Granada documentary film chronicles theater’s 100-year history

 

As a former movie palace, it’s no surprise that The Granada would make a documentary to celebrate its storied history for its centennial anniversary.

“We commissioned this documentary to honor the incredible history and legacy of The Granada Theatre during our Centennial Year,” said Jill Seltzer, Vice President of Advancement at The Granada. “This theater has been a cornerstone of our community for 100 years, evolving alongside it and serving as a space for connection, creativity, and a celebration of the arts. By delving into its history, we pay tribute to those who built it and preserve its story for future generations. This documentary is a testament to the transformative power of the arts and the enduring impact of this beloved institution.”

 

Celebrated Filmmaker

Photo Courtesy of April Wright

To tackle the ambitious project of visually telling The Granada’s history, the team turned to documentary filmmaker April Wright. Wright had previously done a feature-length documentary on the history of movie palaces and the evolution of cinema that played in theaters throughout the country, which Turner Classic Movies ultimately picked up.

“The Granada was a fun project because I got to dig deeper and go more in-depth to see the interesting things that happened during its history and its connection to the community,” said Wright. “I knew I was meant to do the project when I saw that The Granada opened on April 9, 1924, because my birthday is April 9.”

Wright, who has an MBA from Northwestern, worked in corporate America for many years before pursuing her long-held passion for movies.

“I grew up in a film family; it was my dad’s hobby,” she said. “I like historic places like The Granada, which serve as a community gathering space. A lot of my films focus on this theme. These places were ubiquitous for many generations in our country and sadly, we’ve torn many of them down now.”

 

Behind the Scenes

Wright and her team began conceiving the film based on historical information gathered by herself, Centennial Producer Scott Seltzer, The Granada’s Chax Richter, film historian Ross Melnick, and a team of his students from UCSB.

According to Wright, the biggest challenge in filming the 30-minute documentary was coordinating everyone’s schedules to fit with a four-day shoot in the theater. The movie was shot in different parts of The Granada to showcase the beauty found throughout the building.

 

The Granada Documentary

To tell the story of The Granada, Wright assembled historians, Granada staff, Board Members, community members, and those with special ties to the theater.

“Finding the granddaughters of the original builder, two previous owners of the theater, and the former Granada piano tuner, who at age 100, is 2 weeks older than the theater – the people who were a living part of The Granada’s history were integral to the film,” said Scott.

The film begins with individuals discussing what The Granada means today before returning to where it all started.

 

Charles Urton’s Granddaughters

Peggy Ensor, Marcia Urton Martyn, and Janet Rodriguez are three of the granddaughters of Charles Urton, the architect of The Granada. Urton famously had no experience building a high-rise (which The Granada was considered in the 1920s), so he ordered books on how to build one. He clearly did something right when The Granada was one of the few buildings to survive the 1925 earthquake.

The documentary chronicles The Granada’s start as a venue for live performances in the 1920s and its transformation by Warner Bros. into a premiere theater during the rise of “talkies”. With its proximity to Hollywood, The Granada frequently hosted previews and world premieres, cementing its place in cinematic history.

Wright documents the history using old photos, advertisements, and programs from those days, along with commentary by Melnick. During these years, The Granada previewed and premiered films like The Wizard of Oz, Guys and Dolls, and My Dream is Yours. In the 1970s, The Granada was turned into a triplex movie house and ultimately fell into disrepair until the Santa Barbara community intervened in 2003 to breathe new life into the old dame.

The second half of the film showcases The Granada’s comeback, which included a five-year, $52 million renovation and a reopening in 2008.

 

The Granada Documentary Premiere

The documentary premiered at The Granada on April 3, 2024, as part of the events leading up to the theater’s Centennial Festival Weekend celebrations that same month. The 1500-seat theater was at near capacity for the showing. After the screening, Wright and several people featured in the film took questions from the audience.

“Having April bring it all to the screen in such a compelling and visually distinctive – and now award-winning – way has created an enduring marker of The Granada’s Centennial Celebration,” said Seltzer.

The Granada documentary recently won Best Short Documentary at director Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Film Festival.

“I think more people will support places like The Granada when they understand the history and legacy behind the building,” said Wright. “I hope when people watch this documentary, they want to visit The Granada, see a show, and experience it for themselves.”

To watch the documentary, check out the video below or click here!