California Theatre
1122 4th Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92101
1122 4th Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92101
26 people
favorited this theater
Showing 101 - 125 of 153 comments
David Young, thanks for posting the photos of the auditorium. How wide a movie screen can fit on that stage?
Anyone could tell me how big is the tower part of the building compared to the theatre itself which I believe it is 19,000 sqft?
Thanks a lot
Unfortunate that the building was restored in the late 80’s and has been allowed to once again disintegrate. A strange turn of events to be sure.
TO: Rev. David E. Young, Chapel Lane Presbyterian Church, Midland, MI
Subject: REPORT ON SITUATION OF CALIFORNIA THEATER, SAN DIEGO
I have managed to make contact with many if not all significant private players, officials, donors, theater organizations, and business planners about the future utilization of the California Theater property at 4th and C street, downtown San Diego.
The unanimous consensus is that the potential buyers, owners, developers, or organizations will NOT BE PERMITTED to divert this property from its sole role as a stage or film theater. At this time there exists NO option for right of refusal to purchase the property.
There will be NO condominium or other commercial property development. There will be NO church or church sponsored rehabilitation program for alcoholics or the drug addicted including any housing on the property for residents or program participants or any other entourage.
There will be NO MATCHING funding or deceitful contribution campaign soliciting funds for alleged church or other self serving programs.
Clearly anyone propositioning, promoting, or soliciting funds for any of the above alleged uses or other unmentioned deceitful intentions is a fraud upon the public and those who may contribute.
Anyone or organization now in possession of such funds already collected alleging any of the above specific or similar uses is warned to return all such collections immediately.
Compiled from personal interviews by Prof Bill Neill, , 619/ 281-2200, March 10, 2006 at San Diego.
CALIFORNIA THEATER PROPERTY —— PART 3 ——–> SECURED LOAN
The CALIFORNIA THEATER PROPERTY now consists of these elements:
CT – LOBBY, BUILDING, AUDITORIUM, RETAIL, & LOT.
The lot just north of the building structure IS part of the property
and the property is now 100 foot frontage on 4th and 200 feet deep, now for the first time, they are all under the ownership of CALIFORNIA THEATER INVESTMENT GROUP,LLC.
Now comes a secured loan made via DEED OF TRUST AND ASSIGNMENT OF RENTS
Dated: ……Dec 14 2005
Amount: …..$ 125,000.00
Trustor: ….CALIFORNIA THEATER INVESTMENT GROUP,LLC.
Beneficiary: Lance Badgwell
Trustee: ….Commonwealth Land Title Company
COLLATERAL:..Lists all elements of the California Theater Property
Note: There is now a mortgage on the entire property.
Note2: This information extracted from the official County of San Diego records.
Note3: Mr. Director was saying: “You there, no you, YOU! Can you hum along: Hhuuuuuuuummmmmmmm! No! NOT NOW, after the fat lady sings.â€
Bill Neill, , 619/ 281-2200.
Aknowleged, and I thank you for the follow up.
I also apologize to Mr Neill for missjudging his post.
Se you soon…
PS. I stop by the theater this morning and everything looks as ussual.
Mario
SUBJECT, The California Theater located between 3rd and 4th at between B and C streets, downtown San Diego.
CALIFORNIA THEATER PROPERTY —— PART 2 LEGAL SALE DOC 2005-1071360
It now consists of these elements:
CT – LOBBY, BUILDING, AUDITORIUM, RETAIL, & LOT.
COMMENTS BY PROF BILL NEILL, I have contractor experience and licenses. I am from Laguna Beach where I was involved in Pageant of the Masters and Summer Theater for over 20 years. I owned 3 businesses and employed 25 employees. I own Pacific Security, serving all of Southern California, from Mexico to the Grape Vine and from Catalina to Palm Springs. All businesses made a fine profit and were very well managed. All during this time, I also taught engineering both full and part time at California State University. Contact: , 619/ 281-2200.
CALIFORNIA THEATER PROPERTY, How absurd is this: just about on every front and that includes the current efforts to amass $ 40 million in cash FIRST. This just shows you how little these people know of the business end of restoration and theater business in general, let alone how to manage this property. Buy it an put the rest in an interest bank account. Spend only the interest!!!
CT- LOT. The lot just north of the building structure IS part of the property:
It was just purchased for about $ 900,000. GRANT DEED
Dated: DEC 24 2003
Seller:FOURTH AVENUE HOLDING COMPANY
Buyer:CALIFORNIA THEATRE INVESTMENT GROUP,LLC
Note: This is lot 8 on map 533-521 of County of San Diego records. It is 50â€\ frontage on 4th Avenue and 100â€\ deep.
Note2: The 50â€\ by 100â€\ lot to the rear is a parking lot and is owned by others.
