Alhambra Theater

The Alhambra Theater, located on El Paso Street in El Paso about a half-block south of the Hotel Paso del Norte, was opened at the beginning of August 1914 to great fanfare. The building, designed by master architect Henry C. Trost, is quite possibly the most famous of Trost's works nationwide. I see it featured at Classic Theater websites, and also used as an example of Spanish Moorish Revival at architectural sites, too.

It remained the Alhambra for only 6 short years until it was renamed the Palace Theater and reopened in November of 1920. The building retained the Palace moniker until it was remodeled into a nightclub during the 1990s. 

The building was restored in 2020 by a local El Paso Church to use as a Downtown ministry center. 

The Alhambra (Palace) Theater as it appears today. Picture taken 8/1/2018 by myself.

In its very early years, probably the early 1920s, as the new Palace Theater. Image credit: El Paso Public Library

The Palace Theater in its Adult Movie days. The date of this photo is unclear. Image
credit: Historic Americans Building Survey via Wikipedia Commons

This picture was taken in 1915, shortly after the opening of the theater.
Image credit: Wikipedia Commons

This image is probably 1919 or 1920, just before it was renamed the Palace. Note that the
balconies on the wings of the building are enclosed rooms at this time. I don't know when they were
changed. Image credit: The Portal to Texas History

Here is Page 14 of the November 6, 1920 El Paso Times, announcing
the opening of the Palace Theater. Image credit: Cinema Treasures

This picture was taken in 1980. Image credit: Adcentera via Cinema Treasures

Unspecified date, probably late 1970s or early 1980s. Image from Cinema Treasures

Note the detail! Picture taken by myself on 8/1/2018

The view of the building from the Geneva pawn shop. Image taken by myself on 8/1/18

The view upwards from the sidewalk. Image taken by myself on 8/1/18

The front entryway of the club. Image taken by myself on 8/1/18