The Granada Theatre is located in downtown La Grande, specifically at 1311 Adams Avenue, which is the main street in the historic center of the city.
The La Grande Theatre was founded in 1927 by Francis A. Greulich, and just one year later, in 1928, the Granada Theatre was obteined, expanding the company’s presence in the entertainment industry. Over the following decades, the Granada Theatre underwent significant changes, including a major renovation in 1952 that helped modernize the venue. In 1953, the company continued to grow with the purchase of the La Grande Drive-In, offering a new type of moviegoing experience.
In 1972, the Granada Theatre was completely renovated and transformed into a two-screen multiplex, reflecting the changing demands of audiences and the evolution of cinema technology. This transformation continued in 1994, when the theatre was once again fully renovated and expanded into a three-screen multiplex, enhancing its capacity and versatility.
In more recent years, the Granada Theatre focused on improving comfort and technology. In 2010, new rocker luxury seats were installed to provide a more enjoyable viewing experience. Then, in 2011, the theatre underwent a major technological upgrade with the installation of all-digital Christie projectors, along with new Dolby 750 Surround Sound and Dolby 3D systems, replacing all previous film projection equipment.
One of the reasons this theater is so important is because it has remained open for so many years, approximately around 100 years. Today, it has a seating capacity of 430 seats, and four movies are currently being shown this week, which are Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, Michael, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Project Hail Mary. The drive-in has a capacity of 380 cars and features a large screen. On its website, they provide a great deal of information about the venue and the services they offer, helping to promote and make it better known.
The Star Theatre, which opened in 1917, likely closed in the early 1920s, although the exact date is not clearly documented. However, based on the location where the theatre was situated, I believe that once the Star Theatre closed, the La Grande Theatre may have opened under a different owner in the same place. It would not be unusual at all for another cinema to have existed on the same site before 1927. According to historical patterns, in many cities, especially in the United States, it was quite common for an older theatre to close and then for a new one to be built on the same site or very nearby.
