Theaters of San Jose

by Gary Lee Parks

Last Name/PlaceFirst NamePage #Image typeOther information
Ackerman and Harris35textregional chain of theatres
American theatre46photoshows front of theatre and audience in line
AndreucettiDorice71photodancing teacher
Angels Ultra Lounge57photo/text2008 another new name for original Gay Theatre
ArbuckleRoscoe Fatty23textticket taker and mop boy
AthertonFaxon65photophotographer
BatesBlanche10Playbillactress
BeattyJames39text/photoopened the Liberty in 1914
BeattyJames45photo1922 James Beatty took over the Hippodrome, changed name to the American.
BelascoDavid10Playbillpresenter
BensonVictor A.82textHester Theatre built on the site of his garage
BergtoldChuck6text of acknowledgmentsthanked in acknowledgment
BinderWilliam25textarchitect of the Jose
BinderWilliam35textSan Jose based theatre architect
Binder and Curtis39text/photodesigned the Liberty
Binder and Curtis45photodesigners of the American, with Weeks and Day
Binder and Curtis542 photosarchitects of the Civic Auditorium and Montgomery Theatre.
Binder and Curtis82textdesigned the Haster Theatre
Binder and Curtis85textdesigned the Willow Glen
Binder and Curtis112textarchitects for the Casa Grande
BondiJohn6text of acknowledgmentsthanked by author
BorgRichard58photo/texttheatre operator
BorgesJose43photoSpanish-language movie exhibitor, Liberty was renamed the Mexico.
BorgesJose76photo/texttheater operator
BorroughsRosalie86texthostess at the Willow Glen
Burbank97photo
Burbank98, 99, 100photos
California theatre62,63photos
California theatre64,65photointerior photos
California theatre66,67photo
California theatre78, 79photosexterior and interior photos
California theatre80photoExterior soon after 2004 gala reopening
Campbell102text1931 Orchard City renamed the Campbell
CantinAlexander35textfather/son architect designers of the Studio
CantinAlexander58photo/texttheater designer
CantinAlexander97textarchitect of the Burbank
CantinMcKanzie97textarchitect of the Burbank
CantinMcKenzie35textfather/son architect designers of the Studio
CantinMcKenzie58photo/texttheater designer
Casa Grande112text
CatalanaPaul R124textpromoter
Century theatres121, 122photos
Cinema 150123photo
Civic Auditorium54photos
CormackCarmel109textowner of the Los Gatos
Crest Theatre17photosnew name for Victory theatre, photos of theatre fire
Crest Theatre fire18, 19, 20, 21, 22photos
CuppDon103textpurchased the Gaslighter 1968
CuppFaye103textpurchased the Gaslighter 1969
Curlett and McCaw10textdesigners of the San Jose Theatre
CurtisErnest N25textarchitect, later partnered with William Binder
CurtisErnest N35textSan Jose based theatre architect
DayWilliam61textarchitect of the California Theatre
DayWilliam35textSan Francisco based theatre architect
DeichmannOtto A16drawingsarchitect with plans for new Victory Theatre
DeichmannOtto A87drawing and textarchitect of the Garden theatre
DeLayTom6text of acknowledgmentsthanked in acknowledgment
El Rancho Drive-In124photo
F/X Club57text1989 new name for original Gay Theatre
FalveyIrma63textorganist
Ford’s Opera House104,105, 106photos
Fox72photosinterior photos after California theatre renamed the Fox
Fox73photointerior and exterior photos
Fox74,75photointerior photo
Fox Bayshore Drive-In125photo
Franklin Theatre advertising curtain112photo
Frontier Auto Movie126photo
GaetanoMark103textpianist, bought the gaslighter in 1980
Garden87, 88,89photos
Garden exterior92, 93photos
Garden exterior94photoexterior in 2008
Garden interior90, 91photos
Gaslighter103photoCampbell theatre renamed the Gaslighter
Gilbert and Sullivan Society of San Jose55photosperformed in Montgomery theatre
Gore Bros35textincorporated as West Coast Theatres
GraumannSidney Patrick Sid21textproprietor, Unique Theatre
HeinsbergenAnthony89textinterior designer
HelgesenTerry68, 69, 70photostheatre pianist and movie palace photographer
Hester Theatre82photoSan Jose’s first neighborhood theatre
JacksDavid25textentrepreneur behind the Jose
JensenCarol6text of acknowledgmentsthanked in acknowledgment
JolsonAl23textdebuted onstage
KaplowitzSteve6text of acknowledgmentsthanked in acknowledgment
KerskenHerman46photo/textmanager of the American Theatre
KoningJohan6text of acknowledgmentsSunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Association
KopachPaul6text of acknowledgmentsLos Gatos Public Library
KypriousPeter112texttheatre operator
LesserSol35textincorporated as West Coast Theatres
LevinBen87photoexhibitor, opened the Garden
LevinBen89photoexhibitor, opened the Garden
LevinD. Ben44photomanager of the Hippodrome
LevinSteve6text of acknowledgmentspersonal collection
Liberty theater39photo
Liberty theater40photophoto of interior
Lieber Signs33photosoperated the theatre and the sign business upstairs
LimaJimmy87photoexhibitor, opened the Garden
LimaJimmy89photoexhibitor, opened the Garden
LionEnno82textleased the Hester Theatre
Los Gatos109, 110text/photoPremier became the Los Gatos
Lyric Theatre33photosexterior of the Lyric Theatre
MarkleyGary20textCrest’s janitor
McKayDL85textthe Willow Glen was the brainchild of DL McKay
Mexico95, 96photos
Mexico theatre44photoLiberty was renamed the Mexico.
