Comments about California Theatre in Dunsmuir, CA

Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 10:18 pm

A 2011 photo can be seen here.

DonLewis on October 21, 2010 at 4:08 am

From 1954 a view of Dunsmuir Avenue including the California Theatre in Dunsmuir.

kencmcintyre on April 10, 2010 at 7:35 pm

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y4llkc8

Chuck1231 on September 11, 2009 at 4:49 pm

2008 photo of the California Theatre courtesy Tom Spaulding.
View link

keithrankin70 on August 9, 2009 at 6:51 am

I delivered film to that theater for many years. never forget falling on my butt when getting out of the truck in the winter, and then over the hill tom meet the manager from tule lake. Always stoped at Sweet Briar exit and went home with a nice limit of Rainbow's
Good memmories. hope it is a good as it used to be after those knot heads spilled chemicals in it.
The 50s and 60s were good old days

bryantaylor on July 18, 2009 at 8:42 pm

Greetings, I am now working on the restoration of the California in Dunsmuir. we are trying to reopen it with a new flare including community arts, plays, etc. We are interested in gathering volunteers for this project. We decided to do this without money exchange for the benefit of the town. Any comments or ideas would be greatly appreciated. We are also selling some of the vintage seating in the theater.

lostmemory on July 2, 2009 at 2:10 am

This is another 1986 photo.

kencmcintyre on April 23, 2009 at 7:13 pm

Here is a 1986 photo:
http://snipurl.com/gjuy8

Holli4949 on October 27, 2008 at 12:42 pm

I lived in Dunsmuir as a child and managed this movie theater when I was 18 years old. I can tell you the ghosts there are VERY real. :)

lostmemory on September 12, 2008 at 6:42 pm

A September 2008 photo can be seen here.

lostmemory on July 16, 2008 at 3:33 am

Here is a July 2008 close-up view.

lostmemory on April 18, 2008 at 6:15 pm

This is a more recent photo.

lostmemory on January 21, 2008 at 7:54 pm

Another recent photo can be seen here.

jrhine on December 30, 2007 at 3:29 pm

According to theatreorgans.com, the California Theater has its original organ back.

WurliTzer Opus 1232
STATUS INST LOCATION CITY STATE COUNTRY
SD A CALIFORNIA TH DUNSMUIR CA USA
SD B JOHN LEININGER RS REDDING CA USA
SD C VERN GREGORY SAN FRANCISCO CA USA
AD CA +6 RANKS (SMITH) SAN FRANCISCO CA USA
SD D FRED BEEKS RS RENO NV USA
SD E FRED BEEKS RS SKAGWAY AK USA
OK F CALIFORNIA TH DUNSMUIR CA USA

Simon Overton on July 26, 2007 at 9:15 pm

Having visited Dunsmuir on several occasions, my wife and I were very much impressed with this charming city. We were kindly afforded a memorable tour of the theater, of which, has remained with us.

Presently living in the greater Los Angeles area, I have run aground in trying to find a theater in which to offer the benefits of my past cinema/theater experiences, both professionally and volunteer in England, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Should owners of the California Theatre contemplate reopening soon, then we are prepared to relocate if anyone wishes to contact me at

lostmemory on May 30, 2007 at 12:32 am

Here is a recent photo showing the California Theater.

Simon Overton on April 26, 2007 at 3:41 pm

Are there any new developments with the California Theatre regarding its recent restoration, closure and sale and is it still a tri-plex?
I’m very curious!

lostmemory on November 8, 2006 at 7:51 pm

Here is a close-up photo of the California Theater.

lostmemory on September 7, 2006 at 11:25 am

This is another photo of the California Theater.

MilesRichmond on June 17, 2006 at 4:01 am

How sad and disappointing it is to think how hard the young people worked to put Dunsmuir on the map and then some of the people in Dunsmuir are so small minded not to see a good thing right in front of them. There is no doubt in my mind that it can be a success.
There was a lot of work done and I hope it can be saved. Miles Richmond

DonLKirk on June 17, 2006 at 2:08 am

To Clarify. Mr. Naify does not now own the CA Theatre. He was great to us; helping us reopen it and he donated the two original backdrops, from when the theater first opened in the 1920’s.

DonLKirk on June 17, 2006 at 1:52 am

The California is again closed. Apparantly a number of local citizens do not like the building’s owner; and they told us that unless we bought the place from him, they would not attend. While I never heard or saw the ghosts, several are rumored to live there. I’m President of the American Theatre Development Corporation; and we will soon see if we can purchase the CA. BTW… It’s 3 stories; and my office was 3 flights up in the old Mason’s office; with no elevator to help me get there. We’d like help getting ownership of it. funds/volunteers, etc. It’s partly refurbished; and we would like to restore it (and add an elevator) Don L. Kirk

lostmemory on April 3, 2006 at 4:33 pm

Here is a color photo of the California Theater.

rroberts on January 1, 2006 at 3:23 pm

Any idea of what is happening in this great theatre?

kencmcintyre on December 28, 2005 at 1:14 am

1941:
View link
View link

1946:
View link

1947:
View link

1948:
View link