Restoring the Past: Granada Theater 91-year-old Landmark of Bluefield's Rich History
Updated: May 16, 2022
Article by Charles Boothe, Bluefield Daily Telegraph | April 29, 2019
The Granada Theater fell into disrepair through neglect in recent years and parts of the ceiling and wall were damaged after copper thieves left a hatch open on the roof and water came in.
Staff photo by Jessica Nuzzo.
BLUEWELL — When several Bluefield residents came together in 2012 to embark on a journey to restore a piece of the city's history, they knew the project would not be easy.
The Granada Theater on Commerce Street opened its doors on Jan. 2, 1928, when only silent movies were being made and provided entertainment to countless area residents for 50 years before closing in the late 1970s.
It was also constructed with a stage for live performances during a time when vaudeville acts and big bands were popular.
Skip Crane, treasurer of the group who formed the Bluefield Preservation Society to begin the restoration project, said the first movie shown in the Granada was a western, "Rose of the Golden West," starring Mary Astor and Gilbert Roland.
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