Arlington Theatre

Arlington Theatre
DillyLynn · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Arlington Theatre
Caption	The Arlington Theatre marquee on State Street
Location	Santa Barbara, California
Built	1925
Architect	Reginald Johnson; Winsor Soule (interior)
Architectural style	Spanish Colonial Revival; Art Deco
Owner	City of Santa Barbara
Seating capacity	2,018

Arlington Theatre The Arlington Theatre is a historic performing arts venue on State Street in Santa Barbara, California near the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Opened in the 1920s, the Arlington has hosted film premieres, theatrical productions, and civic events, serving as a focal point for Santa Barbara International Film Festival, United States west coast exhibition circuits, and local cultural institutions. The theatre’s prominence links it to regional development projects, preservation campaigns, and landmark design movements in California.

History

Constructed during the post‑World War I boom that included projects like the Santa Barbara County Courthouse restoration and the expansion of State Street, the Arlington Theatre was commissioned by theatre entrepreneur Moses A. 'M.A.' Roth and financed amid investments from local business figures associated with El Paseo development efforts. The 1925 opening occurred in the same era as the reconstruction following the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, which transformed urban planning under the influence of officials who collaborated with architects such as Reginald D. Johnson and designers connected to the Santa Barbara Architectural Survey. Over the decades the venue hosted touring companies from theatrical circuits tied to producers like Florenz Ziegfeld and film distributors such as Paramount Pictures, while also serving the programming needs of festivals affiliated with organizations like the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and touring troupes from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and regional opera companies.

Architecture and design

Designed by architect Reginald D. Johnson with interior design contributions often attributed to designers sympathetic to the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture movement championed by figures like Bertram Goodhue and George Washington Smith, the Arlington blends revivalist motifs with Art Deco elements reminiscent of contemporaneous landmarks such as the Crosley Building and regional California theatres. The auditorium’s horseshoe plan and proscenium arch draw comparisons to stages in venues associated with companies like RKO and the Fox Theatre (Bakersfield), while decorative elements reference the ornamentation seen at the Mission Santa Barbara and the façades along State Street. Structural systems reflect masonry techniques promoted by engineers connected to the University of California, Berkeley architecture programs, and ornamental plasterwork echoes craftsmanship found in restorations recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey.

Events and programming

Programming at the Arlington has ranged from film premieres tied to distributors such as MGM and Warner Bros. to live performances by companies related to Broadway tours, local dance ensembles, and symphonic concerts programmed by presenters affiliated with institutions like the Santa Barbara Symphony. The theatre became the principal venue for the annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, hosting award ceremonies featuring honorees associated with Academy Awards nominees and participants from studios like Sony Pictures Classics. Community partnerships have included screenings coordinated with the Carsey-Wolf Center and educational residencies linked to programs sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council.

Preservation and renovations

Preservation efforts have involved collaboration among municipal agencies in Santa Barbara, preservation advocates connected with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and consultants from firms experienced with landmarks like the Los Angeles Theatre and restorations funded partly through state incentives such as programs administered by the California Office of Historic Preservation. Renovations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries addressed seismic retrofitting informed by guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, acoustical upgrades following recommendations from consultants who worked on venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and historic stage lighting schemes influenced by conservationists associated with the American Institute for Conservation. Funding and oversight reflected partnerships with foundations linked to donors who have supported local arts organizations including the Santa Barbara Bowl and the Music Academy of the West.

Cultural significance and reception

Cultural commentators from publications such as the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and the Santa Barbara Independent have noted the Arlington’s role as both an architectural landmark and a community institution, comparing its civic presence to sites like the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Old Mission Santa Barbara. The theatre’s contributions to regional identity intersect with tourism promoted by bodies like Visit California and academic studies conducted by scholars at University of California, Santa Barbara and preservation coursework at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Critical reception highlights the venue’s acoustics, historic interiors, and continued relevance to festival culture exemplified by programming trends similar to those at the Telluride Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival. The Arlington remains cited in municipal cultural plans and studies by organizations including the National Trust for Historic Preservation for its exemplary integration of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and cinematic heritage.

Category:Theatres in California Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Barbara, California