Rio Grande Theatre

United States historic place

Rio Grande Theatre

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

NM State Register of Cultural Properties

Location| 211 N. Downtown Mall, Las Cruces, New Mexico
Coordinates| 32°18′38″N 106°46′42″W﻿ / ﻿32.31056°N 106.77833°W﻿ / 32.31056; -106.77833
Area| less than one acre
Built| 1926 (1926)
Architect| Thorman, Otto H. and Guy L. Frazer; Goetting, C.A.
Architectural style| Renaissance
NRHP reference No.| 03001352[1]
NMSRCP No.| 1829
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| January 2, 2004
Designated NMSRCP| August 8, 2003

The Rio Grande Theatre in Las Cruces, New Mexico was opened on July 29, 1926. The theatre was built by Seale and Dyne and operated by the Central Theatres Corporation of Denver.

The first movie shown was the silent movie Mare Nostrum, directed by Rex Ingram.

Fox West Coast Theatres bought the Rio Grande Theatre in October 1929. The Fox chain installed sound equipment and showed a sound picture for the October 20, 1929 opening night.

The theatre survived both an earthquake and a fire in the early 1930s. It remained in operation until 1997, when it closed due to financial hardship. The theatre was purchased by the Dona Ana Arts Council and restored, opening again in 2005.[2]

## See also[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Doña Ana County, New Mexico

## References[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. ^ "History | Rio Grande Theatre - las Cruces, NM".

## External links[edit]

Media related to Rio Grande Theatre at Wikimedia Commons

* Dona Ana Arts Council
* Opening of the Rio Grande Theatre
* Installing Sound Equipment in the Rio Grande Theatre

*[No.]: number