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Home » Theater Guide » Location » United States » California » Antioch » El Campanil Theatre

El Campanil Theatre

Antioch, CA
602 W. Second Street
, Antioch, CA 94509 United States
(map)
925.757.1366
Status: Open
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Spanish Colonial, Spanish Gothic
Function: Movies (Classic), Performing Arts
Seats: 1080
Chain: Independent
Architect: Unknown
Firm: Unknown
El Campanil Theatre
Vintage postcard view of the exterior of the El Campanil
Photo courtesy of the public domain
When it opened in 1928, the El Campanil Theatre served as a venue for both vaudeville and movies. It was built at a cost of $500,000. Among the performers to appear at the theater were Roy Rogers, Mary Pickford, Sally Rand, and Donald O'Connor.

Its Spanish Colonial/Spanish Gothic style facade was unusual because as the theater's name suggests, it had three archways, each with a bell inside it, with the largest arch and bell being in the middle over the main entrance, three stories up. The auditorium still has its original ornate painting and Moorish chandeliers and wall sconces. The dressing rooms are adorned with hundreds of autographs that date back to the theater's opening.

After decades serving as a movie house, the Campanil closed, but later was reopened, serving as a church. The theater was purchased by a non-profit foundation in 2003.

Related Websites

El Campanil Theatre Preservation Foundation (Official)
Contributed by David Brink, Bryan Krefft

YOUR COMMENTS

 
The theatre is presently closed for the first phase of a four phase renovation/restoration project. It is due to reopened July 4, 2004 as a performing arts theatre.
posted by daveatelcampanil on Mar 6, 2004 at 10:35pm
This theatre is reopen and beautiful! Debbie Reynolds will be appearing October 9th, 2004! A series of productions by Playhouse West is scheduled. Currently classic movies are shown one weekend a month. Visit the website @ www.elcampaniltheatre.com
posted by Kathie on Sep 11, 2004 at 3:32pm
The team responsible for renovating and preserving the theatre deserves a huge applause. Not only did we enjoy the Debbie Reynolds show held there, but the theatre was as lovely and charming as my mother used to describe, as it was THEE place to go when she was a young girl. Thank you so much for allowing us "youngsters" to marvel in some of Antioch's great history.
posted by Marcy on Oct 11, 2004 at 4:49pm
A Kimball organ Size 2/12 was installed in the Belmont Theater in 1916.
posted by cosmic on Oct 1, 2005 at 2:18pm
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/ju/junie/ElCampanilOct1.jpg
posted by cosmic on Oct 1, 2005 at 2:19pm
An interior shot of the El Campanil can be found here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=23&f=/c/a/2006/04/23/MNGO8IDU1E1.DTL
posted by CWalczak on Apr 28, 2006 at 5:04am
I am not sure what 'cosmic' is talking about above. The El Campanile had a 2 manual 6 rank style 165 Wurlitzer that was installed when the theatre opened.

After leaving the El Camp,the organ went to an Oakland area nightclub known as 615 Club where it was played for dancing by
the late Dave Quinlan.

When the 615 was closed, the organ was moved to Rudy's Supper Club in Vallejo where it contineud to play for many years, again played by Dave Quinlan.

Due to the vintage of the organ (1928), the organ was equipped with "black cap" [electro] magnets to actuate the switching and pipe valves. These magnets are often prone to failure, but are easy to replace.

Sadly, an electronic organ sales effort got the Supper Club to dump the pipe organ because it "was in bad shape" and the club hauled in some sort of electronic organ and sold the pipe organ. The pipe organ was broken up for parts and no longer exists. Some parts were used in the composite Wurlitzer in the Fox Theatre in Hanford, CA (which is now, misguidedly, about to be replaced with another composite organ with none of the quality of the organ presently installed.)
posted by Tom DeLay on May 2, 2006 at 7:06am
This is a recent photo of the El Campanil Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Aug 12, 2007 at 10:13am
Here is a more recent photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Nov 6, 2007 at 4:44pm
Two more photos are here and here.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 18, 2009 at 5:41pm
i been to this theater twice to see 2 really good shows in late 2007 i seen a mexican folk band from richmond ca called Los Cenzontles and they rocked the house and in march of 2008 i seen another very good band from los angeles called mariachi divas they played to a sold out Audience and also rocked the crown i had such a good time .
but as a theater it has that classic charm i really enjoyed this place i'm glad this cinema gem was restored .....
posted by bay area latino on Apr 15, 2009 at 9:23am
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://snipurl.com/gjt97
posted by ken mc on Apr 23, 2009 at 10:53am
1986 night photo of the Campanil Cinema.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c5%2c3%2c-1&catpagesize=25&ProductID=23513
posted by Chuck1231 on May 15, 2009 at 10:39pm
2005 photo of the El Campanil Theatre courtesy of Tom Spaulding.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tspauld/50660637/in/set-675202/
posted by Chuck1231 on Sep 11, 2009 at 9:22am
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