Granada Theatre

537 Commerce Street,
Bluefield, WV 24701

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Additional Info

Architects: E.H. Geissler, Alex B. Mahood

Functions: Concerts, Live Theatre, Movies (Classic)

Styles: Spanish Moorish

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 304.589.0239

Nearby Theaters

Granada Interior

The Granada Theatre opened January 2, 1928 with Mary Astor in “Rose of the Golden West”. A Wurlitzer 2 manual 7 ranks theatre organ was installed which was opened by organist A.A. Ritter. A 1932 City Directory gives an address range of 537-543 Commerce Street for the Granada Theatre. The theatre was modernized in 1949 to the plans of architect E.H. Geissler. The Granada Theatre was closed March 3, 1977.

The Wurlitzer organ was removed from the building many years ago and was first installed in the Evans Theatre, IN. It was later removed to be installed in the Keith-Albee Theatre, Huntington, WV. When the original Keith-Albee Theatre Wurlitzer was found, the Granada Theatre instrument was returned to its original home and was re-assembled in 2015.

Following a renovation, The Granada Theatre was reopened on August 28, 2021.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Erasmusinwv2
Erasmusinwv2 on July 5, 2012 at 5:15 am

Is this theater still around? I am in the process of buying and rehabbing the Philippi Grand and if it proves profitable I want to work on reopening other theaters in WV, KY, OH, PA, MD, and VA. There are so many wonderful old theaters with more character than any modern cookie cutter places.

Patsy
Patsy on July 5, 2012 at 4:55 pm

The Wurlitzer factory was in North Tonawanda NY (suburb of Buffalo).

RobertFrench
RobertFrench on June 20, 2013 at 2:22 am

To all, the Granada Theater in Bluefield is coming back to life. The theater was bought by the Bluefield Development Authority and will be operated by the Bluefield Preservation Society. It did have a small life as a night club, but the BPS is working hard to begin restoration of the theater later on this year into both a performing arts center and cinema. I’m looking forward to seeing the reinstallation of the Wurlitzer Style EX, Opus 1790, in the next year or so.

RobertFrench
RobertFrench on June 20, 2013 at 2:24 am

In its life as a night club, the interior was painted and the floor leveled; however, all of that can be reversed and I’m hopeful that it will come back to life as a theater…..HOORAY! for the few dedicated members of the Bluefield Preservation Society.

JHHurley
JHHurley on October 2, 2013 at 5:02 pm

Bluefield Preservation Society needs photographs (exterior and interior) of the Granada Theater(pre-night club) for our architect. Can you help us get the word out? Thank you!

Patsy
Patsy on October 2, 2013 at 5:16 pm

Nice to learn through a few recent posts that this theatre may be returned to its former life as a theatre and not a night club. Sorry to learn that the floor was leveled though. Is there anyone who could give me a tour as I and my husband will be passing through the Bluefield area on November 10 of this year?

jeffconn
jeffconn on September 15, 2014 at 5:48 am

The BPS has reopened the Granada as a community center. The Granada has hosted concerts and Bingo in its latest revival. http://www.bluefieldpreservationsociety.com/

JHHurley
JHHurley on June 26, 2015 at 5:12 pm

The original 1927 Wurlitzer theater organ has been returned to the Granada by a generous donor! We are so excited! For more details see: http://m.bdtonline.com/news/local-theater-welcomes-home-original-antique-organ/article_f0b9da9c-1adc-11e5-84af-ab4ae04a8731.html?mode=jqm

Patsy
Patsy on June 26, 2015 at 8:47 pm

Great organ news!

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