Smithwick claimed the prize ( a tidy sum in Depression years) by creating an acronym using the required initials (for Lila, Elias John, Nathan, Sara, Mary Irene and Charles), while at the same time cleverly implying the “lens” of a movie projector. Salmon sponsored a competition, including a $25 prize, to name the new theater, using either a Spanish title or an amalgam of his grandchildren’s initials. The Salmon-Greer partnership broke ground for the theatre in September 1930, and its uniquely memorable name originated when Mr. John Greer, made plans to build what they called a ‘Spanish style’ theater, with up-to-date projection and sound equipment that could offer both live performances and the new ‘talking’ pictures to the then-11,000 residents of Santa Fe. In 1930, despite the devastating pressures of the Great Depression, Mr. An enterprising individual with an immigrant’s belief in the real value of property, Mr. Salmon bought land parcels throughout the Santa Fe and Albuquerque area. The Lensic was built by Nathan Salmon, an immigrant from Syria, who chose to make Santa Fe his home in the late 1800’s, after being stranded here by a snowstorm.

As we settled into our seats for a few hours of glorious music, I was struck yet again at the glories of this landmark theatre and all the wonderful things it has made possible in Santa Fe.Ī versatile performing arts center located right off the Santa Fe Plaza, the Lensic originated as a movie and vaudeville theater, with a 69-year run before closing, a passing that was deeply mourned by Santa Fesinos for whom memories of a movie and dinner downtown live on in their minds as the perfect date.

Santa Fe screenings are held on the appointed Saturdays at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, so I headed there last Saturday for my opera fix, in this case La Fanciulla del West by Puccini, whose La Boheme comes back to Santa Fe this summer. That’s why the live HD simlucasts from the Metropolitan Opera are so welcome. Total opera fan that I am, the time between summer seasons of the Santa Fe Opera seems particularly long right about now. The Distinctive Lensic Performing Arts Center

Santa fe opera apprentice program