The Alameda Theater was part of the American dream envisioned by G.A. "Tano" Lucchese. On March 9, 1949, Mr. Lucchese opened the theater with pride and vision "as a permanent symbol of good faith and understanding between the Latin-American and Anglo-American where they might share and recognize two different cultures." Tomas Ybarra Frausto, Rockefeller Foundation Scholar, calls The Alameda Theater "the Apollo Theater for Latinos living in the United States."

In order to save the historic theater from demolition, the City of San Antonio purchased it in 1995 to create what would become the National Center for Latino Arts and Culture. Henry R. Muņoz III, a prominent businessman and philanthropist, was appointed Chairman and given the task of raising the funds necessary to renovate the theater. Importantly, Mr. Muņoz is connected to the theater by heritage, as both his father and grandfather worked as motion picture projectionists at The Alameda. Once restored, the Alameda Theater will be faithfully returned to its 1949 vintage condition and will seat 2,400 patrons in beautiful splendor.

Through an exclusive relationship with The Kennedy Center, signed in 2001, the theater will share production costs to present theater, dance, music, film, symposia, television productions, and other major public programming. Mr. Lucchese's dream continues in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts and is greatly enhanced by The Museo Alameda in association with The Smithsonian Institution.