CT- PROPERTY. The property was made up of 2 sets of two 50 by 100 lots. This made the property and the building on it, 200 by 100. So two of the 50 x 100 are now 100 x 100 making it 100 foot frontage on 4th and 200 feet deep, now for the first time, they are all under the same ownership.
It was purchased for about $ 6,250,000. GRANT DEED
Dated: OCT 03 2005
Seller: CURTIS TURN DEVELOPMENT, INC
Buyer: CALIFORNIA THEATRE INVESTMENT GROUP,LLC
Note: This is now lots 4 & 5 ( E & F and G & H )on map 533-521 of County of San Diego records. It is 100â€\ frontage on 4th Avenue and 200â€\ frontage on C street.
.
OWNERSHIP – close escrow and put the property in our name so we can get to work. Now that this property has just been purchased, the price is much, much higher! However, since this property is on the List of Historic places, they will not be demolishing to build on the land.
SUMMARY – It has taken far too long and keeps hitting a snag. Get with my program so we can all be proud of the rise of the California Theater. This is less and less easy to do. Mistakes become very expensive to fix!
Advice? Don;t worry about the post. After we saw this post, I spoke with the poster on the phone yesterday and had a wonderful conversation. As an FYI, he is not involved in the project at this time. He does not own or rent the building, nor have any involvement personally in it yet. He is a retired realtor who did a premilinary look up of some of the lot deed information with the County of San Diego. The information available on the five lots and two properties that make this building confused him as much as it did us when we started the project, and he posted the above post before doing further research.
This project has been a true adventure so far when it comes to the papered ownership history of the theatre. Once we get the project moving, we want the ownership to stay the same and end the quagmire for many generations to come.
?????? David, HELP… what is going on here…. I just read NONSENSE…
Please advice…
White
SUBJECT, The California Theater located between 3rd and 4th at between B and C streets, downtown San Diego.
CALIFORNIA THEATER PROPERTY now consists of these elements:
CT – LOBBY, BUILDING, AUDITORIUM, RETAIL, & LOT.
CT- BUILDING, Eight story excellent business address with view and has access to roof patio for party and nursery location to grow and sustain decorative plants.
Controllable access to balcony and projection booth.
The lower floors will be the last to be ready to rent.
CT- LOBBY, Lobby area and elevator NOT a part of theater.
CT- AUDITORIUM, Two level theater lobby, stage and auditorium with orchestra pit and dressing rooms. Balcony will be last to open. All are separate from building.
CT- RETAIL, Four restaurant or retail business locations are ready to be developed within the structure. The large restaurant has access to theater seats for opening night dinner and show, already to go!
CT- LOT, Do we own it? Rent it!
COMMENTS BY PROF BILL NEILL, I have contractor experience and licenses. I am from Laguna Beach where I was involved in Pageant of the Masters and Summer Theater for over 20 years. I owned 3 businesses and employed 25 employees. I own Pacific Security, serving all of Southern California, from Mexico to the Grape Vine and from Catalina to Palm Springs. All businesses made a fine profit and were very well managed. All during this time, I also taught engineering both full and part time at California State University. Contact: , 619/ 281-2200.
CALIFORNIA THEATER PROPERTY, How absurd is this: just about on every front and that includes the current efforts to amass $ 40 million in cash FIRST. This just shows you how little these people know of the business end of restoration and theater business in general, let alone how to manage this property. Buy it an put the rest in an interest bank account. Spend only the interest!!!
BACKGROUND
Just a few years ago I presented myself to the real estate agent who had a listing on the the property. She gave me the keys and said go look to your heartâ€\s content. Power was on, about 5 bulbs worked. I came with a powerful flashlight, yellow pad, and camera. I spent about 5 hours, 10 am to 4:30 pm going through this property from top to bottom. Here is what I saw:
CT- LOBBY. This is fixable in 20 to 30 days and I already know of possible tenants. A shoe shine and cigar tenant and a limousine operator. Elevator must be fixed and modernized.
I insist on absolute security for liability, safety, and tenant acceptance.
Controlled entrance via cards must be used and computerized.
Burglar alarm and Fire alarm must be a top priority including water sprinkling everywhere.
Security cameras on all floors and fire exits.
CT- BUILDING. This is a mess. Because the building was not secured, the bums built fires in the middle of the floor, removed every door fixture, broke toilets and parts and glass, they removed every door hinge possible. They cut the power and removed all copper wire and switch boxes, selling the copper for scrap.
The immediate rental of this space in required to finance a part of the recovery of the rest of the building and property.
Five floors could be rented in less than 5 to 6 months, and a lot sooner if we all have a WORK PARTY!
I would expect a rental income of $ 12,000.00 per month almost immediately, which would net $ 10,000 per month to boot strap the retail floor renovations.
