Rio Grande Theatre facts for kids
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Rio Grande Theatre
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 Location in New Mexico
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| Location | 211 N. Downtown Mall, Las Cruces, New Mexico |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architect | Thorman, Otto H. and Guy L. Frazer; Goetting, C.A. |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001352 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 2, 2004 |
The Rio Grande Theatre is a famous old building in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It first opened its doors on July 29, 1926, and has been a special place for movies and shows for a very long time. It was built by a team named Seale and Dyne and was first run by a company called Central Theatres Corporation from Denver.
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Early Days and First Movies
When the Rio Grande Theatre first opened, movies were very different! The very first movie shown there was a silent film called Mare Nostrum. This means there was no talking or sound coming from the film itself. Instead, music or sound effects would often be played live in the theatre.
New Owners and Sound Films
In October 1929, a big movie company called Fox West Coast Theatres bought the Rio Grande Theatre. This was an exciting time because movies were just starting to have sound! The Fox company quickly put in new equipment so the theatre could show "talkies" – movies with sound. The first sound movie was shown on October 20, 1929.
Surviving Challenges
The Rio Grande Theatre has been through a lot! In the early 1930s, it survived both an earthquake and a fire. Even with these big challenges, the theatre kept showing movies and entertaining people for many years.
Closing and Reopening
After decades of showing films, the theatre sadly closed in 1997 because of money problems. But the story didn't end there! A group called the Dona Ana Arts Council bought the theatre. They worked hard to fix it up and make it beautiful again. Thanks to their efforts, the Rio Grande Theatre reopened in 2005, ready to welcome new audiences for movies, plays, and other events.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Río Grande para niños
