Wilson Theatre

1545 Fulton Street,
Fresno, CA 93721

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres

Architects: H. Rafael Lake

Functions: Church

Styles: Mission Revival

Previous Names: Fox Wilson Theatre

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Opened on February 3, 1926 with Julian Eltinge in “Madame Behave” plus 5-acts of vaudeville. It was operated by West Coast Theatres and the architect was H. Rafael Lake. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer, 3 Manual/11 Rank theatre organ that was shipped from the Wurlitzer factory on 11th April 1925. This organ was taken out the Wilson Theatre and installed in the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Cremorne, Sydney, N.S.W. Australia in 1987 (Cinema Treasures theater/848/).

From 1932 it was known as the Fox Wilson Theatre, operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. The Fox Wilson Theatre closed as a movie theatre in August 1971.

By 1986 and for several years though to at least 1996 it had become a rock concert venue. It is now home to the Cornerstone Church who purchased the building in 1997 and the building has been well maintained, retaining all architectural features.

Contributed by KenRoe

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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

kencmcintyre on March 1, 2010 at 7:27 pm

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yjkgw8t

Cakeight on March 9, 2010 at 10:37 pm

Here are some recent photos of the theatre:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakeight/4413413042
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakeight/4412634221

Mike Rogers on May 26, 2010 at 6:12 pm

Wonder if the WILSON THEATRE played “WILSON” the bio-pic on President Wilson?

TLSLOEWS on May 28, 2010 at 10:13 am

Very nice photos and nice marquee slideshow posted by Cakeight.

Mikeyisirish on December 18, 2012 at 5:22 pm

A 2011 photo can be seen here.

DavidZornig on November 2, 2016 at 10:12 pm

May 1964 photo added courtesy of Paul Sheinheit.

RogerC on August 16, 2020 at 1:55 pm

The Wilson had a large glass chandelier over the orchestra that was removed in the 1950s supposedly because it was difficult to maintain and there was fear it could collapse. The Wilson and the Warner Theater across the street both had large vertical blade signs visible for blocks on Fulton St. I have seen images of these signs taken in the 1930s but don’t recall as a child in the 1950s seeing them. For decades, the Wilson and the Warner were the two largest cinemas in Fresno.