100 Years – From the Ground Up (in 2 mintues)
Rising from an empty lot on State Street in 1924, The Granada has been our community’s Center for the Arts. It was built by Charles M. Urton, a self-taught contractor who had never attempted a high-rise steel structure before. So, he sent off for an impressive collection of ‘’how-to-build-a-skyscraper” books.
Urton learned as he built, and it certainly paid off. He built what has remained the only true high-rise in Santa Barbara history, surviving the 1925 earthquake and providing unparalleled entertainment for generations of Santa Barbarans.
In 2005, the Granada undertook a 3-year complete restoration, from the ground up, with a gala reopening in 2008. Santa Barbara videographer Dana Morrow chronicled the entire reconstruction project, visiting the site every week to mark its progress.
Here, he highlights the entire journey, from its ambitious beginnings through the massive reconstruction – 100 years in 2 minutes.