El Rey Theatre

I think I saw Buckwheat Zydeco here around 1990.

Boxoffice, April 22, 1950: “Claude Graves has sold the El Rey at Albuquerque, N. M., to Marlin Butler, who now has three theatres there”

Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 11, 1952: “Albuquerque Exhibitors Inc. have bought the El Rey and La Sambea from Marlin Butler. Butler still retains the Ernie Pyle and Sunset drive-in.”

June 27th, 1941 grand opening ad in photo section.

The El Rey in 1995.
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Ah, that clears that up. Things are never as simple as they seem around here!

I drove through Albuquerque last year with this theater on a list of places to photograph. Somehow I missed it.

Ken, don’t you mean “before” it had been renamed El Rey?

Here are a couple of my b&w photos of the EL REY theater.

www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/378903758
www.flickr.com/photos/lastpictureshow/378903756

Don lewis

Here is a 1952 article on the sale of the theater:

Film Firm Here Acquires Sandia, El Key Theaters

Albuquerque Exhibitors, Inc., has acquired two movie theaters
here, through purchase of leases, Frank Peloso, general manager
of the firm, announced Thursday. Sandia Theaters has sold leases
of the Sandia Theater, 1816 Central Ave. SW, and El Rey Theater,
624 W. Central, to the film firm. The Yucca Theater, 2609 Fourth
St. NW, and the Chief Theater, 206 W. Central will also be closed,
Peloso said in addition to the Rio Theater, 118 W. Central, announced
earlier.

“The two small downtown theaters have been closed,” said Peloso, “ in accordance with the firm’s modernization program. We are substituting the two modern theaters just leased for these smaller theaters which are being closed and leased for commercial purposes other than that of exhibiting films."
"In Albuquerque, there is a great demand for Spanish languages
pictures,” Peloso added,“and the Sandia Theater is planned to take care of that demand in a modern, more suitable environment."
He added that the policy of presenting occasional stage shows will be continued at the Sandia.

Former owner of the Sandia and El Rey theaters, Sandia Theaters Inc. still leases the Ernie Pyle and Sunset Drive-In Theaters, under the direction of Marlin Butler, manager. After having been closed this
week for installation of new projection and sound equipment, the Sandia Theater will open today. Peloso said that the policy of showing second-run double features at the El Rey will be continued.
President and substantial owner of Albuquerque Exhibitors is Joe Barnett, one of Albuquerque’s pioneer businessmen. Barnett
and the Bachechi family have operated theaters in Albuquerque
for more than 40 years. Mario Bachechi is secretary of the company
and part owner and other part owners are Carlo Bachechi and the estate of the late Arthur Bachechi.