If walls could really talk, what stories would they tell? One of the enjoyable things about working in the theatre each day is walking in and out of the front doors listening to someone with a friend or family member pointing up at the marquee telling a story, their story of a memory at the theatre.

I have a dear story of a recent memory I have of the theatre. As we were rushing around last March to open the theatre, finishing up the final construction checklist and preparing for the grand opening events, I met a wonderful woman who stopped me in my tracks and took me back to one of her fondest life memories at the Plaza Theatre.

It was the day before the grand opening and the theatre was not yet open to the public. She was standing outside under the marquee peeking in through the glass doors. As I exited the front doors, she kindly called to me and asked if she could see the theatre. I explained to her that the theatre was closed and we would be open tomorrow for the grand opening and invited her to attend. She thanked me but asked if she could please go in today; she had a special reason for needing to go into the theatre that day. So I stopped and listened.

She had read in the paper that the theatre would be reopening, and she wanted to come down to see it. Today, she explained to me, was the anniversary of the day her husband had proposed to her here at the theatre some 60 years ago. He had just passed away that year, and she wanted to celebrate the day by walking through the restored theatre. So we walked through the theatre. She had wonderful stories to tell about her memories of the theatre and El Paso. What a special treat for me to hear all about this theatre and the impact it has had on El Pasoans. I encourage everyone to take a loved one who has a memory of the theatre through its front doors and listen to their stories.