Encore Theater
California Drive,
Burlingame,
CA
94010
California Drive,
Burlingame,
CA
94010
1 person
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The outside of this theater gave no indication of what was on the inside. For years this theater lay dormant while a man known as ‘The Rev’ worked inside restoring this old structure. It was a wonderful theater with red carpets, a mural of the daytime sky on the celing, and angels looking down from their perches high above the floor.
Despite its adornments, one thing this theater lacked was luck. The city of Burlingame deemed it unsafe and condemed the Encore saying it whould not survive a earthquake. Despite its supposedly flimsy construction, it took the city a full three days to demolish the building.
Contributed by
Michael
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Architects were Reid Bros.
At some point under the “Rev’s” occupancy of the building, the old paint job was covered up with the abovementioned sky and clouds look, and the walls repainted white, blue, and purple. This had been after the Rev had been in the attic and stepped on a section of the ceiling and severely damaged it (as related by him to my friend who later salvaged items from the theatre). The cast plaster ornament was gold. During demolition it was possible to see that the original proscenium, organ grilles, and seats had survived up to the end.
The etched peach-mirrored vanity in the Ladies Lounge was salvaged just prior to demolition, as well as a few items of cast plaster.
I rememember seeing this place every day :
SMILE
GOD LOVES YOU
REV
I was never inside of this theatre, but I imagined the movie “Demons” whenever my brother and I talked about it.
The Encore, was a beautiful theatre. It was one of a kind, with a projection system that was fully automated (dimmed the lights opened the curtains) with one of the very first automated platter systems, which became a white elephant, made by Bell and Howell. I saw the movie “The Other Side Of Midnight” there. Unfortunately for the theatre, it was in a area where the ground, that became saturated by the rains, would flood the interior of the theatre. Pumping system was too expensive to maintain, and horrible mold and mildew infested the place. Rev could not keep up with the insurance. The vertical “Encore” sign had like a 1880’s saloon style look. There were train tracks nearby and the Theatre would rumble a little. Magnificent interior with gold grilles, and busts of ladies everywhere. Seating was very comfortable.
My photograph of the ENCORE View link
The Rev speaks:
http://tinyurl.com/5rfmj6
Here is a 1986 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/pw8fhf
Does anyone remember when Ward Stoopes owned and operated this theatre?? I’m sure he was the last operator of this wonderful little showhouse.
Larry, it was 1968 he was the last operater there
Nice name.
Ward was still trying to hang in there with the Encore in the early 70’s while he was in the maint. dept. with National General/Mann Theatres. It would seem he finally closed it around 72 or 73. It never reopened after that.