Perris Theatre

285 D Street,
Perris, CA

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lostmemory
lostmemory on January 8, 2009 at 2:05 pm

The Perris Church of Christ uses an address of 279 South D Street.

drb
drb on January 8, 2009 at 12:44 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.

View link

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:
View link

And a couple good photos without the marquee:
http://flickr.com/photos/mr38/2596927260/
http://flickr.com/photos/mr38/2596925572/

lostmemory
lostmemory on January 8, 2009 at 10:55 am

No kidding. The Chief Theater name has been mentioned since 2004.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 8, 2009 at 10:49 am

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

lostmemory
lostmemory on January 8, 2009 at 10:40 am

I don’t know what year the 250 seat count came from but the Perris Theater is listed in 1955 with 568 seats.

drb
drb on January 8, 2009 at 10:32 am

Oh, and here’s a photo from 2007:
View link

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
kencmcintyre on January 8, 2009 at 10:22 am

It maps correctly when you use S. D Street, as opposed to just D Street.

drb
drb on January 8, 2009 at 10:08 am

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.

monika
monika on September 30, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Funny you say that, when I was there I had that “I feel like I’ve been here before…” feeling. Likely because I had the Star hanging around in the back of my head.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 30, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Reminds me of the Star in Oceanside.

monika
monika on September 30, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Two photos from September 2008 here:
View link
View link

genordell
genordell on July 13, 2004 at 4:35 pm

built in the 1930s as an open-air theater by Tom Sharpe, later enclosed; reportedly also known as the Chief Theater; currently the Perris Church of Christ; mis-labeled modern color photo at View link

William
William on November 13, 2003 at 4:07 pm

The Perris Theatre is located at 285 D Street.

Kiki
Kiki on January 24, 2003 at 4:27 pm

This theatre can be seen in the film “Calendar Girl” 1993 with Jason Priestley.