I have done extensive research on this theatre. The theatre opened on January 5, 1929 as the crown jewel of the Rickards & Nace Enterprises. At that time Rickards & Nace had an affiliation with Universal Pictures. Universal divested itself of theatres and Rickards & Nace was acquired by Paramount Publix at the end of 1929. Harry L. Nace, Sr. continued as general manager for Paramount until 1948 when a new general manager was named by Paramount. The “R” on the end stanchions in the balcony seats may be for Jo Rickerts, the President of Rickards & Nace. He retired when the chain was acquired by Paramount. The architects for the original construction was the Phoenix architectural firm of Lesher & Mahoney. The associate architect was Hugh Gilbert who was an architect and contractor who worked for Rickards & Nace as Superintendent, Maintainence & Construction.
The El Rey Theatre in Springerville, AZ in 1946-1947 was operated by the Louis F. Long Circuit, one of the largest independent theater circuits in Arizona.
I have done extensive research on this theatre. The theatre opened on January 5, 1929 as the crown jewel of the Rickards & Nace Enterprises. At that time Rickards & Nace had an affiliation with Universal Pictures. Universal divested itself of theatres and Rickards & Nace was acquired by Paramount Publix at the end of 1929. Harry L. Nace, Sr. continued as general manager for Paramount until 1948 when a new general manager was named by Paramount. The “R” on the end stanchions in the balcony seats may be for Jo Rickerts, the President of Rickards & Nace. He retired when the chain was acquired by Paramount. The architects for the original construction was the Phoenix architectural firm of Lesher & Mahoney. The associate architect was Hugh Gilbert who was an architect and contractor who worked for Rickards & Nace as Superintendent, Maintainence & Construction.
The El Rey Theatre in Springerville, AZ in 1946-1947 was operated by the Louis F. Long Circuit, one of the largest independent theater circuits in Arizona.