LIVE ON ROUTE 66 / GUIDEBOOK
Historic Lobo Theater
Albuquerque / THE ROOM
Why this room makes the map
The Lobo opened on Central Avenue in August 1938 with spotlights, fireworks and a live radio broadcast, and after six decades of movies and two of church services it came back in 2021 as a place to hear bands. The Art Deco bones survived, down to the marquee and the original restroom signs.
About the room
The theater at 3013 Central Ave NE in Nob Hill showed independent, European and second-run films until it closed in 2000, and Calvary Nob Hill Church met inside until the pandemic. J. Richard Rivas renovated it in 2021, keeping 300 restored original seats and adding a reclaimed-wood bar, with VIP seating upstairs. The calendar now covers live music and comedy along with film nights and big-game watch parties.
Before you go
Parking is on the street and in nearby Nob Hill lots, so leave a few extra minutes on busy Central nights. Age rules vary by show; check the event page at loboabq.com before you go.