The Lensic was built in 1931 by Nathan Salmon and his son-in-law, E. John Greer. The famed Boller Brothers of Kansas City drew up the architectural design: a film and vaudeville house that would be called "the most splendid theater in the West." It's pseudo-Moorish, Spanish Renaissance style was originally enhanced with a huge striped tapestry hanging across the ceiling to give the appearance of an Arabian tent. As the lights were dimmed, images of clouds projected on the ceiling rolled across the skyscape.

For decades, the Lensic flourished as a mainstay of Santa Fe entertainment, with appearances by celebrity performers like Rita Hayworth, Roy Rogers, Judy Garland and Yehudi Menuhin. In 1941 Warner Brothers hosted a world premiere of the film Santa Fe Trail. Errol Flynn, Rudy Vallee, and Olivia de Havilland were all part of the entourage that arrived on a special train chartered for the event.

The Lensic remained open to the end of the century but, through time, became outdated and suffered from disuse. Santa Fe was lacking a home for its performing arts community and a plan arose to transform the historic theater into a world-class venue ideally suited for theater, music, dance, film, lectures and community events. By the Spring of 1998, led by board president Nancy Zeckendorf, the non-profit Lensic Performing Arts Center was on its way to raising the $9 million needed to fund the project.

In December, 2000 the Lensic was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as an official project of Save America's Treasures. The following April, renovation and restoration of the theater began.

The Lensic was re-engineered to create an ideal performance venue: including removal of the back wall to increase the depth of the stage house and installation of advanced lighting and sound systems. A remarkable addition was the revolutionary Acoustical Control System (ACS), which provides perfect acoustics for performances ranging from classical concerts to spoken word. To resurrect the Lensic's fantastic atmospheric design, architectural and ornamental details were painstakingly restored.

The Lensic Performing Arts Center celebrated its grand opening in April 2001. A week-long celebration was held with thousands flocking to performances by local performers and world-renowned artists-officially re-dedicating the restored and rejuvenated Lensic to the people of Santa Fe.

RENOVATION DESIGN TEAM:

Master Plan
Hardy, Holzman, Pfeiffer Associates

Project Architects
Craig Hoopes & Associates

Project Manager
BPL & Associates, Inc.

Acoustical Consultants
Purcell Noppe Associates

Theatrical Consultants
Jules Fisher/Joshua Dachs Associates, Inc.

Audio Consultants
Green Mountain West Theatrical Engineering Services

General Contractor
Klinger Constructors, Inc.

Construction Financing
Century Bank

Theater Restoration
Conrad Schmitt Studios