Opening of Plaza Theater in 1930

Opening of Plaza Theater in 1930

A huge crowd accompanied the opening of the Plaza Theater on September 12, 1930. Designed as a modern film house with the flexibility of presenting stage shows, the Plaza eventually hosted popular traveling shows and movies. Its size (capacity of 2,410), elaborate decor, and technical innovations made it stand out: While the exterior facade was designed to be reminiscent of a Spanish mission-style parapet, patrons were awed by the interior, with its intricately painted ceilings, mosaic-tiled floors, decorative metal railings and sconces and antique furnishings (Spanish Colonial Revival style). Additionally, the Plaza offered electrically cooled drinking fountains, a nursery, a $850 marble and brass telecheck system that alert ushers when a seat became vacant, and a Brenograph machine that could throw over a thousand color effects onto the black-and-white scenes. However, in the 1950s, the Theater's patronage declined and by the 1970s it was sold. In the 1980s, the El Paso Community Foundation saved the Plaza from demolition and donated it to the City of El Paso in 1990. After, it was restored to its original splendor and today hosts concerts, shows, musicals and plays once again.

Área: Central / Downtown

Fuente: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Plaza Theater. Photo ID: Plaza Theater.jpg.

Cargado por: UTEP Library Special Collections

Comentarios

Hacer un comentario
Gracias por su comentario

Reportar esta entrada

Elige la razón más importante para este reporte

Tu nombre

Tu correo electrónico

Detalle opcional

Gracias por su reporte

Más sobre la misma comunidad-colección

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Buddy Elmore's favorite Triumph racing motorcycle to the left. A ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Vintage Harley-Davidson, August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

100 Years of Motorcycle History banner, August 2012, designed by ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Buddy Elmore's favorite Triumph racing motorcycle. He won the ...

Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Buddy Elmore artifacts. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Buddy Elmore trophies including the Daytona 200 trophy, ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Buddy Elmore posters. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Floor shot. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All of the ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Floor shot, row of Harleys. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Row of Harleys. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All of the ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Harley close-up. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All of the ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

White harley close-up. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Orange Harley close-up. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

1940s War Bike. Harley-Davidson. August 2012, designed by Tim ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

1921 Harley-Davidson. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Solo engine. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All of the ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Old Harley davidson reissue. August 2012, designed by Tim ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Lond shot. Suzuki motorcycles ove the handlebars of a 1940s War ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Triumphs, Suzuki, and all else. What a great exhibit. August ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Dukati, BMWs and others. Another great look at the exhibit. ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

100 year old motorcycle books and toys. August 2012, designed by ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

100 year old books and toys. August 2012, designed by Tim ...

Motorcycle Madness Exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History.

Don Vesco Yamaha racer. August 2012, designed by Tim Hanlon. All ...

home.search_collection