Willcox Historic Theater

Willcox Historic Theater is a movie theater and community arts venue in Willcox, Arizona, United States. According to the organization's official history, Willcox has looked to the Theater for entertainment and culture since 1914, and today's Willcox Historic Theater restored the 1937 movie theater inside and out in authentic Art Deco style, equipped with modern comfort and digital technology and showing first-run films seven days a week. The theater is operated by Willcox Theater and Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization that also runs arts programming in adjacent historic buildings known as "Studio 128" and "Palace." These spaces host live stage programming, arts workshops, and STEAM and digital arts programs. The organization describes its mission as serving all ages and interests, providing opportunities to enjoy the arts and to create, learn, and display accomplishments, while helping to keep the Railroad Avenue Historic District a vibrant downtown in Willcox. Beyond first-run movies, Willcox Theater and Arts presents a wide spectrum of programming. Its website lists guest artists live on stage, cinematic dance, theater and music, a Brown Bag Arizona History lecture series presented with the Sulphur Springs Historical Society, and performances such as the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet. The organization also offers creative services through its Studio 128 creative team, including video editing, voiceover editing, animation, and graphic design for print and digital media. Clients have included the City of Willcox and the Rex Allen Museum. It sells gift cards and promotes events such as the Red Carpet Shindig fundraiser. The theater is a private nonprofit rather than a publicly traded company. Its staff includes Executive Director Gayle Berry, a retired senior executive and founding director of Willcox Theater and Arts; Operations Director Gary Clement, who programs movies and books guest artists, the Stage to Cinema series, and the History Lecture Series; Art Program Manager Brittany Rhoades; and Marketing & Communications Manager Peter Spitzer. The organization is based at its historic theater on Railroad Avenue in Willcox and serves the surrounding Cochise County community in southeastern Arizona.

The history of the Willcox Historic Theater is tied to the cultural life of Willcox, Arizona. According to the organization's official account, Willcox has looked to the Theater for entertainment and culture since 1914. The current building's movie theater dates to 1937, and it was later restored inside and out in authentic Art Deco style, updated with modern comfort and digital technology, and continues to show first-run films seven days a week. The theater is operated by Willcox Theater and Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The organization expanded beyond film exhibition into adjacent historic buildings called "Studio 128" and "Palace," which provide live stage programming, arts workshops, and STEAM and digital arts programs. Its stated purpose is to serve all ages and interests, offering opportunities to enjoy the arts and to create, learn, and display accomplishments, while helping to keep the Railroad Avenue Historic District a vibrant downtown in Willcox. Over time the organization has broadened its programming to include guest artists live on stage, cinematic dance, theater and music, a Brown Bag Arizona History lecture series presented with the Sulphur Springs Historical Society, and performances such as the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet. It also established a creative services arm at Studio 128 offering video editing, voiceover editing, animation, and graphic design for print and digital media, with clients including the City of Willcox and the Rex Allen Museum. Fundraising and community events, such as the Red Carpet Shindig, support its operations. The theater remains a private nonprofit and a landmark of downtown Willcox.

• 1937

  The current movie theater building dates to 1937.

• 1914

  Willcox begins looking to the Theater for entertainment and culture.

• The 1937 movie theater is restored inside and out in authentic Art Deco style with modern digital technology.

• Willcox Theater and Arts expands into adjacent historic buildings Studio 128 and Palace for live stage and arts programming.

A historic, community-focused nonprofit cinema and arts center serving Willcox and the surrounding region.

• First-run films

  First-run films shown seven days a week in the restored Art Deco theater.

• Live stage programming

  Guest artists, cinematic dance, theater and music live on stage.

• Arts and STEAM workshops

  Art and STEAM workshops in class and lab settings.

• Creative services

  Video editing, voiceover editing, animation, and graphic design for print and digital media.

• Gift cards

  Gift cards valid for website purchases.

• Brown Bag Arizona History
• Red Carpet Shindig

1. 1Willcox Theater and Artswillcoxtheater.com
2. 2Willcox Theater and Arts - About Uswillcoxtheater.com
3. 3Willcox Theater and Arts - Contact Uswillcoxtheater.com
4. 4Willcox Historic Theater - Wikidatawikidata.org