Perris Theatre

drb on January 8, 2009 at 1:08 pm

This sounds hopeful. Seeing as the Chief is only one block from the newly restored depot, that would put it in prime position for restoration.

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quote:
With a new Metrolink station and Riverside Transit Authority bus stop adjacent to the Depot, Perris officials say they are poised to meet the transportation needs of the region well into the 21st Century. The bus stop is expected to be open in the next two years and the Metrolink station by 2011.

“We will be a hub,” said Perris Planning Commissioner Dave Stuart, who also served as the project manager for the restoration of the 1892 Depot.

Stuart said the Depot’s restoration, along with revitalization of D Street and planned improvements along 4th Street will spur business development in the City’s Downtown and will bring jobs and shoppers to Perris.

“If you want to attract quality businesses, it’s paramount that you keep and restore your historic buildings,” he said.

drb on January 8, 2009 at 1:32 pm

Oh, and here’s a photo from 2007:
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During at least one of the nearby Orange Empire Railway Museum’s “Rail Fairs” back in the early ‘90s, they reopened the Chief for that weekend’s festivities, showing old comedy short films dealing with trains or trolleys. Some of the Chief’s draperies were looking a little threadbare and there was some dust that the vacuums missed, but the seats were relatively comfy, albeit needing work. Looked pretty restorable.

kencmcintyre on January 8, 2009 at 1:49 pm

If the last incarnation was the Chief, that should be the name, with Perris Theater as an aka.

drb on January 8, 2009 at 3:44 pm

The Metrolink station planning report identifies it as a “building of historic interest” under the original name of Perris Theater/Theatre (they spell it both ways), and says “The Perris Theater, which has rich design features and was built in the 1930s, is currently owned by the Perris Church of Christ.” It’s one of the few buildings they note and label on their map.

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An article on a meeting to discuss the city’s Downtown Vision Plan mentions a suggestion to show classic movies, but it doesn’t sound like anything’s been decided yet.

Here’s a cool image of it, from before they removed the small marquee:
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And a couple good photos without the marquee:
http://flickr.com/photos/mr38/2596927260/
http://flickr.com/photos/mr38/2596925572/

kencmcintyre on February 6, 2010 at 8:02 pm

Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ydob6zw