Hopkins Theatre
3529 MacArthur Boulevard,
Oakland,
CA
94619
3529 MacArthur Boulevard,
Oakland,
CA
94619
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Golden State Theater & Realty Corp.
Architects: Simeon Charles Lee
Functions: Retail
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
Located in Laurel district of East Oakland. The Hopkins Theatre was opened on July 19, 1939, with Errol Flynn in “Dodge City” & Constance Bennett in “Topper Takes a Trip”. Seating was provided for 914 on a stadium plan, with a raised stepped section at the rear. It was closed in 1950.
In 2020 it is operating as a Goodwill & AutoZone auto parts store.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
The architect was S. Charles Lee of Los Angeles. The interior was very simple and streamlined. The vertical sign tower remained all through the supermarket years, and has been nicely retained in the conversion by Hollywood Video. I can’t however, understand the application of cast foam Neoclassical cornice moldings to what otherwise was an almost totally intact Moderne facade! Fortunately, they are not all that noticeable.
The Hopkins opened its doors on July 7, 1939 and was christened by Alan Hale Sr (father and namesake of “Gilligan’s Island’s” Skipper). and Sally Rand. It closed in 1950.
From the UCLA Digital Collection:
View link
Here is an interior photo:
http://tinyurl.com/m9l2p
Here is the architect’s sketch:
http://tinyurl.com/55nnrt
This site has a 1950 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d7b7gr
I think all the Hollywood Video stores are closing. What’s next for this building?
Went there with my parents as a kid a few times, the last movie we saw was Caged with Eleanor Parker. It was a nice theater but towards the end, they just let it go. It closed just a few weeks later. Every time we went, I would look down McArthur Blvd, and see the Laurel with all its flashing neon.
If I recall correctly, didn’t they have rocking or reclining seats in some sections? I also thought it was still operating into the middle 50’s. I do remember in the 60’s it was converted into a grocery store as mentioned in another post.
This opened on July 19th, 1939 (not the 7th). ad below:
Hopkins theatre opening Wed, Jul 19, 1939 – Page 10 · Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) · Newspapers.com