New Mexico Tourism | Western | Experience | Ghosts

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KiMo Theatre

Central region of New Mexico The KiMo Theatre, a Pueblo Deco picture palace, was opened on September 19, 1927, by Oreste Bachechi. Bachechi, a motivated entrepreneur from humble origins, came to the United States in 1885. Winding up in Albuquerque, he soon set up a business in a tent near the railroad tracks becoming a liquor dealer and proprietor of a grocery store. His wife Maria ran a dry good store in the Elms Hotel. As his fortunes expanded, he began the Bachechi Amusement Association in 1919, which operated the Pastime Theatre with Joe Barnett. In 1925, Oreste decided to achieve his true dream – building his own theatre. Envisioning a unique southwestern style, he soon hired an architect to design it, winding up with the Pueblo Deco style. This architectural style was a flamboyant, short-lived fashion that fused the spirit of the Native American cultures with Art Deco.

At a cost of $150,000, the theatre opened on September 19, 1927, at a time when silent movies were the all-consuming rage in America. A contest was run for the naming of the new theatre and Pablo Abeita won the magnificent prize of $50 for the unique name of “KiMo.” KiMo is a combination of two Indian words literally meaning "mountain lion" but more liberally interpreted as "king of its kind."

No institution stands through time without something bad happening and the KiMo is no exception. In 1951, a six-year-old boy named Bobby Darnall was killed when the boiler in the basement exploded, demolishing part of the original lobby. The boiler was located right beneath the concession stand in the lobby. Bobby, who had been sitting in the theatre balcony with some of his friends, suddenly was frightened by something on the screen and ran down the staircase to the lobby. Just as he arrived, the boiler exploded. Little Bobby's spirit is said to continue to haunt the KiMo Theatre today.

According to legend, the impish spirit causes the performers problems by tripping them and creating a ruckus during performances. To appease the spirit, the cast hangs doughnuts on the water pipe that runs along the back wall of the theatre behind the stage. Often, the treats are gone the next morning. Of those that are left, bite marks made by a little mouth can sometimes be seen. He has been seen playing on the lobby staircase, wearing a striped shirt and blue jeans.

One year, a crew preparing for a Christmas production took down the stale doughnuts. Big mistake. No sooner were the doughnuts removed, when the technical rehearsal started to become a disaster, with everything going wrong, from lighting, to sound problems, and more. When the treats were replaced, things began to run smoothly again.

Not only is the old theatre home to poor Bobby Darnall, but also to a mysterious lady who is seen walking along the hallways. This unknown woman, wearing a bonnet, has often been reported walking down the halls of the theatre, appearing to be just going about her business. Nothing more is known of this ghostly presence, but seemingly she doesn’t disturb anyone, she just likes strolling about the old theatre.