Springerville in Apache County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

El Rio Theatre

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

1. El Rio Theatre Marker

Inscription. Built c.1915 & originally called the Apache Theatre, this adobe movie house once showed silent flickers with a hand-cranked projector. Renamed the El Rio in 1937, Round Valley's first theatre is still operating with its original popcorn machine.

Erected by Round Valley Positive Action Tourism Committee and Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 20.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Arizona, Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 34° 8.032′ N, 109° 17.169′ W. Marker is in Springerville, Arizona, in Apache County. It is on West Main Street (U.S. 180/191), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14 West Main Street, Springerville AZ 85938, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Mogollon Rim

and in the White Mountains.

It is also in the American Southwest,

in the Mountain West,

in Colorado Plateau,

and at the Four Corners.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Springerville World War I Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Baldonado Home (about 400 feet away); James Hale Shooting (about 400 feet away); Madonna of the Trail

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(about 400 feet away); Baca Home (about 400 feet away); Presbyterian & Catholic Churchs (about 400 feet away); Becker's Transcontinental Garage (about 500 feet away); White Mountain Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springerville.

More about this marker. This is Marker Stop #20 on the Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour.

Regarding El Rio Theatre. Opened about 1915 as the Apache Theater and is thought to be one of the oldest motion picture houses in Arizona. Silent films made by flicking thousands of cards before the camera to convey animals and people in motion were shown here using a hand-cranked projector. Patrons sat on backless wooden benches.

Built of adobe, with double adobe walls on both sides, the theater withstood fires during the 1920’s that ravaged the street once known as “Chinatown.” There were no Chinese living in the town, however the street featured gaudy entertainment that a quiet, rural community thought belonged in a big city Chinatown. There were cafes, pool halls, a dance hall, and the theater. The double adobe walls saved the building

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 19, 2010

2. El Rio Theatre Marker

but the roof burned, and some of the roof timbers still show charring on the edges.
Source: The Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour Brochure.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,148 times since then and 101 times this year. Last updated on October 1, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 29, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.