their theater business with Joseph Barnett's. This included the Sunshine Theater. This meant most of Albuquerque's theaters were owned by the same group. By 1952, their company, Albuquerque Exhibitors, ran 10 local theaters. They had 170 employees.
In 1956, the company leased its theaters to a chain called Frontier Theaters. Then, in 1967, Commonwealth Theaters took over. Commonwealth closed the KiMo Theatre in 1970. After that, it was leased for a few years by Albuquerque Music Theater. Later, it started showing movies for adults.
Saving and Restoring the KiMo
By 1977, the theater was in bad shape because of a fire. The City of Albuquerque offered to buy the building for a very low price. They said they would tear it down if the family didn't sell. The Bachechi family decided it was important to save the theater. They sold it to the City of Albuquerque so it could be preserved.
Since then, the KiMo has been restored many times. The goal is to make it look as grand as it did when it first opened. Today, it is open again for performances. The most recent restoration finished in 2000. This included new seats and carpet. A new main stage curtain was added. They also put in a new tech booth and hidden lighting. The original proscenium arch was rebuilt. After this work, the theater could seat 650 people.
In 2011, the city had a new neon sign made. It looks just like the theater's first sign from 1929. That original sign was taken down in the 1950s. The new sign is about 24 feet (7.3 m) tall and 5 feet (1.5 m) wide. It cost $16,000 and was put up in June 2011.
The KiMo Theatre's Ghost Story
The Legend of Bobby Darnall
Some people say the KiMo Theatre is haunted. The legend tells of a six-year-old boy named Bobby Darnall. He was sadly killed in 1951 when a water heater exploded in the theater's lobby. The story claims that Bobby's ghost caused problems during a play in 1974. This play was A Christmas Carol. The ghost was supposedly upset because staff had removed donuts. They had hung these donuts on pipes backstage to make him happy.
Investigating the Ghost Story
A writer named Benjamin Radford looked into this legend. He found that the A Christmas Carol play actually happened in 1986, not 1974. He also talked to two people who were part of that play. They did not remember anything unusual happening.
Radford concluded that the story about the ruined play was just a legend. He said it was "folklore and fiction." He also spoke with Bobby Darnall's brothers and sisters. They told him they felt sad that their brother's story was being used this way. They did not like the claims that he was "eating doughnuts or ruining performances."
KiMo's Unique Architecture and Design
Pueblo Deco Style
The KiMo Theatre is a fantastic example of Pueblo Deco. This style is very rare. It mixes elements from Pueblo Revival architecture, which uses shapes from traditional Native American pueblos, with the modern look of Art Deco. This blend shows a unique mix of Southwestern Native American culture and early 20th-century modern building trends.
Inside the KiMo Theatre
The inside of the theater is just as special. It has detailed designs inspired by Southwestern Native American cultures. You can see zig-zag patterns and symbols. There are also murals that show traditional Native American themes. All these cultural elements work together. They help honor the rich heritage of the region.
Gallery
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Interior of the KiMo theater.
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KiMo technician Dennis Potter shows investigator Benjamin Radford the site of a 1951 explosion which spurred a ghost story.
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Shrine at the KiMo theater where, by tradition, cast and crew leave offerings for the resident boy ghost.
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Interior of the theatre
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Theater detail
See also
In Spanish: Teatro KiMo para niños
