San Mateo Theater

The San Mateo was NOT torn down, though it was lost as a theatre. It still stands, in use as an office and retail building. Most of its Greco-Renaissance hybrid facade was allowed to remain intact, though the central arched pavilion feature and marquee were removed.

The interior was arguably the first, possibly anywhere, to be decorated in what would ultimately be known as Art Deco, the decorative scheme having been changed during construction to reflect the era’s changes in taste.

I use to change the marquee when San Carlos Cinemas leased it from Mann Theatres, The theatre was so run down from when mann theatres ran it the upstairs balcony was closed off the upstairs lobby which in itsday circled around that was boarded up and used to store all kinds of theatre crap, i remember when Beverly and scrappy ran it for mann it was the philtist dump, Bev use to live in the Janitors Closet and they would drink the night away at the Ben Franks, when i was changing the marquee all seats were a $ 1.oo what a fun time that was

Here are some photos from the LA Library, circa 1925:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00080/00080361.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00080/00080362.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00080/00080363.jpg
http://jpg1.lapl.org/00080/00080364.jpg

Mr. Tarantino,

I am a San Mateo resident doing a project on the San Mateo Theater. I am trying to gather any images I can, especially of the front of the the theater, and the box office. The photos I have so far been able to find are all at a distance and obscure the area under the marquee. If you have any other information or photos of the theater I would greatly appreciate hearing from you, or simply a chance to speak with you about the theater. Thank you.

Looks like there should be an aka name of Fox San Mateo.