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California Movie Theatres (page 7)

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Sunset Cinema
Lodi, CA		 Lompoc Theatre
Lompoc, CA
The Sunset Cinema opened in 1950. It has been closed since in 1998. For more, see this website. [map]

The Lompoc Theatre was built in 1927. It was remodeled in 1954. This marquee is from then. The theatre closed in the 1980s. There are plans to restore the theatre as a performing arts venue eventually. For more, see this website. [map]

Art Theatre
Long Beach, CA

2008:
2013:
The Art Theatre opened in 1924 as the Carter Theatre. After damage in the Long Beach earthquake in 1933, the theatre was remodeled in the Art Deco style by Schilling & Schilling. It was renamed the Lee Theatre at that time. In 1949, the theatre was remodeled again and became the Art Theatre. The theatre was renovated and reopened in 2008 shortly after the first row of photos above were taken. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Los Angeles

Crest Theatre
Los Banos, CA

2014:
2024:
The Crest Theatre opened in 1949. From 2020-2024, the building was remodeled for the Crest Event Center and JAMS @ 209 Sports Bar & Grill. For more, see this website. [map]

State Theatre
Marysville, CA
The State Theatre opened in 1927 as the National Theatre. It has been vacant since 1999. There was originally a neon blade sign and a much larger marquee sign. For more, see this website. [map]

Tower Theatre
Marysville, CA
The Tower Theatre opened in 1941. It has been abandoned since at least the 1970s. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Merced Theatre
Merced, CA
The Merced Theatre was designed by the Reid Brothers and opened in 1931. The original rectangular marquee was replaced with this round one around 1943. It was designed by S. Charles Lee. In 1978, the theatre was converted into a fourplex. Much of the original interior was destroyed at that time. The theatre closed in 2002 and was purchased by the city. It reopened in 2012 as a live performance venue known as the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre. By 2022, the readerboards had been replaced with digital displays. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. [map]

Mainzer Theatre
Merced, CA
The Mainzer Theatre was built in the early 1920s. It was the original Merced Theatre which was remodeled and renamed the Strand Theatre after the theatre described directly above was built in 1931. The auditorium was divided over the years. Since 2006, the theatre was used almost entirely for live performances. It closed in 2011. A corner of the building was used as the Cinema Cafe until 2019. In 2020, the building was being renovated. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Millbrae Theatre
Millbrae, CA		 State Theatre
Modesto, CA
The Millbrae Theatre opened in 1949. It closed in the early 1990s and the building was converted into a video store. The building was significantly altered but the sign was saved. The sign is owned by the city which continues to keep it lit at night. For more, see this website. [map]

The State Theatre was designed by S. Charles Lee and opened in 1934. It has been remodeled several times over the years. The theatre is now used for movies and live performances. For more, see this website. [map]

Rio Theatre
Monte Rio, CA

2008 and 2016:
2024:
The Rio Theatre was built in 1950 and is still in operation. It is housed in a World War II surplus Quonset hut. In 2023, the marquee and poster boxes were painted pink for the screening of "Barbie." The pink was still there in 2024. For more, see this website. [map]

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