For 100 years, The Granada Theatre has attracted the biggest stars of the day to its stage. For performers and filmmakers, gracing The Granada is a must-do on California’s Central Coast.

Icons from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to George Lucas and Tony Bennett have dazzled The Granada crowds through song, dance, and film.

Hometown Heroes

While The Granada draws internationally renowned performers, many of its most famous artists have been local Santa Barbara residents.

One of The Granada’s most iconic stars was Martha Graham. The dance legend reshaped American dance with her Graham method. She graced The Granada stage in the 1960s, and the dance company she founded continues to include The Granada in its touring productions.

With its proximity to Hollywood, it’s not surprising that many famous actors call Santa Barbara home. Celebrities like Steve Martin, Bruce Johnston, and John Cleese, who at one point have called Santa Barbara their residence, have all performed at The Granada. Santa Barbara singers from David Crosby to Loggins and Messina have dazzled audiences throughout the years.

 

Movie Buffs

Since The Granada’s inception, film has been a part of its soul. In the 1920s, it showed silent films and in the 1930s, the theater became a premiere showplace for Warner Brothers.

In its movie heyday, it previewed and premiered several iconic films. According to Centennial Producer Scott Seltzer, The Granada was one of two places to preview The Wizard of Oz and several scenes were altered based on The Granada’s audience reaction. Guys and Dolls had its first preview at The Granada complete with many of its stars, including Frank Sinatra, in attendance. Doris Day’s My Dream is Yours had its world premiere at The Granada, and Daughter of Rosy O’Grady starring June Haver, Debbie Reynolds, and Gordon MacRae made its western premiere at the theater.

The Granada showcased the now legendary Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977. When the movie opened, Santa Barbara residents George Lucas and Steven Spielberg attended the premiere.

Red Carpet Worthy

Since the Granada opened in 1924, its showcased the top stars of the day. In the 1920s, it focused on live performances with famous dance troupes and celebrities like Will Rogers.

After decades as a movie house, The Granada returned to theatrical performances attracting musicians like Leonard Bernstein, Harry Belafonte and Louis Armstrong. Actors Henry Fonda, Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Hal Holbrook and Sir John Gielgud all graced the Granada stage.

In the 1960s, The Granada also hosted comedians like Bob Newhart and Shelley Berman.

After The Granada’s renovation and reopening in 2008, the theater continued to draw today’s top talent.  During the last 16 years, the theater has hosted icons like Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight, Simon & Garfunkel, Audra McDonald, Bernadette Peters, Natalie Cole, Bryan Adams, The Beach Boys, Boz Scaggs, BB King, Herbie Hancock, Elvis Costello, Leon Russell, Patti Smith and Patti LuPone.

To see the world’s best actors, musicians, dancers, make plans to see an upcoming performance at The Granada Theatre today.