California Theatre (San Jose)

California Theatre (San Jose). The California Theatre is a historic movie palace located in San Jose, California, and is one of the last remaining Fox Theatres in the United States. It was designed by architects Weeks and Day and built by Michael Naughton and Thomas Kearns, with the assistance of H.L. Stevens. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a San Jose Historic Landmark, recognized by the City of San Jose and the San Jose City Council.

● History

The California Theatre was opened on March 31, 1927, with a screening of the silent film Don Juan, starring John Barrymore and Mary Astor. The theatre was built during the Roaring Twenties and was one of the most popular entertainment venues in San Jose, California, hosting performances by famous entertainers such as Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, and The Marx Brothers. The theatre was also a popular spot for vaudeville performances, featuring acts like W.C. Fields and Eddie Cantor. During the Great Depression, the theatre continued to operate, showing films and hosting live performances, including those by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters.

● Architecture

The California Theatre was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with a mix of Moorish and Baroque elements, inspired by the works of Bernard Maybeck and Julia Morgan. The theatre's exterior features a large neon sign and a ornate façade with terracotta tiles, designed by Gladding, McBean, and a grand entrance with a large arch and columns, similar to those found in the Fox Theatre in San Francisco, California. The interior of the theatre features a large auditorium with a proscenium arch and a balcony, decorated with intricate plasterwork and gilding, inspired by the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany and Tiffany & Co.. The theatre's design was influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Greene and Greene.

● Performances

The California Theatre has hosted a wide range of performances over the years, including film screenings, concerts, and theatrical productions. The theatre has been the home of the San Jose Symphony and the Opera San Jose, and has hosted performances by famous musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. The theatre has also hosted ballet and dance performances, including those by the San Jose Ballet and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In addition, the theatre has been used for comedy performances, featuring comedians like Bob Hope and George Burns.

● Restoration

In the 1970s, the California Theatre was slated for demolition, but was saved by a group of preservationists, including the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The theatre underwent a major restoration in the 1980s, which included the repair of the theatre's façade and the restoration of the interior plasterwork and gilding, led by the California Theatre Restoration Association and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency. The restoration was funded in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the California Arts Council. The theatre was also recognized by the American Institute of Architects and the National Park Service.

● Current Use

Today, the California Theatre is used for a variety of purposes, including film screenings, concerts, and theatrical productions. The theatre is home to the Cinequest Film Festival and the San Jose Jazz Festival, and has hosted performances by famous musicians such as Dave Brubeck and Wynton Marsalis. The theatre is also used for corporate events and weddings, and is available for rent for private functions, managed by the Team San Jose and the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau. The theatre is a popular tourist destination in San Jose, California, and is recognized as one of the city's most important historic landmarks, along with the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and the Guadalupe River Trail. Category:Theatres in California