Stockton Empire Theatre

Glad to hear this theatre is at least still standing. I remember seeing a photo of it many years ago in a book called, "Stockton's Theatres of Yesterday." I THINK I've got the title right. Much has been said about the Fox (Bob Hope) California (rightly so) and I remember seeing the now-gutted or demolished Ritz in its last days in the mid-1980s, but its nice to hear Stockton still has yet another cinema treasure surviving. Hopefully much of its integrity will be respected.

I don't see any other theaters listed for Stockton. Is this a different theater?

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/006/11/i0061101.jpg

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/006/11/i0061102.jpg

I worked at the Stockton Royal for two years and have photos of the Art Deco. I think that it is sad that the new owner had it painted over during the remodeled.

Stockton was a fairly large city by the time movies were invented and, until the recent burgeoning of Bakersfield, was long the third largest city in the central valley. I'd be very surprised if the city had not had at least a dozen movie theatres over the years. Unfortunately, Stockton's old center was largely wiped out by urban renewal projects beginning in the 1960's, so it's unlikely that many of the buildings containing those theatres survived. I only ever visited downtown Stockton three or four times, and that in the 1970's when demolition was already well advanced.

Incidentally, the web page listing Robert Lippert Theatres (the company owned two in Stockton; the Liberty and the Lincoln) has expired, ints domain name not having been renewed. For the time being you can still see the Google cache of the page here.

ken mc: I thought I'd replied to your question about the State Theatre long ago, but I must have hit the "preview" button instead of the "Post" button. D'OH!

Anyway- The Stockton Empire was in a fairly suburban location some distance north of downtown Stockton. The pictures of the State show it being in a dense, urban area, with a tall building next door, so it must not be the same theatre.

Ken MC posted a photo link back on Nov 28, 2005 showing a State Theater. Wasn't there a Fox State Theater located in Stockton? I don't see it listed here.

They painted over the DECO?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I used to go to the theatre when I was a kid in the 80s and 90s, back in the "Stockton Royal" years. I remember at least one of the auditoriums had a gorgeous side wall with all sorts of art deco/archaic greek plasterwork. There was a stag, and perhaps archers too...I can't remember, but it was all very Artemis/Apollo allusiony. It was gorgeous. I also remember that the lobby had at least one depression glass chandelier. A family friend, who was a glass collector and just happened to live right across the street from the Royal (on Walnut), freaked when we saw the fixture had been replaced by some cheesy 80s looking thing.

Sigh. I miss this place. I think the last film I saw there was "Ghost."

The theatre is open now and is some kind of coffeeshop/arthousecinema/bar/music venue. here is the website: www.stocktonempiretheatre.com

It looks like most of the bookings are for private parties. The San Joaquin film festival will be held at the Stockton in May 2009.

Here is a photo of the Stockton Empire Theater.

This is a recent night view of the Empire.

Some photos are here. The name of the architect given on that site is Frederick W. Quandt. "Frederick W. Quandt employed by Mr. Rodda W. Harvey Sr. designed the main theatre (Screen #1) in 1944, and the original one screen theatre opened on February 16, 1945."

1981 Photo

1982 Photo

Construction of the theater was authorized by the Federal Goverment despite wartime restriction on private construction. The Harvey Brothers (Rodda W. Harvey Sr. and H.V. "Rotus" Harvey) argued that the theater was needed for the morale of the local port workers who were critical to the war effort. Probably Mr. H. V. Harvey's extensive work as chairman of the theater exhibitor's war bond effort played a large role.

From the LA Times in February 1980:

Fire of undetermined origin caused an estimated $175,000 damage to a Stockton theater. There were no injuries. Authorities say the flames gutted much of the interior of the Stockton Royal's main theater. There was also extensive smoke damage to three adjoining theaters, recently added in a remodeling project at the Royal.

How informative.