142 Throckmorton Theatre

DavidZornig on January 23, 2022 at 10:45 am

Two photos added as Hub Theatre and Oddfellows Temple. Updated history credit Mill Valley Historical Society.

      "Built in 1915, this building was originally the Hub Theater, a venue for live vaudeville acts, silent films and even a live performance by Charlie Chaplin.  Musical accompaniment was in the capable hands of Hattie Thompson, at an electric organ.  Admission to the Saturday Matinee cost five cents, and included a Wild West serial in addition to the main feature.  The Hub Theater closed in 1929, when the Sequoia Theater up the street opened and showed “Talkies.”
                        During the years that followed the building saw a variety of uses, including as a bowling alley and as a skating rink.  In 1952 it was purchased by the Odd Fellows Temple, IOOF Lodge #399, and in 1976 the precursor to the Mill Valley Film Festival, “Saturday Nite Movies,” featured foreign films in the auditorium.  Over time however the building saw decreasing use and fell into disrepair.
                        Eventually purchased and officially opened in 2004 by Lucy Mercer, 142 Throckmorton is recognized as a multi-genre performing arts center with eclectic, high quality programming which attracts over 50,000 people to the nonprofit theatre each year. It has become a favorite venue among performers of all stripes for artistic experimentation and collaboration. 
                        The lobby of the theatre is often open in the afternoon, allowing visitors to explore the rotating exhibitions of original works of art featured in the gallery space.  Steve Coleman, the theatre's set and scenic designer, restored a very famous scene of Mount Tamalpais, painted by Jules Mersfelder in 1917.  This painting can now be viewed from the landing on the stairway up to the balcony, after having hung for many years at City Hall."
                  

Joe Vogel on July 27, 2024 at 10:39 am

The October 9, 1915 issue of Motion Picture News had this item about the opening of the Hub Theater:

“THE Hub theatre has been opened at Mill Valley, under the management of A. C. Pabst. The New Hub theatre is a handsome house, fitting in superbly with its beautful surroundings, and was erected by C. H. Mehrten, of Berkeley, treasurer of the Motion Picture Exhibitors’ League of California. Mr. Mehrten has operated a number of houses in the San Francisco Bay territory, and is now conducting the Varsity theatre in the College City. The matinee and evening performances on the opening day were well attended, many of the leading citizens of Mill Valley being present, including Mayor Jones, who made an address of welcome. The theatre has a seating capacity of about six hundred.”

An article in the October 9 Moving Picture World noted that the house was to have been completed in early summer, but late spring rains had interfered with construction, leading to delays.