Nathan Salmon

1866 - 1941

BiographyNathan Salmon, born Na’aman Soleiman in Biskinta, Syria, July 1866, arrived in New
York at age 21. Two months later he journeyed westward to Durango, Colorado. For
three years he traveled the roads of southern Colorado, selling goods from a wagon. In New Orleans, on his way back to Europe, he met his bride-to-be. Returning to Durango,
they were stranded by a snowstorm in Santa Fe. Down to his last 25 cents, Salmon
pawned his watch to wire a friend for a loan and, with that help, he resumed business as a “cart peddler.” Later in life he recalled how other merchants ridiculed him as “the man
with the wagon store.” He prospered and soon bought a dry goods store on San Francisco Street in 1894. Family lore has it that the down payment came from his winnings in a pool game.

With a keen eye for land value, the enterprising Salmon bought property throughout
Santa Fe and Albuquerque. By the time of his death in 1941, he ranked among the
wealthiest men of New Mexico. Among his contributions to the state’s development,
Nathan became known as a builder of theaters. Beginning in 1911, he had opened and
closed several small theaters before drawing plans for a lavish movie palace – to be the
most splendid theater in the southwest. In defiance of the unrelenting financial devastation of the Great Depression, Salmon, along with his son-in-law, E. John Greer,
announced on March 27, 1930, plans for such a place. The ‘Spanish style’ theater boasted the latest projection and sound equipment – and would offer live performance and talkies to Santa Fe’s 11,000 residents.

Salmon envisioned every comfort: men’s and women’s lounges on the mezzanine level,
spacious dressing rooms beneath the stage and, in the house, 100 leather upholstered
deluxe rocking seats – later coveted by theatergoers and available at a premium. West of
the theater, he proposed offices with an upstairs dance hall – “one of the finest dancing
pavilions in the southwest,” conveniently accessible from the theater’s mezzanine. After
the show, movie patrons could proceed to the ballroom for dancing, pausing along the
way for refreshments at a roof garden. Gentlemen might relax in the exclusive men’s club
facing San Francisco Street, while ladies played bridge in any of several private rooms.
Those arriving by motor car would find a brightly lit parking lot for 250 cars behind the
theater. Valet parking attendants would be instructed not to accept tips.

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