Lompoc Theater

Constructed in 1927 by the Lompoc Knights of Pythias, the Lompoc Theater is located on North H Street. The Lompoc Theater opened on May 27, 1927 with premier showings of George Sydney in “Lost at the Front” and Andy Grump’s “Circus Dazs”. It hosted traveling vaudeville, local dramatic productions and movies. Dressing room area was located under the stage with access via door into orchestra pit and via stairs to backstage area.

Theater was closed for fourteen days in December 1954 for a remodeling, reopening with Elizabeth Taylor in “The Last Time I Saw Paris”. It had a new marquee, new seating and expanded lobby. New bathroom configuration eliminated stairs to the “crying room” and projection booth. Access to upstairs is now via stairway from exterior, which also accesses second floor office space. Crying room is no longer a feature. Previously, the lobby did not include a snack bar and ticket booth was in the center of outside foyer. The remodel project placed the ticket booth to the side, accessible into a newly expanded lobby, including snack bar. A CinemaScope screen was also added in the remodel.

When constructed in 1927, the theater was considered the most technologically advanced facilities on the West Coast. The projection room includes a 1950’s tube powered sound amp system, a very old Simplex projector and relatively new platter system.

Closed since the 1980’s, in March 2008, plans were confirmed to restore the building into a performing arts center, to be named the Calvert Performing Arts Center. Work was planned to begin in three months, with a fall or winter 2009 opening for the project, which is costing just under $9m.

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