New Granada Theater

The New Granada Theater occupies a building whose first identity was not as a cinema but as the Pythian Temple. Constructed between 1927 and 1928 at 2007 Centre Avenue in Pittsburgh's Hill District, the structure served the Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. This organization was a primarily Black fraternal order modeled on the white-only Knights of Pythias. The temple therefore functioned as an institutional and social center for an African American fraternal community, with spaces designed for administration, fellowship, ceremony and public assembly. Louis Arnett Stuart Bellinger designed the building. At a time when Black architects were still significantly underrepresented in the American profession, Bellinger was one of only a small number working in the United States. The Pythian Temple is identified as his most notable surviving work. Its internal arrangement illustrates the building's multipurpose character. The first floor included commercial space, a kitchen and a large hall used for banquets and military-style drill exercises. Offices and a 1,500-seat auditorium were located on the second floor, while the third floor contained lodge rooms and more offices. The building consequently supported both the private work of the fraternal organization and large-scale public events. The property changed direction during the 1930s, when Harry Hendel acquired it and moved his Granada Theater operation two blocks from its previous location. The former temple became the New Granada Theater. Alfred M. Marks remodeled the structure in 1937 and 1938, adapting it for film exhibition and entertainment while retaining its capacity to host larger gatherings. In its theater era, the venue combined movie screenings with live entertainment, music and dancing. This mixed program made it an important part of the Hill District's commercial and cultural life. The New Granada's music history is especially associated with jazz. The available account names Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Cab Calloway among the performers who appeared at the venue. Their presence places the theater within the national circuit of major African American musical performance and links its local history to the development of jazz entertainment in twentieth-century America. The theater was thus not merely a place for showing films; it was also a stage for touring artists and a gathering place for audiences seeking music and dance. Preservation recognition developed over several decades. Pittsburgh designated the building as a city historic structure on October 8, 2004. In 2007, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation recognized it as one of its historic landmarks. On December 27, 2010, the New Granada Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These designations reflect the combined importance of its Black institutional history, association with Bellinger, theater and music history, and surviving architectural fabric. The available reference material does not document a current owner, operating company, restoration program, reopening date or present event schedule. It also does not establish whether the venue currently operates regularly. The building is therefore best described as a historically designated theater and cultural property, with its present operational status left unknown.

• 2010

  National Register of Historic Places listing

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The New Granada Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 27, 2010.

• 2007

  Local preservation landmark listing

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation listed the New Granada Theater as a historic landmark.

• 2004

  Pittsburgh historic designation

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The City of Pittsburgh added the building to its list of historic designations.

• 1938

  New Granada Theater remodeling completed

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The remodeled building operated as a movie theater and also presented live entertainment, music and dancing.

• 1937

  Remodeling for theater use begins

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  After Harry Hendel moved his Granada Theater operation into the building, remodeling work began under Alfred M. Marks.

• 1928

  Pythian Temple building completed

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The building was completed as a meeting and assembly facility for the Knights of Pythias, with lodge rooms, offices, a large auditorium and banquet-related spaces.

• 1927

  Construction of the Pythian Temple begins

  [1]New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on the building that would later become the New Granada Theater, at 2007 Centre Avenue in Pittsburgh's Hill District.

A historically significant Pittsburgh cultural venue whose identity combines cinema, live music, African American heritage, community gathering and architectural preservation.

• Cinema exhibition

  Movie screenings

  During its theater era, the New Granada presented motion pictures as a central commercial offering. The available material does not identify specific films, exhibition schedules or later cinema operators.

• Live entertainment

  Live music and jazz performances

  The venue also hosted live music, including appearances attributed to Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Cab Calloway. These performances made the building part of Pittsburgh's historic jazz and African American entertainment circuit.

• Events and assembly · 1928

  Community and banquet events

  Before its conversion to theater use, the building provided a kitchen and large hall for banquets, meetings and military-style drill exercises associated with the Knights of Pythias. Its auditorium and other spaces supported large community gatherings.

1. 1New Granada Theateren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Historic American Buildings Survey: Pythian Templeloc.gov