California Theatre (San Bernardino)

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California Theatre of the Performing Arts
California Theatre, San Bernardino.JPG
California Theatre (San Bernardino)
Interactive map of California Theatre of the Performing Arts
Address562 W. 4th St.
San Bernardino, California
United States
OwnerCity of San Bernardino
OperatorTheatre Arts International
TypeMovie palace
Capacity1,718
Screens1
Current usePerforming arts venue
Construction
Opened1928 (1928)
Website
www.californiatheatre.net
California Theatre
USA California location map.svg
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Coordinates 34°6′23″N117°17′43″W / 34.10639°N 117.29528°W / 34.10639; -117.29528
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
ArchitectPerrine, John Paxton
Architectural style California Churrigueresque
NRHP reference No. 09001116 [1]
Added to NRHPDecember 22, 2009

The California Theatre of the Performing Arts or simply referred to as the California Theatre is a performing arts center in the historic Downtown area of San Bernardino, California. Originally a part of the Fox Theatres chain, it opened in 1928. It still houses its original Wurlitzer Style 216 pipe organ. [2] It was also the site of the last performance by Will Rogers prior to his death in a 1935 plane crash.

In the early years of Hollywood, filmmakers would test-screen their movies at the California Theatre. Classic films such as King Kong and The Wizard of Oz were first seen by audiences at the theatre in the 1930s.

The theatre is managed by Theatrical Arts International, the largest theatre company in the Inland Empire, which presents Broadway tours from the national touring circuit, and has hosted the San Bernardino Symphony since 1929. The theatre has recently hosted the tapings of Showtime's The Latin Divas of Comedy , and The Payaso Comedy Slam . [3]

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "CinemaTreasures" . Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  3. Weeks, John (2006-11-10). "Inland Empire – a pop culture bastion". San Bernardino County Sun. Archived from the original on 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2007-12-17.

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