CT- AUDITORIUM. This is the jewel of the property, but must be the last to be fully restored. It will be magnificent, but we can use it as it is for now for several presentations.
Immediately tar the roof, the water leaks are going to kill us by fall of 2006. This is a very odd roof in that it is essentially a bridge tar floor supported by external bow shaped structure above. Unfortunately, having the structure outside and above makes for a zillion places for water to leak inside. So, the only immediate repair is to the roof!
Commence a search for the parts stolen from the old Simplex projectors. Fix them and use them for old time movies and general stage lighting.
Immediately renovate the lobby snack bar and make the front glitter with a paint job and a chandelier removed from the fancy buildings being torn down in Los Vegas. I know we can get these for FREE!!!
We need a wine and cheese party.
Apply for a liquor license.
SUNDAY —– Rent to a small startup church, money is money.
MONDAY —– Work on the place
TUESDAY — Talent show, and start up bands
WEDNESDAY- Offer to small gatherings for fashion show, build a runway.
Use for computer game animations.
THURSDAY – Thursday night is Gay Night with skits and raunchy burlesque shows.
FRIDAY – – Commence the west coast version of the Cotton Club – Apollo Theater talent presentation on Tuesday, with runoff on Friday, semifinals.
SATURDAY – Student written and produced and acted plays – keep it simple for now.
CT- RETAIL. These can be income producers with the minimal investment. Lower the rent and load up the tenants! It is productive, makes the place look used, keeps the city happy and produces cash. The bums stole the electrical boxes, so we need to immediately contact any building that is being demolished for a take home donation.
CT- LOT. The lot just north of the building structure may be part of the property. I do not have the deed and so can not make this determination.
OWNERSHIP – close escrow and put the property in our name so we can get to work.
SUMMARY – It has taken far too long and keeps hitting a snag. Get with my program so we can all be proud of the rise of the California Theater.
Well Mario, it is not roofless. The arches actually protrude from the roof. It was part of the earthquake-safety design. The architect was the later author of the first California Earthquake Safety Code, and this was one of his first experiments with the concept.
To our knowledge, no one has been able to get inside without a key in about three years. There used to be a nice transient that kept them out and kept the leaks repaired inside, but the former owners had him removed.
The organ was indeed destroyed in a church fire where it was housed. Its last concert was in 1991, and the fire was in 1996. We are debating about whether to replace it. The owner of the old Jack Murphy organ is in San Diego, and we may bring that one in. It has not yet been decided.
The history of the theatre itself is extensive, and goes back to the late 1920’s. It was one of the first projects that R.E.Hazzard, the popular San Diego construction company, built. It was commissionened by West Coast Theatres, the largest chain in the West at the time. Fox bought West Coast out in the 1930’s, and it became the California Fox Theatre. Then Fox built another theatre, which is now the Copley Symphany Hall, and the California Fox became the New California Theatre, just blocks from the New Fox Theatre.
The theatre featured film and vaudeville with an occasional concert or event. In the 1960’s, it was sold to a private owner, who restored the building, rewired it, and replaced the marquee. It then showed films and concerts until 1971, when the owner died. He left it in a trust to some friends, to make sure it remains. On the trust, it went dark until 1979, when the Old Globe Theatre burned down in Balboa Park. The globe used the California Theatre to perform until the new Globe was built in 1981. The trust then held concerts in teh building until 1989. The last singer was Alice Cooper.
1989, it was deignated a city historic landmark class 4. The trust decided they wanted to be rid of it, and a rich investor came to town wanting the land to tear it down and build condos. The trust hired a man to write a report claiming that there is no historic significance to the building, and got it downgraded to a class 1, which means the building could be torn down. In 1991, just before the developer was to start, the real estate crash came allong and the project was dropped.
In an effort to rid himself of the biuilding, he sold it to a man who claimed to be a preacher for under $200,000. This man had the espestos removed and restored much of the facade.
It turned out he was not a preacher. He was a VC who had several properties going bad on him. In 1997, he ulled a mortgage using the theatre as collateral. In 2000, American National Investments bought it from him with the goal of restoring it and selling it to an organiaztion that would re-open it. However, while it was in escro, the mortgage company forclosed on the building, and told ANI that they would have to pay $10,000,000 for it if they still wanted it. This was way out of their funding range, and the deal died, leaving it the hands of the mortgage company, who though they could turn it around for a quick buck from a developer.
In 2001, the City of San Diego did away with the “class system” on historic buildings, turning the California Theatre into a protected building once more. New, more accurate reports of its historical significance had been brought out by ANI as well, so the mortgage company was not able to sell it. They tried three times, and three times the buyers backed out when they saw it was protected. Thankfully, that is where we came in.
Luck and economy have saved this building many times. We first saw the needs of the theatre back in 1995, but until this time, were unable to do much about it because of all of the contraversy around it. Now the opportunity has come that we are able to do something and we are.
