Verde Valley Theatre
919 Main Street,
Clarkdale,
AZ
86324
919 Main Street,
Clarkdale,
AZ
86324
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Additional Info
Architects: Simeon Charles Lee
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Grand Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Grand Theatre was built in 1917. The theatre was remodeled by architect S. Charles Lee in 1936. I don’t know when this theatre closed. Probably in the mid-1970’s. The screen and chairs are gone and cement has been poured in the center of the space to make it possible to drive a vehicle into it. The decor on the walls and the light fixtures are still intact. The marquee and box office are gone and the front has been bricked up and a garage door installed.
The Elks Lodge was located on the second floor of the building. There was not entrance to the second floor so it was accessed by the adjoining building. The movie theatre itself has not been used for anything other than a parking area and storage for the past fifteen years or so.
The theatre was turned over to the Verde Valley Theatre to restore and use as a live theatre venue. VVT then began a process of renovating it for its performances.
Contributed by
Edgar Ball
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
According to comments on the link supplied by Lost Memory on April 22, 2007, the Grand has now been renovated and has reopened doing live theatre. It appears it is only doing live plays and music acts, etc.
The Grand Theater in Clarkdale, AZ was closed prior to 1954. The equipment was purchased by Amon F Allen along with the equipment in the Jerome Theater, as well as the building and equipment of the Rialto Theater in Cottonwood. The Allen’s and their Daughter Nelwyn purchased the equipment and Rialto Theater from the Don Bechetti family, 1955. They built the Verde Valley Drive Inn Theater, 1956. The Allen and Nordeen family owned and operated the two theaters until 1974. The Rialto was the longest running indoor theater in the US from 1923 to 1998. 1998 there was a fire ending the Rialto Theater history .The Drive inn was torn down, however the foundation for the screen is still on site near the corner of E. Cherry Street. 2004 the Rialto building was turned into the Tavern Grill. Great place to eat. I eat there every once in a while and remember the days and nights. You can still see the shadow of the staircase leading up to the projection booth on the South wall. AL Nordeen
Status should be closed. Website down, phone disconnected, and Facebook page has no information.