Prescott Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center

The Prescott Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center is a historic performing arts venue in downtown Prescott, Arizona. The property is known in historic-register terminology as the Elks Building and Theater and occupies a prominent position on East Gurley Street. Constructed in the early twentieth century in the Early Commercial style, the approximately three-story building was completed in 1905 and includes a classically designed theater that seats more than 500 people. It is one of the surviving examples of the Elks-associated opera houses that once appeared in communities across the United States. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. In its early years, the theater served as a broad community entertainment venue. Its programming included minstrel shows, dances, balls, plays, opera-house performances, and other theatrical events. The arrival of motion pictures expanded its role: silent films were introduced around 1915, and sound equipment was installed in 1929, allowing the venue to present talking pictures. Films continued to be shown there into the 1980s, making the theater part of Prescott's commercial and cultural life for much of the twentieth century. The property passed through several periods of private ownership before being transferred to the Arizona Community Foundation in the early 1980s. That change initiated a long-term preservation effort intended to recover the building's historic character and return the theater to usable condition. The City of Prescott acquired the property in 2001, after which the city and the foundation worked together on restoration. Work included the theater lobby, green room, dressing rooms, and other portions of the complex. A theater renovation costing approximately $1.75 million was completed in 2010. In 2012, the city sold the buildings to The Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The nonprofit continued the preservation program beyond the auditorium, focusing on the associated three-story Elks Lodge No. 330 building. Construction was completed in December 2016. The restored and adapted facilities added two professional dance studios, music and voice practice booths, banquet and event rooms, a commercial-style chef's kitchen, and related technical infrastructure. One dance studio has a floating hickory floor, while the other uses a sprung Marley surface. Both are designed for independent control of lighting, climate, and sound. The center now operates as a venue and community resource rather than simply as a movie or theater house. Its stated mission is to strengthen the Prescott community by providing facilities for performing-arts practice, rehearsal, instruction, training, and presentation. The property supports performances, educational activity, rehearsals, dance instruction, music and voice practice, private events, and community gatherings. Its preservation identity remains central to the brand: restoration retained original features wherever feasible, including barrel ceilings with pressed-tin detailing, a concealed staircase, historic stained glass, and the locally made copper elk known as Bill on the roof. A stained-glass clock associated with the Elks tradition points to eleven o'clock, the time of a customary toast to absent members. The organization established an endowment as part of the acquisition arrangement to support the theater's continuing operation and maintenance. The venue therefore combines historic preservation, nonprofit cultural programming, event rental, and arts education. Its principal significance is regional and civic: it is a surviving historic opera-house complex that has been adapted for contemporary performing arts while retaining much of its original architectural and fraternal heritage.

The Elks Building and Theater is a historic opera-house and performing-arts complex in Prescott, Arizona. Its theater was completed in 1905 as part of an Early Commercial-style building associated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The structure is approximately 95 feet wide and 125 feet deep and rises three stories. The auditorium seats more than 500 people and was part of a wider network of Elks opera houses built in American communities during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Prescott property is regarded as the only surviving example of that group still operating in its original cultural role. The theater initially hosted a mixture of popular and civic entertainment, including minstrel shows, balls, plays, and other stage performances. Around 1915, the venue began showing silent motion pictures. Sound equipment was installed in 1929, corresponding with the expansion of talking pictures. Film screenings continued for decades and remained part of the theater's activity into the 1980s. After multiple changes in private ownership, the property was transferred to the Arizona Community Foundation in the early 1980s. The foundation began efforts to preserve and rehabilitate the opera house. The City of Prescott purchased the property in 2001 and worked with the foundation on restoration of the lobby, green room, dressing rooms, and other spaces. The theater portion of the rehabilitation was completed in 2010 at a reported cost of approximately $1.75 million. In 2012, the city transferred ownership to The Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The nonprofit continued the restoration program and broadened its focus to the three-story Elks Lodge No. 330 building. The project was completed in December 2016. New facilities included two professional dance studios, five Wenger music and voice isolation booths, two banquet halls with a combined capacity of approximately 200 people, a whole-floor sound system, and a professional kitchen. The dance studios were equipped with specialized flooring, adjustable lighting, independent climate control, and modern sound systems. Preservation work sought to retain original construction and decorative details. Surviving features include pressed-tin barrel ceilings, a concealed staircase, and stained glass associated with the Elks. A stained-glass clock points to eleven o'clock, referencing the Elks' traditional toast to absent members. A locally sourced copper elk sculpture, known as Bill, remains on the roof. The modern organization presents the property as both a historic venue and a community arts resource. Its mission is to provide space for performing-arts practice, rehearsal, instruction, and training while supporting public performances and events. An endowment established as part of the acquisition arrangement is intended to support the theater's continuing operation and maintenance. The center's present identity therefore rests on the combination of historic preservation, nonprofit cultural stewardship, arts education, performance, and community use.