We were able to bargain the price down and get guarantees from the city to greenlight the restoration. ANI is working with us, and it will cost nearly $40 million and two years to complete when it is officially started. We are almost there, with just $2 million left to raise to begin the work.
It has had a variety of business over the decades. Most of them have been resteraunts and cafes, and there was a book store for a short time. The last business to close there was a mexican grill. When it is reopened, we plan to have resteraunts there again, and a theatrical gift shop.
There is no penthouse. What you see on the top right as you face the entrance on top of the building is the elevator shaft.
Hi David I stop by the theater yesterday and as ussual I spent a few minutes checking out the building. Coming down on 4th st, you can see the metal arches from the roof structure (is the entire house roofless..? ) hope not.
Hey David how is the property holding up a s far as vandalism..? does people gets in easily..? hope not too… can you spare a few more historical details of CALIFORNIA THEATER.. I read somewere that the magnificent pipe organ was removed and later destroyed in an arson fire.. were in the world we will get another of this gems..? never mind all of the above… can you tell us what was the tipe of bussiness or shopping areas that the building had in its peak years, how about the penthouse on the right upper side.. fiuuu… thanks in advance for the help….
Mario
Mario, the skull is just some creative grafitti. We are still trying to get the last bit of funding. I will be sure to post an upsate when we start moving forward again.
David, its been a while since the last comment on this magnificent theater… any updates…? how is the remodeling plans going so far.. this theater is been my favorite historical building in the nehiborhood, since I missed the oportunity to get inside when it was still operating, Im one of the many people who walk around the perimeter to maybe take a glance thru a wipe down window or to discover any signs of remodeling.
Whats going on inside..? whats with the scull painted outside..? sorry about so many questions.
Mario
P.S. Thanks for the awesome pictures you posted.
jst, if you e-mail me at the address I gave above, I will be happy to discuss the ownership information with you.
Are you the owner? Or do you know who the owner is?
Thanks Stephmc. If you have any questions about its history, I am one of the only four people who have all that is available on it. No other one organization has all of the available pieces of its remarkable story, but many have parts of it. My researchers and I physcially combed everything there is on it down to 1927 phone book ads and 1964 movie ads. I have copies of every article written on it from San Diego to San Francisco, and every news and industry photo taken of it, including all that the San Diego Historic Society and San Diego County Library have been able to gather on it. Most of their information is from the ‘80’s. I also spoke with the (now retired) reporters who wrote most of the articles and the current and former city staff involved in various parts of its history, and have been in contact with the original architect’s wife, who now lives in Northern California. If you need information for your article, I will be glad to help. I hope you are enjoying Holland.
On the restoration, we have reached a temperarry financial barrier, and are working on rasing the remaining needed funds. We are not looking so much for donations as loans, so if anyone is interested in being a financial part of seeing this amazing place reopen, leave a comment on the photo album and we will promptly respond.
David -I’m a former San Diegan and recently moved to Amsterdam. I’m working on a paper for grad school with the California Theater as my subject. In the process of investigating the history and current status of the Theater, I stumbled upon this website. I just want to share what a ride it has been to read the comments and have the Theater’s story unfold before me! I especially enjoyed looking at all the photos from your album! Thanks and I’ll look forward to reading updates about the renovation!
Thank you for the update.
The Cabrillo Theatre of San Diego was demolished many years ago. The Fairmont (also known as the Crest) was closed, and the building has been redesigned for other uses.
I would appreciate any information on the Fairmount as well, which was at Fairmount and University Avenue:
View link
Does anyone know if the Cabrillo Theater in downtown San Diego is listed here under a different name? Here is picture from the San Diego Historical Society:
View link
The marquee is on 4th, and the side with the retail is on C. Today, an empty wall faces a parking lot where the building you refer to used to be.
In short, if facing the front of the New California Theatre Building from across 4th, the resteraunt would be to the right of the building.
In the picture above on this page, the resteraunt would have been where that ACE Parking sign now is and coming closer from there, to the right of that tree in the photo. This angle is the NorthEast corner of the building.
That is if the restaraunt was on 4th Ave. and not 4th St.
Hello everybody,
{Thanks Dave for your assistance.}
In looking at photos of the California Theatre, I am wondering which side is 4th and which side is C street in 1928. (Long side vs short side) I’m attempting to pin point 1126 4th in the photos from the 1122 4th California Theatre address. Which way do the numbers run when facing the front of the theatre?
Blesings to you,
Patrick
It is the lot just to the North of the theatre. There is a parking lot at that location now. I have photos of the theatre with the resteraunt next to it, and will see if I can find the name for you. Also, the 1927 to 1929 phone books are available for viewing at The San Diego Historic Society Archives in the Prado at Balboa Park.