Oroville State Theatre

djdewey on November 19, 2006 at 8:57 pm

1928 Vaudeville/Film Theater, originally equipped with a model D
Wurlitzer Theater Organ (which has been located and is expected to be returned to the theater during the interior restoration). Was split into a duplex by UA in the late 70s. Purchased by the City of Oroville in 1983. Dividing wall removed and interior cleaned, then operated primarily as a film theater, it is now primarily a live performing arts theater, but still occasionally shows films.

Exterior restoration scheduled to begin in spring 2007. Funding to replicate the original marquee and flag sign is being sought, as well as interior restoration, including re-opening of the balcony is also in the planning stages. The original auditorium light fixtures have been found in storage, but no lobby fixtures have been found. Currently searching =
for any interior photos of the theater.=20

Much of the original three-dimensional auditorium interior trim still =
exists, covered by hardboard, easily removed!=20

Long-range plans call for the original 1928 grandeur to be =
restored/replicated with the building becoming the Oroville State =
Theatre Performing Arts Center.

Thanks!

David Dewey

Cultural Facilities Curator

City of Oroville, CA

kencmcintyre on November 25, 2009 at 4:18 pm

There is a 1960 postcard on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/yj8tphp

Don Lewis on July 17, 2010 at 10:15 am

From the mid 1930s a photo of the State Theater in Oroville.

djdewey on February 17, 2017 at 6:51 pm

Well, now it’s almost 7 years later after the last comment! The theatre is now managed and operated by STAGE, the volunteer organization that originally was just a support group for the theatre. They are calling this project the “Miracle on Myers”—the miracle being that a group of everyday folks are banding together to restore and operate the theatre as a local Performing Arts Center. Two of the most recent projects have been the repair, with plaster, of four holes in the auditorium ceiling and the installation of an access door for the Solo Organ chamber—a fire-rated door in an 8" thick concrete wall about 12 feet above the stage floor. This project cost about $20K. This is the first stage of the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ restoration and installation. This week the organ parts, which were stored in a city building down by the river were moved to the theatre’s upstairs area and a commercial storage facility above the dam, for their safety. The Theatre is in regular use as the community performing arts center and we do still occasionally show movies, usually art films or silent films, and occasionally classical films. The Projection booth still holds two functioning 35MM projectors and platter systems (as well as reel to reel capability). STAGE is constantly looking for photographs of the theatre, especially needed are interior photos. We are also hoping to find parts of the original blade sign and marquee, but if they aren’t available, reproductions will be built to replace that, um, er, OK, UGLY, Marquee that UA installed back in the 1970s. We have also inspected and have temporarily hung the original auditorium chandeliers, which were just dumped in storage when the theatre was twinned. They are actually in remarkable condition. We would love to find any of the lobby light fixtures; fortunately the same design was used in the Redding (CA) Cascade theatre, so plans are available to replicate them. Check out the STAGE webpage: www.orovillestatetheatre.com.

djdewey on June 12, 2019 at 1:14 pm

Finally getting time to post an update. The organ is almost finished, and is still being played at almost every event. The big news is that STAGE received some major grants and are in the process of uncovering for restoration the stairway mural in the Lobby. Paint has also been stripped on selected places of the lobby walls and ceiling to determine the paint colors and decorative finishes. Repainting is scheduled for this summer, AND the replication of the long lost blade sign and wrap-around marquee has been let out for contract. We plan on a grand re-lighting ceremony early in October. Along with the grants, STAGE has entered into escrow to assume ownership of the Theatre; a major significant step in the theatre’s preservation and restoration. Next summer a new roof is planned too!