
Albuquerque’s beloved KiMo Theatre. Photo: Dirt Road Travels via Visit Albuquerque
Here’s a chance for a FREE guided tour of the historic KiMo Theatre, a cultural gem that stands on Route 66 in the heart of downtown Albuquerque.
The theater opened on Sept. 19, 1927, as a picture palace and Vaudeville playhouse. It was built by Oreste and Maria Bachechi and designed by architect Carl Boller.
The FREE public tour of the KiMo, which takes place at noon today and on three Wednesdays in August, will highlight the building’s flamboyant architectural style that captured the spirit of southwest Native American cultures with art modern elements that were popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
The KiMo was designed in the Pueblo-Deco style. The style, “fused the spirit of the Native American cultures of the Southwest with the exuberance of Art Deco,” according to city experts. Native American motifs appeared in only a handful of theaters, experts say, and of those few, the KiMo is the undisputed king.
The creation of the name KIMo, the theatre’s role as an integral part of downtown for over 90 years, and recent upgrades will all be featured in this 60+ minute tour.
The venue is a working center of performances, movies, art and more.
FREE guided KiMo Theatre tour
Noon, Wednesday, July 27; August 3, 17, 31, 2022.
423 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102