Tower Theatre
976-982 East Main Street,
Santa Paula,
CA
93060
976-982 East Main Street,
Santa Paula,
CA
93060
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Opened in 1926, the Mission Theatre became the Lyric Theatre from 1937 – 1938, the Columbia Theatre, the Tower Theatre in 1941 – 1949 and operated through at least 1968. It was the Fox Tower at one point but now sits on the main drag of the small town of Santa Paula, marquee lit for holidays with a mural illustrating a day at the Tower in years gone by. There’s been some talk of renovating it and it’s in reasonably good shape, but no substantive strides thus far.
Contributed by
MagicLantern
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Here is a 1980 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics41/00070197.jpg
Has Anybody seen it latley or know whats happen to the tower?
I was just wondering i maybe in that area in the next couple of day and was wondering if it was worth a look?
According to this 2007 post in the Santa Paula blog, the seats were removed from the Tower and the floor leveled sometime around 1993. The building is owned by the city of Santa Paula and the city’s plan is to have a retail shop or a restaurant in the building.
In a July, 2007 article in the Ventura County Star, City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz was quoted as saying of the 1926 structure that “It’s not a historic building and it can’t be used as a theatre anymore.” He added “The only use it’s had is the 1950s neon marquee, where we put holiday messages at Christmas.” Maybe that signals an intent by the city to save the marquee. But the last I heard the building is still vacant.
This is a photo of the Tower Theater.
We drove around Santa Paula yesterday. It’s an interesting little town. Here is a picture of the Tower:
http://tinyurl.com/6kvud6
The Tower Theater is listed in 1950 with 348 seats.
It was the Columbia in 1930, according to this LA Times ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2erxqx
Not listed in the 1930 Film Daily.
Listed as the 338 seat Lyric in 1935.
In 1940 the Lyric is listed as closed. The 338 seat Tower Theater is listed in 1945.