Community theater founded in 1930 in a 1936 John Gaw Meem-designed WPA building, associated with the benevolent spirits of former director Bernard Thomas and caretaker Manuel 'Manny' Jaramillo.
224 San Pasquale Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Ticketed performances; pricing varies by show.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Historic theater building; accessible seating available.
Equipment
No Photos
Est. 1936 · Founded 1930 by Irene Fisher and Kathryn Kennedy O'Connor · 1936 building designed by John Gaw Meem · First Albuquerque structure built by the WPA · Vivian Vance performed in the inaugural 1930 production
Albuquerque Little Theatre (ALT) was founded in 1930 by civic leaders led by Irene Fisher, a reporter for the New Mexico Tribune, with director Kathryn Kennedy O'Connor as its first artistic head. The theater operated initially at the KiMo Theatre downtown before moving to its permanent home in 1936.
The current building at 224 San Pasquale Avenue SW was designed by architect John Gaw Meem, the leading New Mexico practitioner of Pueblo Revival and Spanish Pueblo Revival architecture. The theater was the first structure in Albuquerque built by the Works Progress Administration under Roosevelt's New Deal. Vivian Vance — later celebrated as Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy and winner of the first Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress — performed in ALT's inaugural 1930 production; her Emmy is displayed in the theater's lobby.
Kathryn Kennedy O'Connor directed the theater until 1961. She was succeeded by Bernard 'Bernie' Thomas, who served as executive director through 1980, and by a sequence of later leaders. Manuel 'Manny' Jaramillo, a longtime caretaker and master carpenter, served the theater for decades and is the second figure central to its ghost lore. ALT continues to operate as a producing community theater with a full season of mainstage productions.
Sources
According to the Albuquerque Journal's 2024 reporting, Albuquerque Little Theatre is associated with two benevolent presences. Bernard 'Bernie' Thomas served as executive director from 1961 through 1980 and is described in staff lore as continuing to watch over the operation. Manuel 'Manny' Jaramillo, the theater's longtime caretaker and master carpenter, is the second figure; the Journal reports that his ashes were scattered under the stage at his request.
ALT staff describe doors opening and closing on their own and a felt presence in the hallways, particularly attributed to Manny. ALT's resource director is quoted by the Journal saying the spirits are 'still looking over us,' maintaining the theater's legacy. Both presences are described as benevolent and protective rather than threatening; the lore is part of the theater's cultural identity rather than a thrill draw.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Buy tickets to a season production. The 1936 John Gaw Meem-designed auditorium retains its WPA-era detailing, and longtime staff are openly familiar with the theater's ghost lore.
The theater is the first Albuquerque structure built by the Works Progress Administration; the exterior alone is a notable architectural stop.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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