Santa Fe — Most of them are individually owned or family run out of love for a small-town tradition that has all but died in most New Mexico communities. Some are empty, but all remain crowning architectural landmarks of their downtowns and reminders of time when very little money bought a night of entertainment and camaraderie in small-town America.Six movie theaters built between 1916 and 1948 are the most recent historic properties in New Mexico to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the state Historic Preservation Division, Department of Cultural Affairs announced today. They represent architectural styles as disparate as El Raton theater’s Gothic-Revival style complete with atmospheric ceiling, to the stripped-down modernism of Lovington’s Lea Theater and its stand alone tile-and-glass ticket booth that still sparkles from a deeply recessed entrance.
“These listings recognize ongoing efforts to preserve the architectural character of the theaters and the roles they have played as community centers and sources of community pride,” said State Historic Preservation Officer Katherine Slick.
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