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The KiMo Theater, built in 1927, is a Pueblo Deco style movie theatre and is a registered Historic Landmark. It is currently owned by the City of Albuquerque and operated by the Cultural Affairs Department. The KiMo Theater opened on September 19, 1927. It features a marriage between the art of Native American cultures and Art Deco. "Pueblo Deco" became the term to describe this beautiful ornate structure after it was completed.
Oreste Bachechi, an entrepreneur of the day, had a dream to build his own theater. In 1919 he ad built his business into the Bachechi Amusement Association where he operated the Pastime Theater. In 1925 it was time to realize his dream of building a theater that would stand out among all theaters. His unique theater was to have a Southwest theme. He hired Carl Boller to design it. After exhaustive research throughout the Southwest Mr. Boller presented a watercolor rendering to Mr. Bachechi that was to be the realization of his dream. All the designs and ornamentation in and on the theater's structure are significant symbols within Native American cultures.
The theater was completed within one year and cost $150,000. It included an elaborate Wurlitzer pipe organ which cost and extra $18,000. Isleta Pueblo Governor Pablo Abeita won a prize of $50.00 for naming the theater. The name KiMo is the union of two words meaning "mountain lion" but has been interpreted as "king of its kind". Many of Hollywood's famous have visited the KiMo Theater over its lifetime. Vivian Vance from "I Love Lucy", Sally Rand, Gloria Swanson, Tom Mix, and Ginger Rogers among others.
The year after its completion Oreste Bachechi died. The management of the theater was left to his sons. They booked vaudeville, road shows and movies in the KiMo upon taking over their father's dream. Eventually they included a restaurant where customers could have lunch and also a curio shop. These stores were one either side of the KiMo.
Over the years the KiMo fell into disrepair. This was the fate of many such ornate theaters throughout the United States in the 1960's and '70's as Americans left the downtown areas for the suburbs.
The KiMo was saved from destruction in 1977 when the citizens of Albuquerque voted through a $324,000 bond to purchase it. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When the citizens of Albuquerque later voted down a second bond to provide matching funds to a federal grant for the complete renovation of the theatre, the City of Albuquerque provided $1.1 million for a partial renovation.
There were a number of renovations done to the KiMo. Architect Harvey Hoshour and his partner Dan Pearson led the first phase of the KiMo's renovation. Their focus was on renovating some the detailed ornate structures like the buffalo skulls, the decorative light fixtures and door handles. They also addressed upgrading the balcony railing.
The next phase of renovations cost $35,000. These upgrades were to focus on the Carl Von Hassler murals.
A major renovation was started in the spring of 1999 at a cost of $2 million and was funded by the City of Albuquerque. It was finished in the summer of 2000.
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In 1951, a six-year old boy by the name of Bobby Darnall was killed when the boiler in the basement exploded, destroying part of the original lobby. The boiler was located right beneath the concession stand in the lobby. Bobby, who was just returning to the balcony area from an intermission was suddenly frightened by something and ran down the staircase to the lobby. Just as he arrived on the landing to get to the bottom of the stairs, the boiler exploded killing Bobby and destroying part of the lobby. Seven others were injured in the blast as well.
It is the spirit of little Bobby who is said to continue to haunt the KiMo Theatre today. He has been seen on the staircase landing and reportedly seen in the rehearsal room waving out the window.
As a 6 year-old, Bobby seems to enjoy playing tricks on the staff and guests of the old theatre. Bobby is seen wearing a striped shirt and blue jeans. He has been known to cause the performers problems by tripping them up and creating a disturbance during rehearsals and performances. At one time the cast would hang doughnuts on the water pipe that runs along the back wall of the theatre behind the stage. It was said that the treats would be gone the next morning. Some were left with bite marks. During one Christmas production during a rehearsal a stagehand took down the stale doughnuts. That was not the right thing to do. As soon as the doughnuts were removed, the rehearsal started to become a disaster, with everything going wrong, from lighting, to sound problems, and more. When the doughnuts were replaced, things began settled down again.
The staff crew and performers have since made a shrine to Bobby's spirit. It has taken the place of the doughnuts and seems to keep him happy. We thought about what a 6 year-old from the'50's would like to play with so when we did our investigation we brought him a baseball and some Silly Putty.
An unknown woman, seen wearing a bonnet, has been reported walking down the halls of the theatre, appearing to be minding her own business. Not much is known about this ghost, except she does not appear to be disturbing anyone. She most likely is a Residual Haunting.
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A vigil investigation was carried out at the KiMo theater early in September 2007. The investigation began at 7:00 pm with a detailed study of the archives. The atmosphere of the building contains a memory of all events that have taken place there. It is etched in every square inch of space. Team members had to adjust to the rich, thick atmosphere of this beautiful structure. After a complete walk-through with the entire team, the investigation got under way ~ 9:00 pm. The team members were divided into groups and began their investigation. A staff member who was an electrical maintenance technician stayed that evening to accommodate the investigation as needed. |
