Spreckels Theatre
121 Broadway,
San Diego,
CA
92101
121 Broadway,
San Diego,
CA
92101
8 people
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Back in the 1950s my Dad knew the head projectionist for this theater and arranged for a tour. It was quite a place, there wer 4 or 5 levels of seating and a large stage behind the screen. One thing I remember was a large representation of a baseball field, say 15 or 20 feet on a side, equipped with electic lights so as the indicate the path of the ball and base runners. This was used in the 1930s during the world series. Apparently people paid to sit and watch while someone operated the lights and an announcer called the action, based on information received via wire. After the tour, we got to see The Bridge on the River Kwai.
Here are two photographs of the Spreckels Theatre I took on May 17 2009:
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1982 Photo
1983 Photo
This is a nice close-up shot.
Here are nine photos from the Library of Congress.
Here is another 2008 photo.
Love this place. Saw Travis in concert here and I will never forget it.
Not a bad seat in the house.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/darrius/page2/
This is a 2008 photo.
Here is a more recent view.
Another recent view of Spreckels can be seen here.
This is a close-up view of the Spreckels marquee.
I was a manager here for awhile in 1975, we ran movies and ocasionally a concert. It not only had a balcony but a gallery above that…and it was a steep slope …I would not want to trip on and go rolling down. There is a story that Ben Hur was done live there in the old days and they actually ran chariots from the side stage doors and on out…. it had a very large lift mechanism in the basement that could lift part of the stage up…for example to change a set or the orchestra…it is one large theatre….The theatre is a building inside another building so to speak..It has three walls of offices surrounding it that actually could be demolished leaving the entire theatre intact.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975
Spreckels Theatre Building (added 1975 – Building – #75000467)
123 Broadway, San Diego
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Albright,Harrison
Architectural Style: Chicago
Area of Significance: Architecture, Art, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
A grand old theater, laden with tons of class. Ironically, I never saw a movie here. In early February, 2002, I treated my daughter to Canadian singer Nelly Furtado’s concert and introduced her to Nelly and the band members after the show. My daughter also liked the fact that the tickets I had were in Row 4, floor level, but there really isn’t a poor seat in the house.
This is a B/W modern photo of the Spreckels Theater.
Here is a modern photo of Spreckels Theater.
From the San Diego Historical Society:
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The Spreckels opened Aug. 23, 1912. It was owned by John D. Spreckels. Photos are here:
Exterior Photo:
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Proscenium and Stage:
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Lobby:
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