Granada Theatre

1216 State Street,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

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Related Websites

Granada Theatre - Santa Barbara (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Metropolitan Theatres, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.

Architects: Alex B. Rosenthal, C.B. Urton

Functions: Concerts, Opera House, Performing Arts

Styles: Spanish Renaissance

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 805.966.2324

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News About This Theater

Metropolitan's Granada Theatre exterior

The Granada Theatre is Santa Barbara’s oldest standing movie palace, opening on April 9, 1924, and is the tallest building in the city.

The eight story building that surrounds the theatre belies the Spanish architecture that lies within. By 1941 it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. Although the theatre was triplexed under Metropolitan Theatres, in 2006 the Granada Theatre was returned to its original appearance as a single screen theatre but everything beyond the proscenium, including the stage house was demolished and rebuilt. Reopening on March 6, 2008. It mixed movies and shows into its lineup. By 2019 movies had been dropped from the programing.

The theatre is now best known as the home of the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera.

Contributed by Ross Melnick

Recent comments (view all 35 comments)

CHunt
CHunt on January 29, 2008 at 2:05 am

If you have memories of the old Granada, please send them to:
http://www.granadasb.org/contact-us.asp

We’ll put the best ones up on our website!

HalConklin
HalConklin on March 26, 2008 at 6:31 am

The Granada was reborn on March 6, 2008, with a Gala event, highlighting the theater as the new home of the Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Ballet, Santa Barbara Opera, Community Arts Music Association, UCSB Arts & Lectures, and three producers of Broadway shows. The architectural restoration is a masterpiece, and the acoustics are remarkable.

kvnsct69
kvnsct69 on July 12, 2008 at 2:42 am

One of my favorite memories is my grandmother taking me to see “Mary Poppins” at this theatre in the 1960s. I will never forget it. And then we saw “The Sound of Music” at The Arlington. Two fantastic theatres.

bojeta
bojeta on June 18, 2011 at 4:03 pm

Anyone have some good photos of the theater before the big vertical Granada sign was installed? I know during the 40’s and 50’s it was the Warner theater. The first movie I remember seeing there Hard Days Night in the 60’s. I also remember seeing THX1138 there before anyone knew who George Lucas was.

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 10:04 pm

A few 2011 photos can be seen here and here.

stevenj
stevenj on October 3, 2016 at 8:56 pm

Interior and exterior photos added.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 14, 2017 at 12:07 am

1967 photo added courtesy of the AmeriCar The Beautiful Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 26, 2019 at 12:14 am

Vimeo link with the history of the Granada.

https://vimeo.com/226338622?ref=fb-share&1&fbclid=IwAR00mgIL_3_jto0F_t8AKKjvRs0goEwAIA5Zpvg_1NjEjHxd7GoBWD-_H2E

JRHagan
JRHagan on April 6, 2020 at 6:41 pm

According to Rudy Behlmer’s audio commentary on the Legacy Collection DVD The Granada Previewed the original Frankenstein on October 29th 1931.

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