KiMo Theatre
423 Central NW, 1927, Carl Boller

The KiMo Theatre opened in 1927, fulfilling Albuquerque merchants Oreste and Maria Bachechi's dream of providing an opulent movie palace based on southwestern design themes. The Pueblo Deco showcase was designed by Carl Boller of Boller Brothers, a Kansas City architectural firm active in movie-house design throughout the west during Hollywood's early days of popularity.

Isleta pueblo Governor Pablo Abeita won $500 for suggesting the name, which means "king of its kind." Construction cost $150,000, with an additional $18,000 to provide a Wurlitzer organ to accompany the silent movies. Construction was completed in less than a year. A luncheonette and a gift shop were located in spaces adjacent to the theatre entry. After Oreste Bachechi died, his sons took over theatre, combining vaudeville and out-of-town road shows with movies.

The KiMo borrowed motifs from many of the pueblos surrounding Albuquerque, as well as from Navajo imagery and western folklore. Ceiling beams, light fixtures, handrails and other building elements were decorated to reflect the popular attractions of New Mexico's native peoples and natural wonders. Well-known local artist Carl von Hassler created murals for the lobby area, depicting the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola.

The KiMo was purchased by the City of Albuquerque in 1977 for use as a community arts center. Following plans by architects Harvey Hoshour and Dan Pearson, the theatre's exotic details have been carefully restored and updated to serve a new generation of New Mexicans. As a Landmark, even the shape and proportion of the marquee as well as the colors used in the 1982 renovation must be preserved.