MichaanAllen93textEast Bay movie exhibitor
Mission theatre38photo1927 theatre again renamed the Mission
MontgomeryShirlie6text of acknowledgmentsthanked in acknowledgment
MontgomeryT.S.54, 55photosdeveloped the Civic Auditorium and Montgomery Theatre.
Montgomery Theater55photos
Montgomery Theater56photo
MoonDanelle6text of acknowledgmentsSpecial Collections and Archives, San Jose State University
Moonlite Drive-In125photo
MoorePat111textbegan the Vitaphone Saratoga
MooreVi111textbegan the Vitaphone Saratoga
Morton organ40photoorganist pictured is not named
Murphy Avenue Cinema117photonew name of the Sunnyvale theatre
NarvesonJim6text of acknowledgmentsCity of Santa Clara History Collection, the Santa Clara Art and History Consortium
NewmanTed26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31photosphotographer
NewmanTed34photo/textphotographer outside the Lyric Theatre
NewmanTed39photophotographer of the Mission theatre in 1942
NewmanTed41,42,43photosphotographer of the Liberty 1942 and 1944
NewmanTed46, 47, 48, 49, 50photophotographer of the State theater
NewmanTed67photophotographer
NewmanTed82photophotographer
NewmanTheodore Ted12,13,14, 15photosphotographer
Opera San Jose55photosperformed in Montgomery theatre
Orchard City Theatre102textopened 1920 in Campbell
Padre theatre522 photos
Padre theatre532 photos
ParksLeah6text of acknowledgmentsauthor’s mother- thanked in acknowledgment
ParksRebecca June6text of acknowledgmentsauthor’s wife- thanked in acknowledgment
PhelanJames D10textreal estate developer
PreddyWalter87photoexhibitor, opened the Garden
Premier108photosname changed from Strand to Premier
Pussycat theatre57photochanges to the Gay Theatre
RamishAdolph35textincorporated as West Coast Theatres
RaneyVincent G120textarchitect
ReaHarold44photoplayed the organ at the Hippodrome
ReedJim6text of acknowledgmentsHistory San Jose
ReedKelly6text of acknowledgmentseditor- thanked in acknowledgment
RosenthalE82textleased the Hester Theatre
SamisMilton85textmanager
SchinahanJan39text/photoaccompanied the movies on the Morton theatre pipe organ
SchmidtMartin6text of acknowledgmentsthanked in acknowledgment
SchoppeChuck6text of acknowledgmentsSaratoga Historical Foundation, Theatre Historical Society of America
ShawMason57photo1970’s showing adult movies
ShawMason111textoperated the Saratoga
Spartan Drive-in123photo
StarkJames9textopened the Stark Theatre
StarkSarah Kirby9textopened the Stark Theatre
State theatre46, 47photo1938 American is updated, named the State.
Stout IIIEdward Millington80textrestored and maintain the theaters two Wurlitzer organs
Studio59photo2008 original box office
Studio58, 59photos
SullivanLeo25photoviolinist and orchestra leader, historian
Sunnyvale115, 116photos
SyufyRaymond120textmovie exhibitor
T&D Theatre37photo1921 name change to T&D
T&D Theatre DeLuxe36two photosTurner and Dahnken opened Theatre DeLuxe on S First St. in 1912
TaylorDick80textrestored and maintain the theaters two Wurlitzer organs
the California38photo1924 T&D acquired by West Coast Theatres renamed California
The Capitol Drive-In126photo
The Gay Theatre56photo
The Hippodrome44photo
The Market Street34photoshort-lived theatre
The Santa Clara112, 113, 114photosthe Cassa Grande became the Santa Clara in 1939
The Saratoga111photos
The Strand107photo/text
The Strand114photodowntown Sunnyvale
The Vogue86photothe Willow Glen became the Vogue
Theatre Jose24Playbill
Theatre Jose25photoexterior
Theatre Jose26photointerior with cast on stage
Theatre Jose26, 27photosexterior photos
Theatre Jose28, 29, 30photosinterior photos of the Jose
Theatre Jose30, 31photosexterior photos of the Jose
Theatre Jose32photomodern view of the Jose marquee
TillmanyJack6text of acknowledgmentspersonal collection
Town and Country Cinema116photoSunnyvale theatre became the Town and Country Cinema
Town and Country Theatre122photo
Towne theatre83photo
Towne theatre84photo
Tropicaire Twin Vue124photo
Turner and Dahnken T&D35textregional chain of theatres
UA51phototheatre’s final name change to UA, the logo of United Artists
Unique Theatre21playbill
Unique Theatre24photoexterior damage following 1906 earthquake
VasconcellasJohn112texttheatre operator
Victory Theatre11photointerior
Victory Theatre11photointerior with damage from 1906 earthquake
Victory Theatre12photointerior audience
WallbridgeBuell107textconducted the Strand orchestra
WallbridgeHelen107textpianist at the Strand
WeeksCharles Peter35textSan Francisco based theatre architect
WeeksCharles Peter61textarchitect of the California Theatre
Weeks and Day45photodesigners of the American, with Binder and Curtis
Willow Glen85, 86photo
WolfFanchon61textbrother and sister vaudeville impresarios
WolfMarco61textbrother and sister vaudeville impresarios
Wurlitzer organ44photopictured organist is not named
ZelinskiLouis108textmanager of the Premier