Nile Theater Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary with Throwback Swing Dance Party

When Mesa's Nile Theater first opened in 1924, it was a decadently decorated silent movie house. These days, what streams out of the theater is anything but quiet. The Nile Theater frequently hosts local and touring hardcore, punk and metal bands. Acts like Against Me!, Circle Takes the Square, and...

By David Accomazzo

July 17, 2014

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When Mesa's Nile Theater first opened in 1924, it was a decadently decorated silent movie house.

These days, what streams out of the theater is anything but quiet.

The Nile Theater frequently hosts local and touring hardcore, punk and metal bands. Acts like Against Me!, Circle Takes the Square, and Code Orange Kids and more have graced either venue's spacious main stage or the more cozy Underground, located in the basement.

To honor the building's 90th birthday, The Mantooth Group, which manages the theater, is throwing a swing dance gala, with live music provided by Jump, Jive & Wail, dance lessons, a pin-up contest, electro-swing dance, "candy girls" and more.

The Nile has gone though many different incarnations and managers, spending some time as a restaurant, as host to a dinner theater, and a church. From 1994 through 2002, the Nile Theater operated as a rock club, but things came to halt abruptly in 2002, after a series of legal issues and bad publicity, culminating with a patron getting shot during a rap concert in 2001. A church then moved in, but by 2010, Mantooth Entertainment had taken over and started running shows out of both the Underground and the main stage.

The Nile Turns 90! Swing Dance Party is scheduled at the Nile Theater on Saturday, August 9. Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 day of show.

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