Huntridge Theater

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name = Huntridge Theater
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location = 1208 E. Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, Nevada
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built = 1943
architect = S. Charles Lee
architecture = Moderne; International
added = July 22, 1993
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refnum = 93000686
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Huntridge Theater sometimes known as the Huntridge Performing Arts Theater is a Streamline Moderne building located in Las Vegas, Nevada that is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The building was designed by S. Charles Lee.

First opened as a cinema, the theater also hosted stage performances and was a concert venue in its last years.

History

Construction began in 1942 with the theater opening on October 10, 1944. It was owned by Loretta Young and Irene Dunne and was the first non-segregated theater in Las Vegas.

The theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.

On 28 July 1995, the punk rock group Circle Jerks were to perform at the theater. Several hours before they were to arrive, the roof of the theater collapsed. There were no serious injuries. [http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2002/10/09/export1724.txt] Lead singer Keith Morris would later comment, "As soon as we got there, we were told that the roof had collapsed and the show was canceled. We didn't have anywhere else to go, so we just set up our equipment in the parking lot and played for the 30 or 40 people who were still there." [http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/content/fileadmin/oldsite/2004/10/07/huntridge.html]

While attempting to save the theater, it was operated by the non-profit Friends of the Huntridge Theatre, Inc..

The Huntridge Theater closed on July 31, 2004.

As of 2008, the building sits empty. All plumbing and all power wiring has been destroyed by the homeless, leaving it at a sad state of disrepair.

On August 13, 2008 the owners announced plans for adaptive reuse of the structure and surrounding properties. The first public renderings, as well as a history of the site, can be found at [http://www.leavinglv.net/huntridgetheater.html LeavingLV.net]

Sources

*Las Vegas Sun