ROBERT SHAW and the YUMA THEATER

The time was 7:05pm.  The location was the Yuma Historical Theater and Art Center. The house lights dimmed. Seconds later the voice of Robert Shaw roared out those ever famous words “Hello. I’m Johnny Cash”.  Suddenly the house lights illuminated Robert Shaw and the Lonely Street Band and an entertaining evening of Johnny Cash music ensued.

Robert Shaw and the music of Johnny Cash   Photo by Lonely Street Production

The Yuma Historical Theater, originally called the Zeller Theater, opened it’s doors February 21, 1912.  Tragedy struck on September 8, 1913 when it burned in a spectacular fire that destroyed the theater portion of the building. The roof was destroyed as well as the interior, the temporary seating and the "moving picture machine." Fire damage to the roof framing still exists. 

Within three months of the fire, arrangements were made to repair, rebuild and lease the new structure to a new tenant, Riley's Garage.  Riley's Garage officially opened the first week of January 1914 and occupied the building for eleven and a half years.

In 1926 it was announced that $40,000 would be spent to reconstruct the building for theater purposes. The grand opening was January 12, 1927 as the Yuma Theater.   Sadly, tragedy struck again in 1936 when a fire broke out in the attic. The theater went dark yet again during the reconstruction period and reopened on April 11, 1936.

Inside the Yuma Theater Photo by Yuma Theater

Today as you enter the 640 seat theater you will see an interior decor that has remained virtually unchanged since 1936, complete with two monumental mermaid murals in the audience chamber and the only functioning carbon arc projectors west of the Mississippi. 

Inside Yuma Theater Photo by Yuma Theater

Mermaid Murals inside Yuma Theater  Photo by Yuma Theater

Robert Shaw is the Owner, President and Executive Producer of Lonely Street Production, a company he founded in 2005 and based in Tucson, Arizona.  Shaw was born in Southeast Indiana, raised in a musical family and began performing at a young age. Shaw has performed with both the Chicago and New York casts of Broadway’s smash-hit musical “Million Dollar Quartet.” 

Robert Shaw  Photo by Lonely Street Production

As a pre-eminent Cash tribute artist, Shaw presented the 50-year career of Johnny Cash through stories, media and music.  Highlights included "Folsom Prison Blues", "I Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire", "A Boy Named Sue" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky." 

With a ticket cost of only $25, you can enjoy an entertaining musical evening at a relatively low price.