Grand Theater (1919), v05, 1139 G Ave, Douglas, AZ, USA
Douglas, AZ (est. 1905, pop. ~16,500) • founded as a copper smelting site with a border crossing at Mexican sister city Agua Prieta (pop. 79,138) • "Coming and going between the two cities was 'like walking across the street.'" —Ray Borane, Douglas native & former mayor, "Border Towns Spit Asunder"
• by the end of the 20th c. the area had become the nation's busiest point for illegal crossings • Douglas hosts the annual binational Concert Without Borders [photos]
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• ~1,200-seat Classical Revival-style theater [photo] designed by Santa Monica, CA architect M. Eugene Durfee (1885-1941), who also designed the Fox in Tucson [photo] • featured a pipe organ, marble lobby, barber shop, candy store & ladies' tea room
• conductor John Philip Sousa and American modern dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis (1879-1968) performed here • Pavlova and Ginger Rogers also danced on the Grand's stage • actor Ethel Barrymore, band leader Paul Whiteman & tenor John McCormick are other stars who appeared at the Grand • also hosted the annual Douglas High School commencement exercise for its graduating class
• considered the best of about a dozen theaters in the southern AZ Lyric Amusement chain, which also included the Lyric Theatre in Douglas • the company was founded by Nick Diamos, his 4 brothers & their uncle, James Xalis, the 1st manager of the Grand
• the family, Greek immigrants all, entered the movie theatre business after working their way up as laborers & street vendors in Chicago, then owners of a coffee house & a failed restaurant in California • became partners in Bakersfield CA's 1st nickelodeon • moved to Tucson where they opened their 1st AZ theater, the Lyric, advertised as "the first grind house in Arizona," a term they used because they presented continuous performances
• closed 1958 • <a href="Keeping their dream alive">restoration efforts spanned 30 yrs. • in 2016 the Grand Theatre hosted its 1st public event in nearly 60 yrs.
• Douglas Historic District, National Register # 85000146, 1985 • Grand Theatre, National Register # 76000372, 1976
Grand Theater (1919), v05, 1139 G Ave, Douglas, AZ, USA
Douglas, AZ (est. 1905, pop. ~16,500) • founded as a copper smelting site with a border crossing at Mexican sister city Agua Prieta (pop. 79,138) • "Coming and going between the two cities was 'like walking across the street.'" —Ray Borane, Douglas native & former mayor, "Border Towns Spit Asunder"
• by the end of the 20th c. the area had become the nation's busiest point for illegal crossings • Douglas hosts the annual binational Concert Without Borders [photos]
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• ~1,200-seat Classical Revival-style theater [photo] designed by Santa Monica, CA architect M. Eugene Durfee (1885-1941), who also designed the Fox in Tucson [photo] • featured a pipe organ, marble lobby, barber shop, candy store & ladies' tea room
• conductor John Philip Sousa and American modern dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis (1879-1968) performed here • Pavlova and Ginger Rogers also danced on the Grand's stage • actor Ethel Barrymore, band leader Paul Whiteman & tenor John McCormick are other stars who appeared at the Grand • also hosted the annual Douglas High School commencement exercise for its graduating class
• considered the best of about a dozen theaters in the southern AZ Lyric Amusement chain, which also included the Lyric Theatre in Douglas • the company was founded by Nick Diamos, his 4 brothers & their uncle, James Xalis, the 1st manager of the Grand
• the family, Greek immigrants all, entered the movie theatre business after working their way up as laborers & street vendors in Chicago, then owners of a coffee house & a failed restaurant in California • became partners in Bakersfield CA's 1st nickelodeon • moved to Tucson where they opened their 1st AZ theater, the Lyric, advertised as "the first grind house in Arizona," a term they used because they presented continuous performances
• closed 1958 • <a href="Keeping their dream alive">restoration efforts spanned 30 yrs. • in 2016 the Grand Theatre hosted its 1st public event in nearly 60 yrs.
• Douglas Historic District, National Register # 85000146, 1985 • Grand Theatre, National Register # 76000372, 1976