Ventura Theatre

Ventura Theatre
Majestic Ventura Theatre[1]
Front view of theatre
Address 26 S. Chestnut Street
Ventura, California
Coordinates 34°16′49″N 119°17′29″W / 34.28028°N 119.29139°W / 34.28028; -119.29139
Current use

Concert Venue

Ventura Theatre
Coordinates 34°16′49″N 119°17′29″W / 34.28028°N 119.29139°W / 34.28028; -119.29139Coordinates: 34°16′49″N 119°17′29″W / 34.28028°N 119.29139°W / 34.28028; -119.29139
Area 0.7 acres (0.28 ha)
Architectural style Spanish Colonial Revival
NRHP Reference # 86003523[2]
Added to NRHP December 29, 1986
Construction
Opened 1928 (1928)
Architect Smith, L.A.; Et al.
Website
www.venturatheater.net

Ventura Theatre (also known as Majestic Ventura Theatre) is a historic live concert venue in downtown Ventura, California. This was "the only luxury theatre built in Ventura County in the 1920s" in the "style of the great movie palaces." The lavish, elegant interior of gilt and opulence was originally designed by Robert E. Power Studios of San Francisco and has been restored.[3] The theatre with a capacity of 1150 and a flanking office building were designed by architect L. A. Smith in the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture that was favored by architects of motion picture theaters during the 1920s.[4][5]

In 1928, Ventura was a bustling oil boom town when the grand opening featured an organ solo, the latest news, Our Gang Comedy, a vaudeville act and the movie, Excess Baggage.[3][6] During the period between 1923 and 1929, many other buildings were constructed: the Hobson Brothers Meat Packing Company (1923),[7] the First National Bank of Ventura (1926) (commonly called the Earl Stanley Gardner),[8] the Ventura Hotel (1926), the Elks Lodge - B. P. 0. E. #1430 (1928),[9] the Mission Theater (1928), the Hotel Washington (1928), the Swift & Company Building (1928), and the Masonic Temple (1929). Contemporary downtown Ventura is defined by the theatre and the other extant buildings from this period.[10]

Declared a landmark by the City of Ventura In 1976,[4] the theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The office building was modernized in 1958 and was not included in the historic designation.[3] The theater currently has an active concert schedule.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Palladino, D.J. (April 18, 2014)"Review: Chvrches at the Majestic Ventura Theater" Santa Barbara Independent
  2. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  3. 1 2 3 Judy Triem (March 17, 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ventura Theatre" (PDF). National Park Service. and accompanying 12 photos
  4. 1 2 City of Ventura. Historic Landmark #24 accessed from link on City Map with Historic Landmarks (searchable GIS)
  5. ↑ "Architects: Smith, Lewis" Pacific Coast Architecture Database Retrieved 13 January 2015
  6. ↑ Hamilton, Denise (June 09, 1988) "A New Life Awaits Ventura Theater : Restaurateur Has Big Plans to Book Jazz, Country, Salsa Acts at Ornate Ex-Movie House" Los Angeles Times
  7. ↑ City of Ventura. Historic Landmark #23
  8. ↑ City of Ventura. Historic Landmark #37
  9. ↑ City of Ventura. Historic Landmark #99
  10. ↑ City of Ventura "The Swift & Company Building" Historic Landmark Designation Application


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