• 2016

  Lodge restoration completed

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The broader restoration and adaptive-reuse construction was completed in December.

• 2012

  Nonprofit acquisition

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The City of Prescott sold the buildings to The Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center.

• 2010

  Theater restoration completed

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The principal theater renovation was completed, with the reported project cost approximately $1.75 million.

• 2001

  Prescott ownership begins

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The City of Prescott purchased the property and joined the Arizona Community Foundation in restoration efforts.

• 1978

  National Register recognition

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The Elks Building and Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1929

  Sound added for talking pictures

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Sound equipment was installed, enabling the venue to present talking pictures.

• 1915

  Silent films introduced

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The theater began showing motion pictures during the silent-film era.

• 1905

  Elks Building and Theater completed

  [1]Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The three-story Early Commercial-style building and its theater were completed in Prescott, Arizona.

A nonprofit historic-preservation venue and community performing arts center that combines a restored early-twentieth-century theater with rehearsal, training, event, and arts-education facilities.

• Performing arts venue · 1905

  Historic theater auditorium

  The restored auditorium is the property's principal public performance space. With seating for more than 500 people, it has supported stage productions, films, concerts, civic events, and other forms of public entertainment since the building's early years. The restoration preserved the theater's historic character while returning it to use as a contemporary performing arts venue.

• Arts education and rehearsal · 2016

  Professional dance studios

  The restored lodge facilities include two self-contained professional dance studios. One uses a floating hickory dance floor and the other a sprung Marley surface. Each studio has adjustable lighting, independent heating and air conditioning, and modern sound equipment for classes, rehearsal, and training.

• Music education and rehearsal · 2016

  Music and voice practice booths

  Five Wenger music and voice isolation practice booths were added during the lodge restoration. They provide dedicated spaces for individual or small-group practice and support the center's broader mission of making facilities available for performing-arts training and rehearsal.

• Events and hospitality · 2016

  Banquet and event facilities

  The third floor contains two banquet halls with a combined floor capacity of approximately 200 people. The facilities include a whole-floor sound system and a newly installed chef's kitchen with warming ovens, grills, and griddles, allowing the complex to host receptions, banquets, community functions, and private events.

• 2016

  Expansion from theater restoration to full arts centerStrategy

  Background

  After the theater restoration was completed, the operating nonprofit turned its attention to the associated Elks Lodge No. 330 building.

  Action taken

  The organization completed adaptive restoration that added dance studios, practice booths, banquet halls, sound infrastructure, and a professional kitchen.

  Aftermath

  The property became a broader performing arts, rehearsal, education, event, and community-use center rather than only a historic theater.

  Source

• 2012

  Transfer to nonprofit cultural operatorM&A

  Background

  Following the city-led restoration, long-term operation and expansion of the historic complex required a dedicated nonprofit steward.

  Action taken

  The City of Prescott sold the buildings to The Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

  Aftermath

  The nonprofit continued restoration, expanded the complex with arts-training and event facilities, and established an endowment intended to support perpetual operation and maintenance.

  Source

• 2001

  City acquisition and preservation partnershipM&A

  Background

  The historic theater had experienced multiple private ownership changes, while preservation efforts had been initiated by the Arizona Community Foundation.

  Action taken

  The City of Prescott purchased the property and partnered with the foundation to restore the theater's public and support spaces.

  Aftermath

  The partnership led to substantial rehabilitation, including work on the lobby, green room, dressing rooms, and theater, culminating in completion of the principal theater renovation in 2010.

  Reported theater renovation cost. $1.75 million (2010)

  Source

1. 1Elks Building and Theateren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Prescott Elks Theater and Performing Arts Center official websiteprescottelkstheater.com