Crest Theatre

The Crest is something to be experienced. Few places hold so much beauty and wonderful energy. I worked there for about three years (1998 – 2001) and it was a great moment in my life. So many interesting people and performers come through those doors. I’ve seen a million films there, and so many concerts I can’t remember them all. Everyone, from Cab Calloway to Nirvana have graced it’s stage. If you are ever in Sacramento I cann’t tell you enough…visit this most historic and wonderful theatre.

Earlier in this thread, two people claimed seeing “2001: A Space Odyssey” at the Crest in 1968. I think this is highly doubtful considering “2001” played an exclusive run at the Esquire from the time it had its area premiere in June 1968 through spring 1969. Perhaps the posters were thinking of a subsequent engagement. But then, perhaps one theatre is being confused with the other.

It seems a lot of people have fond memories of seeing “2001” in the theatre. For those folks, here’s a link to a little something I researched regarding its original release. Page 2 of the article is a list of the original hard-ticket, reserved-seat roadshow engagements. Well, most of ‘em anyway.

http://www.in70mm.com/news/2004/2001/release.htm

As the Hippodrome, this theatre contained a 2 manual 6 rank style D
Wurlitzer opus 1843. Another Wurlitzer went to a Sacramento Hippodrome Theatre contained a 2 manual 4 rank style 135 piano console Wurlitzer opus 289. This organ was shipped from North Tonawanda, NY on 2/28/20.

The larger style D organ was sold to Carlos Mendoza in Santa Clara.

Close up of marquee:
View link

I saw “2001 a Space Odyssy” at the Crest for the first time in 1968. My friend, Thomas Farrell, was one of the projectionists on duty that night.

This theatre is one of some 200 that could be described as “Skouras-ized For Showmanship” which is the title of the ANNUAL of 1987 of the Theatre Historical Soc. of America. In the late 1930s through the 1950s, there occurred on the west coast of the United States a phenomenon known as the ‘Skouras style’ in recognition of the oversight of the Skouras brothers in their management of several cinema chains. They employed a designer by the name of Carl G. Moeller to render their cinemas/theatres in a new style best described as ‘Art Moderne meets Streamlined Rococo.’ The then new availability of aluminum sheeting at low cost was the principal material difference to this style allowing for sweeping, 3-dimensional shapes of scrolls to adorn walls and facades in an expression that would have been much more expensive and not at all the same in plaster. With the use of hand tinted and etched aluminum forms, the designers could make ornaments in mass production that allowed much greater economies of scale. The ANNUAL also shows in its 44 pages how some 20 theatres were good examples of this combining of aluminum forms with sweeping draperies heavily hung with large tassels, and with box offices and facades richly treated with neon within the aluminum forms. Few of these examples survive today, but it was a glorious era while it lasted, and this collection of crisp b/w photos is a fitting epitaph by the late Preston Kaufmann.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE:
To obtain any available Back Issue of either “Marquee” or of its ANNUALS, simply go to the web site of the THEATRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA at:
www.HistoricTheatres.org
and notice on their first page the link “PUBLICATIONS: Back Issues List” and click on that and you will be taken to their listing where they also give ordering details. The “Marquee” magazine is 8-1/2x11 inches tall (‘portrait’) format, and the ANNUALS are also soft cover in the same size, but in the long (‘landscape’) format, and are anywhere from 26 to 44 pages. Should they indicate that a publication is Out Of Print, then it may still be possible to view it via Inter-Library Loan where you go to the librarian at any public or school library and ask them to locate which library has the item by using the Union List of Serials, and your library can then ask the other library to lend it to them for you to read or photocopy. [Photocopies of most THSA publications are available from University Microforms International (UMI), but their prices are exorbitant.]

Note: Most any photo in any of their publications may be had in large size by purchase; see their ARCHIVE link. You should realize that there was no color still photography in the 1920s, so few theatres were seen in color at that time except by means of hand tinted renderings or post cards, thus all the antique photos from the Society will be in black and white, but it is quite possible that the Society has later color images available; it is best to inquire of them.

Should you not be able to contact them via their web site, you may also contact their Executive Director via E-mail at:
Or you may reach them via phone or snail mail at:
Theatre Historical Soc. of America
152 N. York, 2nd Floor York Theatre Bldg.
Elmhurst, ILL. 60126-2806 (they are about 15 miles west of Chicago)

Phone: 630-782-1800 or via FAX at: 630-782-1802 (Monday through Friday, 9AM—4PM, CT)

The Crest Theatre does not have a balcony. The rear of the auditorium features stadium-type seating and the standard main floor seating arrangement.

The Crest Theatre opened during the month of July, 1949. It was designed to stand out among the stores on either side, the front of the theatrehas a perpendicular sign tower spelling out its name. The floor approach is in colored terrazzo, while the marquee soffit is illuminated with neon tubes and spotlights. Concealed lighting of lesser intensity leads the patron without eye strain through the lobby and foyer into the auditorium. A specially designed rich carpeting has been used in all of these areas to deaden the footsteps of patrons. In addition to the customary lounges, washrooms, and offices, dressing rooms for ushers and usherettes have been included in the plan of the first floor. A “crying room” is located on the second floor. The ceiling of the “stadium-type” auditorium features cast gypsum ornamentation of broad design concealing elaborate neon lighting units and air conditioning diffusers. Staff work, covered with gold leaf and glazed in warm transparent colors, adorns the side walls, which have been finished in ivory, gold and pastel colors. Excellent acoustics have been achieved through the use of Limpet plaster, while perfect sight lines have been gained by a fan-like arrangement of the seats. All stage draperies are lighted from a cove situated directly above the front of the narrow stage platform. The Crest Theatre was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres and was designed by the firm Cantin and Cantin of San Francisco. Which designed other theatres like the Coronet (1949-San Francisco), the Burbank & Studio (1949-San Jose), Senator (1926-Oakland). When the Crest Theatre opened it seated 1217 people.