Burbank Theater

I went by this place yesterday and after many years I had to stop and take a look. This theatre always stood out (to me any way) because it is a large building (the picture doesn't do it justice)in an area where you wouldn't expect a theatre. Maybe when the freeway came it changed the area. Anyway it looks like it might have been something at one time, but it looks quit dead now except for the 2 retail businesses to the right of the front of the building. Besides some graffiti, the only signs I could see said "Unfit for human occupancy" and another about video surveillance. Also, the address is 552 Bascom Ave. And why is it the Burbank? Did it have another name before? Why not the Bascom?

The theater has always been called the Burbank as the neighborhood surrounding it is also called Burbank. Someone had tried to buy the building for a community arts center, but apparently that had fallen through.

The original name for this theatre was to have been Tower (for architectural reasons which should be obvious). Burbank is an unincoprporated community which is geographically part of San Jose.

Is it for sale by any chance and if so does anyone knnow who to contact to buy?

The Burbank Theatre opened in 1949, it was designed by the firm Cantin and Cantin of San Francisco. That firm also designed other theatres in and around the Bay Area. They designed the Coronet (1949-San Francisco), Colma (1949-San Francisco), Airport Drive-In (1949-Oakland), Studio (1949-San Jose), Crest (1949-Los Banos), Crest (1949-Sacramento), Laurel (1940-Oakland), Carmel (1938-Carmel), Ritz (1937-Stockton), Senator (1926-Oakland). Their company was founded in 1901.

Does anyone know who the owner of the Burbank Theatre is?

Does anyone remember a coffee shop next to this theatre during the 1960's?

The Library Shows the address as 552 Bascom and the seating capacity at 852.

The most recent owners/agency was Meacham/Oppenheimer, and the theater was for sale. (I think it was for $6.5 million)

The main problem is there is absolutely no parking around the building. And the residential neighborhood in back would object to patron parking on their streets.

The only possible solution would be for patrons to use the San Jose City College parking facilities across I-280 and be shuttled to the theater.

During the 1977-1978 period, it was a revival house and called the Vitaphone Burbank(there was also a Vitaphone Saratoga). This wasn't too successful, unfortunately.

I recently moved into the Burbank neighborhood several streets behind the theater. If I had a choice, I would love to see this theater restored as well as the street (Bascom) that it sits restructured to allow more parking, possibly diagonal parking like you have on Geary Street in San Francisco. While you are at it, add a nice deli and Starbucks and you will have a new patron for life. Seriously, Bascom Ave is a very wide street that I believe could be narrowed to accomadate a parking area. I've seen this done in Oakland and San Francisco. Also, parking should be allowed on the overpass to I-280.

As a Burbank resident concerned with preservation, I dread the idea that the fate of the Garden Theater (or worse) might befall the Burbank, but must post that SOMETHING seems to be going on... within the last couple of months, there has been activity on the roof and at least some of the seating was removed to the sidewalk. Let's hope for the best.

Sidebar: When the theater was playing porn, it was '3 Features - Ladies Free.' Fortunately for me, it meant my ticket was complimentary; unfortunately for you of the opposite sex, it DIDN'T mean a really special bonus with your paid admission.

The current owner apparently is trying to operate a foreign language television channel here. He also has it on the market(at least back in August, not certain if it is still on the market) for $1.9 million.

A sign posted on the door says that the building is "Not fit for human occupation."

Hello I spoke to the owner today he told me that the theater is for sale at 3 million. He is a very nice guy, who wants to do something for the Burbank community.

I have lived in the Burbank area all my life, as well as my great- grandparents back in the early 1900’s and owned a great part of the orchards here in the area as well as graduating from the Burbank School. I believe we should give back to the community and make it an all age center. I have the same ideas as must others, to have a coffee shop upstairs and downstairs a theater that shows old movies and maybe have a musical group come play certain days and have arcade games and after school activities such as a homework center. Then when night falls make it like an all age club. I know of lots of local bands that are looking for places to play and get there music out. Upstairs will then become somewhat off limits to the underage but will sell food for them to enjoy. Kind of sounds like the Cactus Club that used to be downtown, but this one will be for everyone in our community by having the alcohol upstairs. The people that I talk to that live near me and the theater disagree with having a place for kids to go and believe that it will only make the peaceful neighborhood loud and crowded with people and traffic. Their annoyed with the fact that people will be parking in front of their houses. Well, I’m annoyed that on Leland Ave. everyone has to pay $30 for each car each year to park in front of their own house, and I have asked each person on this street and no one signed anything to have this happen. Just think of the kids, teens, young adults and even adults that roam the streets with nothing to do. Kids are our future and the older people in this community need to understand that. We can put in new $2,000 palm trees down our streets but we can’t help the people in this community. I think everyone needs to open their eyes before deciding the future of the Burbank Theater.

Couple photos of the Burbank, both exterior and Entrance.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/California%20Theatres/BurbankTheatre552S.jpg
Entrance
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/California%20Theatres/BurbankTheatreBoxOfficeEntranceSanJ.jpg

Photo of the Burbank Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kalyan3/7790221/

Nice color photo of the Burbank Theatre
http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/wooda/southbaydeco/burbank1.jpeg

I live in the Burbank neighborhood, and it would be great to see this theater refurbished, especially since it is such a prominent landmark here.

Does anyone in contact with the owner know if he has considered working with San Jose City College to make it part of their film studies and/or journalism department. It is in such close proximity to the campus, and it would be a perfect place to host a small independent/student film festival. I also picture a brew pub in that building, connected to the theater ... and patrons from the College and Valley Med Hospital.

This is a recent photo of the Burbank Cinema.

it was reported today that the Burbank was recently sold to a group of shiite muslims and renovated as a broadcasting studio for worldwide televising of islamic news and events.

that has to be the funniest thing i have ever seen writtin on here
'SHIITE MUSLIMS" who wrote this your so funny!

Drove by the other day, and the stucco exterior was all painted in white primer, and on one side, a contemporary vivid earth toned color was being applied. While I'd love to see the original mint green restored, the new color beats the horribly cold and chalky grey and blue-grey which has marred the exterior since the mid-80s.

Here is a photo on the wikipedia site:
http://tinyurl.com/ypn7wl

I checked on Loopnet and this isn't for sale that I can see... Has anyone spoken to the owner lately? Does anyone know where they stand in terms of selling this or leasing it to restore it to a cinematic, historic, and architectural attraction? I hear it is still being operated as a world- broadcast Muslim language tv/radio station... Looks like it sold for 1.3M in April, 2004...

This is a 2008 photo.

Here is a June 2008 photo.

You can see more of the building in this photo.

Here is part of a March 1999 article from the San Jose Mercury News:

ADULT THEATER CLOSING SOUGHT BURBANK CINEMA: DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUES OWNERS, CLAIMING PUBLIC NUISANCE, UNLAWFUL SEX ACTS

Calling it a public nuisance, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office sought an order Friday to close the Burbank Theatre, an adult movie house and longtime fixture in the unincorporated community of Burbank. Though Superior Court Judge William Elfving did not immediately shut down the theater, he ordered the owners to stop allowing unlawful sex acts on the premises and to meet a series of conditions, including hiring full-time security.

Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cknuvh

1984 Photo

1986 Photo

i would like to hold a charity art show here but I'm having troubles contacting someone. Please send me an emaail if you can help thanks.
mike

oldschoolillustrations@gmail.com