Shown here in circa 1959 is the rear section of the single-screen Village Theater at 2925 Fulton Avenue. California architect Gastono “Gale” Santocono designed the Village, one of fifteen movie theaters that he worked on in California,...
This view of K Street circa 1952 shows no traffic and a few pedestrians. The street is dominated by business signs, including the Esquire Theater (1219 K Street), Times Theater (1214 K Street), Funland Amusements (1220 K Street), Benatar's General...
This screenward shot of the Hippodrome Theater's interior was taken in circa 1942. The 1013 K Street venue had changed much since its opening in 1913, when it was known as the Empress. At that time, it provided vaudeville-style entertainment and a...
Taken in 1930, this photograph reveals the interior of the Alhambra Theater, located at 1101 Alhambra Boulevard. The view is from the back of the theater looking down the center aisle at the stage. The theater opened in 1927 and was demolished in...
Pictured on March 31, 1947, are the Esquire Theater and Stanley T. Lovett Jewelers at 1219 and 1217 K Street, respectively. Designed by noted theater architect William B. David of San Francisco, the Esquire opened at 5:00 pm on March 14, 1940, for...
Pictured in 1942 is the Fox Capitol Theater at 615 K Street. Its marquee advertises the premiere of "In Old California," starring John Wayne. The theater also promotes the purchase of war bonds with the phrase "Slap the Jap." In the foreground...
The façade of the legendary Alhambra Theater at 1100 Alhambra Boulevard is captured in this 1947 photograph. The venue was designed to emulate the grandeur of Islam’s Alhambra, located in Granada, Spain. The movie house was accented with a...
This circa 1913 photograph shows the Diepenbrock Theater at 1203 J Street. The picture also shows signage atop the building which reads “Orpheum Shows Theater.” The Orpheum was the vaudeville-style company that provided much of the live...
This circa 1942 photograph reveals a glowing interior of the Hippodrome Theater at 1013 K Street. Just four years later, on September 14, 1946, the marquee of the Hippodrome collapsed onto K Street, killing one person and injuring three. A...
Looking west, from the top of the Ramona Hotel, this February 21, 1941, photograph shows the frenetic aftermath of a fire at the El Rey Hotel at 519 J Street. The fire started in one of the theater’s balconies and was likely the result of...
This November 21, 1940, photograph shows the Fox Capitol Theater at 615 K Street, and its effort to promote "Northwest Mounted Police," starring Gary Cooper and Madeleine Carroll. Three men are dressed as Canadian mounted policemen, posing with a...
Taken on April 29, 1947, this photograph shows the exterior of the Del Paso Theater, located at 2122 Del Paso Boulevard in North Sacramento. Cars are parked beneath the marquee. The venue was built in 1926 for 125,000 dollars, complete with a...
This photograph shows the Alameda Theater (328 L Street), Hong Kong Cafe (320 L Street), and Mrs. Mary Dulay, Notary Public (326 L Street). It was taken in 1961 which was the theater's last year of operation. The Alameda was originally the Nippon...
Pictured on October 29, 1949, are the seats and projection facilities of the auditorium at the Crest Theater, located at 1013 K Street. The theater’s 1,200 seats are arranged in a stadium plan, divided into six sections. Gold leaf sconces both...
Pictured on April 11, 1928, and located directly across from the Esquire Theater, is the Del Rio Hotel on 1212 K Street. Visible is the façade of the structure with various cars parked before it. By late 1941, however, it was converted into a...
This photograph, as taken from the back of the Crest Theater auditorium, was made on October 29, 1949. It shows the proscenium, a curtain-shrouded projection screen, numerous seats and walls adorned with gold leaf fixtures. For the first time...
The marquee for the Esquire Theater on 1219 K Street promotes the movie “Steel Town” in this March 1952 photograph. The marquee and neon lighting were products of Sacramento’s branch of the Electrical Products Corporation. Below the marquee...
Pictured here in May of 1942, and located in North Sacramento at 1917 Del Paso Boulevard, is the Grand Theater. The Grand operated from 1943 to 1960. A church called Evangel Temple rented the theater space after it closed. The church purchased...
Pictured on October 29, 1949, is the “second” lobby of the Crest Theater at 1013 K Street. During reconstruction that started in August 1948, the entrance to the theater was expanded to equal two storefront widths. Beyond this, visitors were...
