In 2024, The Granada Theatre celebrated 100 years of world-class performances and classic cinema – a milestone worthy of a GRAND CELEBRATION, featuring special Granada Centennial events throughout the year.
Highlights included:
We’ve captured all our centennial programs on video and have compiled our Granada Centennial Video Yearbook, full of highlights from our Centennial Year events, including all of those special personal memories. We’re excited to share our yearbook with you. We’ve divided it into sections so you can browse and spend a few minutes or a few hours. Plus, we’ll be making additions and updates so check back often to see what’s new….Happy Viewing!
The Granada: 100 Years of the Arts in Santa Barbara
Our story. Our history. Our very own home movie.
The Granada Theatre opened in 1924 as a Grand Movie Palace and Live Performance Venue. The Granada Holding Company envisioned a magnificent performance space, a skyscraper that would attract tourists, encourage prosperity, and serve as a gathering place for all of Santa Barbara. We invited award-winning filmmaker April Wright to tell The Granada’s story up close and personal — The Granada’s history told by many of the people who helped make it happen.
100 Years – From the Ground Up (in 2 minutes)
Rising from an empty lot on State Street in 1924, The Granada has been our community’s Center for the Arts. In 2005, the Granada undertook a 3-year complete restoration, from the ground up, with a gala reopening in 2008. Santa Barbara videographer Dana Morrow chronicled the entire reconstruction project. Here, he highlights the entire process: 3 years in 2 minutes.
The Movie Palace Years – A Brief Revue
From the moment it opened in 1924, The Granada played a vital role as a showcase for the popular new form of entertainment – Movies! In 1930, Warner Brothers acquired The Granada, and for the next three decades, The Granada was host to multiple star-studded film premieres, dozens of Hollywood “sneak previews,” and a showcase for first-run features.
The Granada Centennial Festival Weekend:
April 12, 2024 – The Granada’s Historic Past: The Movie Palace Years – From Silents to the Talkies
April 13, 2024 – The Granada’s Vibrant Present: The Pacific Jazz Orchestra
April 14, 2024 – The Granada’s Exciting Future: A Spotlight on Tomorrow’s Talent, showcasing Santa Barbara’s Exciting Young Artists
(COMING SOON)
Centennial On Stage: The Very Best of Santa Barbara Musical Talent
One goal of the Centennial year was to use The Granada in new and unique ways. The result was Centennial On Stage, where the audience sat right on the stage with the musicians for an intimate, cabaret-style experience. We presented three Centennial On Stage evenings:
Antonio Artese West Coast Trio
Nik West
The Granada Centennial All-Star House Band
(COMING SOON!)
Santa Barbara Home Movies: Films by artists and performers who call Santa Barbara home
With deep respect for our storied heritage as a Grand Movie Palace and in recognition of the wealth of talent we have in our midst, The Granada proudly presented Santa Barbara Home Movies. We screened award-winning films by Santa Barbara residents Robert Zemeckis, Andrew Davis, and Fannie Flagg and invited them to join us on stage to talk about their films. Films included Back to the Future, The Fugitive, Fried Green Tomatoes, and many more.
(COMING SOON!)
Centennial Legends
The Granada’s 2024 Legends Gala Celebration focused on celebrating the Granada Theatre’s Centennial by honoring The Granada itself and the two women responsible for the theater’s restoration in 2008: Susan Gulbranson and Joan Rutkowski. The festive evening included dinner, awards, videos highlighting The Granada’s storied history, and live entertainment by State Street Ballet and The One Night Stand Band, on the One Night Bandstand.
(COMING SOON)
Granada Memories
In 2024, the Granada celebrated 100 years of presenting world class performances and beloved cinema classics along with 100 years of creating great memories – special times with family, friends and loved ones. We invited folks to come to The Granada to share their memories on video. We heard wonderful stories: A special concert, a Broadway show, a first date, a blockbuster film … even an air raid! We have compiled them in this special section of our Centennial Yearbook.
Relive the Magic of our Centennial Festival Weekend!
THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING OUR 100TH ANNIVERSARY WITH US!
Thank you for being part of our Centennial celebration in 2024! We were honored to present special programming throughout the year, featuring outstanding performing artists across all disciplines, with a special focus on showcasing local Santa Barbara talent. We made it a priority to ensure tickets were accessible to everyone — because, after all, This is Your Granada!