De Anza Theatre

The DeAnza theater in Riverside has been gutted and is now Clarke's Health and Fitness store.

That's Too Bad.

The De Anza Theatre was located at 4225 Market.

When I was a projectionist there, my fellow projectionist, whom I had know since working in Kankakee, IL, was always on the roof smoking pot. And get this, in those days, all we ran were Disney movies (1980). tee-hee...

I used to spend a lot of time in the De Anza. There were giant Art Deco figures painted on the walls. In the 1980s many punk shows were held there. I grew up with the De Anza. It's too bad they tore out all the Deco stuff to make a health food store.

According to the Press-Enterprise, Roy Hunt was a veteran Riverside showman when he formed a partnership with Fox West Coast Theatres. They operated the Fox Riverside, Golden State and Rubidoux theatres. In 1938, the De Anza was built and the Rubidoux closed. In 1939, they converted the stage of the Fox Riverside into the 529-seat Lido theatre. Hunt was also known as a civic-minded citizen. During the war he let soldiers on leave use the lobby and the aisles of the Fox as a temporary dormitory. Evidently Fox West Coast formed partnerships with other local exhibitors as a way of rebuilding after their earlier financial troubles.

Here is a photo from the UCLA Collection:

http://sclee.library.ucla.edu/002/05/i0020502.jpg

I see another S. Charles Lee theater in the UCLA database, called the Chino Theater. Does anyone know if this theater is listed here under a different name?

De Anza Theatre
Jan 06

http://www.flickr.com/photos/someonewalksinla/93826718/

also, FYI - the Chino Theater by S Charles Lee is in Chino, CA on Central Ave

Thanks. Is it still there?

It's been a year since I drove past it, but it was intact and in decent shape. It should have it's own listing.

Photo of De Anza Theatre with additionalinfo from S Charles Lee Site

http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/servlet/SCLeeServlet?ITEMID=0020502

http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/servlet/SCLeeServlet?ITEMID=0020501

I am fond of this theatre. My dentist was a long time tenant and the offices/retail space were great studies in streamline deco.

Saw saturday night fever in that theater more times than i can remember chaining up my bike to the street sign on the side of the driveway on the side hahaaaa and pretending i was old enough to be going in to see that movie!!! I am amazed that the Deanza sign withstood all of those harsh Santa Ana winds. It was a lovely theater.

I grew up in Riverside, 1952 to 1964 when I left for college. I went most often to the Fox and the Golden State but I did see several films at the DeAnza. I remember "The Ten Commandments" with Charlton Heston most of all. Seeing the photographs of the DeAnza remind me of how dramatic a building it was. Does anyone else remember the DeAnza from the 50s?

The De Anza was a great theater, not as great as the Fox Riverside,
but it had a big screen and good projection.

I remember seeing "The FBI Story" "Teacher's Pet" and I think
"Spirit of St. Louis"

I was there for the last show in 1981. The movie was "Prince of the City". The manager gave me the one sheet as a souvenir.

Here's a recent picture:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenery/377820137/in/set-72157594514575526/

Here is a 2008 photo.

Posting to get this theatre back on my "notifications" list....

The De Anza Theatre opened June 6, 1939, according to the June 10 issue of Boxoffice. The first feature was "Young Mr. Lincoln."

1982 Photo

This is another photo of the De Anza Theater building.

Here is a May 2009 photo I took of the De Anza, with its new paint job!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenerymovies/3554957832/