The Granada Theatre, established in 1929, sits proudly in The Dalles, Oregon. The theater featured a moorish revival architecture style when it was first built, meaning it was grandiose, regal, and stood out nicely within the city. The exterior architecture was admired by many, and the interior was enjoyable and comforting. The exterior featured domed towers and arched windows, leaning heavily into the theme. When the 1950s rolled around, it was time for a change in scenery. The Granada had an art deco makeover. The exterior architecture stayed the same, but the interior transformed into a newer and updated version of itself. It led to a neon marquee, a snack bar, and even an exterior ticket counter for long lines and wait times.
The original theater was designed by William Cutts, a man who designed over 60 theaters for the Universal Film Corporation. The builder of The Granada was M.R. Matthew. That was back in 1929. Now the beautiful Granada is taken care of by Chuck Gomez and Deborah Liddell, who restored and rescued the theater back in 2017. The theater itself is fairly small, as The Dalles has a population of about 16,000 and never truly needed a massive theater in the city. This makes The Granada even more charming in a way, emphasizing the beauty and importance of a small town theater. The theater stands out on the quaint streets of the downtown Dalles, and the architecture elicits a sense of invitation, wanting a passerby to join them in the theater. The architecture most definitely stands out, and has helped the building stick around for this long.
