The KiMo Theater sits on the corner of fifth and central, in the midst
of old Route 66, going through the city of Albuquerque. The theater was built
in 1927, and had it's most recent remodeling in 2000. Like most of the classic
old theaters, the KiMo started out as a venue for Vaudeville, and for live
performances. Like most of it's surviving brethren, the KiMo has returned
to it's roots, after decades of being a movie theater, and is once more
hosting live performances. The layout was typical of the period, being that
of a multi purpose building, housing a theater, storefronts, and offices.
Also typical of the period, was the elaborate decoration. These places were
palaces of entertainment, either live or film. In the case of the KiMo, the
decor was a combination of Art Deco, and Pueblo designs, rather suited to
the time and place of it's construction.. The outside nearly as intricately
embellished as the inside. I like to imagine a time, fifty or sixty years
ago, when you could drive down old Route 66, and stop off, on your way through
town, and maybe see a show.
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Above: The outside of the KiMo Theater, on classic old Route 66. Left: The box office, and outer lobby. |
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Just inside of the lobby, looking to the right, at one of
the staircases leading to the balcony. |
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One of the doors to the auditorium pierces the lobby to
the right, while a buffalo skull, as part of an old Shaman icon, is centered
on the wall ahead. |
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One of the original 35mm movie projectors. |
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A look up the staircase, with one of the many murals, which
decorate the inside of the theater. |
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The staircase at the other rend of the lobby. Note, besides
the murals, the beams, and decorative moldings and woodwork, of the ceiling. |
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A look down, from the landing, of the staircase. From here
you can see part of the lobby, the opposite staircase, and a bit of the balcony
of the upper level. |
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A look down the staircase, to the landing. The Indian motif
even extends to the carpets. |
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A look over the railing, to the lobby below,
from the balcony of the upper level. Note the series of murals spanning the
length of the upper lobby wall. These run across to both of the stairways
flanking the main portion of the lobby, and then up the staircase landings. |
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This view from just inside of the auditorium doors, shows
that the KiMo is not a particularly large theater. Note also that the elaborate
decor continues on into the auditorium itself. |
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A look off, in the other direction. Even the exit signs
above the doors are elaborately decorated, to give the look of an adobe structure,
with Pueblo ceremonial embellishments. |
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Looking towards the stage, and out from under the balcony
seating. |
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A look up, towards the balcony seating, shows just how much
the working of the theater has been updated. Though the classic old fixtures,
and decorations have been restored, the theater itself now has a thoroughly
modern sound system, as well as an elaborate lighting system, The old Vaudeville
players who filled this house, 80 years ago, never had it so good. |
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A look back at the sloping floor seating of the KiMo. Note
the elaborate light mounting, and the bit of the control booth showing, at
the rear of the auditorium. |
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A full frontal view of both levels, including the glass
front of the control booth, the balcony lighting, and seating, and the projection
room above. |
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The stage, along with the decorative stage framing, of the
KiMo. |
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Another view of the stage, this time from the balcony
level. Note the ceiling beams, and decorative work, and also the two elaborate
fixtures for the house lights. |
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A closer look at the ceiling Beams. |
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An even closer look, this time at the intricate moldings,
and woodwork, of the ceiling. |
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And yet another look, this time from the side, at the ceiling
beams. Note the shields, and icons on the wall. |
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A look out across the balcony seating. |
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Another look at the balcony, this time from one of the upper
corners. |
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A view of the theater seating on both levels,
from one of the wings. |
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This is one of the house light fixtures,
hanging from the ceiling beams. |
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Skulls and shields are molded into the
walls of the balcony, and lit by overhead red accent lights. |
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Skulls, shields, and associated lights,
with the houselights turned down. |
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A parting shot, of one of the Pueblo icons,
decorating the walls here. These depict the buffalo skulls used, in many
of the old rites. |
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