The Grand Theatre

The art-deco style theater opened in 1911 as the Lyda Theater and was renamed The Grand in 1931. Past and present movie-goers enjoy the detailed interior designs and the atmosphere of a bygone era. The Grand re-opened in 2004 under the direction of the Grand Foundation and is now a home for film, local performing arts, and a venue for touring performers and community events.

In the 1920′s The Lyda Movie House stood in the middle of the 300 block in downtown Grand Island. Business at the Lyda had suffered from the competition of the Capitol Theatre and the Island Theatre. The theatre had become run-down and was still showing silent films when all the other theatres in town had made the switch to sound.

In 1992, the theatre was purchased by Fridley Corporation and became a first run cinema once again. This continued for 12 years until competition from modern multiplexes forced the theatre to close once again. The Fridleys announced that they would donate the building to a non-profit organization. A small group of dedicated business owners banded together to form "The Grand Foundation, Inc." to save the last surviving movie palace in Grand Island.

The Grand Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation in the State of Nebraska. The Grand Foundation owns and operates the Grand Theatre in Grand Island, NE. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Grand Foundation exists:

A. To provide arts, entertainment, and social interaction, which through a wide variety of programs, results in personal enrichment, enjoyment and a sense of community for ethnically and age diverse audiences in the region, and:

B. To preserve the last historic movie palace in Grand Island as a home for film, local performing arts organizations, a venue for touring performers, and community events.

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