Built in 1933 in the historic center of Quito, the 2,200-seat Bolivar Theater became the city’s most opulent movie palace and premier performance venue. The theater was designed by the famous American theater architects Hoffman and Henon in a lavish eclectic style, combining Art Deco, Spanish, and classical motifs. (...)
Built in 1933 in the historic center of Quito, the 2,200-seat Bolivar Theater became the city’s most opulent movie palace and premier performance venue. The theater was designed by the famous American theater architects Hoffman and Henon in a lavish eclectic style, combining Art Deco, Spanish, and classical motifs. Throughout its 72-year history, it played host to luminaries from the world of music and ballet including the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with Leonard Bernstein in 1958, and with Zubin Mehta in 1978, the Beriozka Ballet of Russia and the Ballet Clásico de Madrid of Spain. The Bolivar Theater had only been open for two years after a complete restoration when a fire broke out in August 1999, destroying large portions of the roof and upper seating areas, prompting the closure of most of the theater. Following the disaster, the Fundación Teatro Bolivar, established to restore the theater, became the new owner of the site and set out to raise money to return the theater to use.
