Granada Theatre

The story of the Granada Theatre began in 1923, when the original Granada Theatre opened on Monterey Road, about a block south of the present-day theater. The first theater stood on the site now occupied by The Hill Bar & Grill. Over the years, it changed ownership and adapted to the community’s evolving tastes, eventually becoming known for showing Spanish-language films.

After the original theater was destroyed by fire, a new Granada Theatre was built in 1952. The new theater inherited not only the Granada name but also its place as Morgan Hill’s primary entertainment venue, continuing a tradition that had begun nearly three decades earlier.

For generations of Morgan Hill residents, the Granada Theatre was more than just a movie house. It was where families gathered on Friday nights, teenagers went on first dates, and neighbors escaped into the magic of film beneath glowing marquee lights. The Granada Theatre opened in 1952, designed by architect Gale Santocono in the sleek Streamline Moderne style popular after World War II. Inside, moviegoers were surrounded by elegant murals of flamingoes, herons, and magnolias painted against deep crimson walls, while stylish curved designs swirled across the ceiling.

Although the theater remained popular for decades, changing movie habits and the rise of multiplex cinemas slowly reduced attendance. The Granada Theatre, owned for many years by Ed and Irene Enderson, closed in 2003, was sold and several years later the City’s Redevelopment Agency purchased it and surrounding buildings. In 2015 the city sold the building to Frank Leal, owner of Leal Vineyards in Hollister. After extensive renovations, the theater was transformed into a banquet and event venue while preserving much of its historic exterior character. It opened for its first public event on New Year’s Eve 2016.

Today, the Granada Theatre continues to stand in downtown Morgan Hill as a reminder of the city’s cultural and social history. Though films no longer flicker across its screen, the building still brings people together.