Liberty Theater

617 K Street,
Sacramento, CA 95814

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MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on October 9, 2021 at 9:58 pm

Motion Picture Herald, July 19, 1952: “On July 1, the 548-seat Liberty in Sacramento reverted to its former owner John DiStacio from Ray Kelsall.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 30, 2010 at 4:27 pm

John DiStatsio was apparently not the first owner of the Liberty, unless there were two subsequent theaters of that name in Sacramento. The style of the building does look to be a bit earlier than 1916, though, so this was probably the same Liberty Theatre mentioned in this 1913 biography of Charles Godard, who was also operating the Majestic and Godard theaters at that time. Godard was also mentioned as operator of the Liberty in the trade publication Moving Picture World, issue of July 12, 1913.

The Liberty and its neighbor, the Capitol Theatre, can be seen in this 1962 photo. There is also a glimpse of the Liberty at the far left of this ca.1962 photo. The ornate facade in the photo Lost Memory linked to above had been replaced at some time by a moderne front and marquee.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 18, 2009 at 3:58 am

The last operator of the Liberty Theatre was Jess Levin’s General Theatrical Company, but from its opening in 1916 until 1955 it had been operated by John W. DiStasio. The announcement of DiStasio’s retirement and the sale of the Liberty to the Levin interests appeared in Boxoffice, October 29, 1955. The announcement of the final closing of the Liberty was published in Boxoffice of December 7, 1957.

The 1921 installation of the Robert-Morton organ was part of a remodeling that took place that year. The November 19 issue of The Music Trade Review said the Liberty would have its formal reopening on Thanksgiving Day.