The Virginia Theatre opened in 1925 and was operated until the 1960’s at which time the name changed and was operated as the “Paris Theatre” a porn house, after about ten years the name changed again to “Cinema 19”, still a porn house, until it closed in 1985. Although no longer a theatre the building still stands and is a retail store.
The Kern Theatre started it’s life as Parra’s around 1909 then about 1915 the name was changed to the Hippodrome then in 1938 the name was changed again to the Kern Theatre. The earthquake of 1952 damaged the building to the point that it was no longer useful as a theatre. The building is still standing and is being used a retail store. The fly loft can me made out by viewing the building from the alley.
The Rialto Theatre building is still standing and is now a 99cent store. The Rialto was owned by the Lemmucchi family who also owned the Granada Theatre across the street. The theatre used Powers model B Projectors.
The “Grill” mentioned in the caption of the photo refers to the grill-work in the cieling directly above the pipe organ console, there is another grill on the other side of the auditorium. The pipe chambers for the organ are located behind and speak thru these grills. When the lighting is correct one can look up thru these grills and see the swell shutters for the organ opening and closing while the Page pipe organ is being played. There are also colored lights that can be turned on so there is a soft red or blue glow behind the grills.
The projectors from the Riviera Theatre were stored under the orchestria pit of the Avalon Theatre in the Casino Building. They were Simplex E-7s. One of the projectors was ruined by a saltwater flood. I own the surviving projector and it is in use at my theatre in Bakersfield California. To see the projector click here www.granada-theatre.com that projector is the second one shown (with the smaller lamphouse). I obtained the projector in 1980….Jim Spohn (661)326-1308
The Granada Theatre in Bakersfiled California is a specialty house doing silent movies with a Wurlitzer pipe organ, and screenings for private parties. The theatre is being restored. A new projection screen, sound equipment and Carbon-arc projectors have been installed was well a modern projection equipment. Interested parties may contact Jim Spohn at (661) 326-1308 or look in the Bakersfield telephone directory under Robert Morton.
The Pastime Theatre building is still standing and is a retail store. It opened about 1915 and had no stage.
The Virginia Theatre opened in 1925 and was operated until the 1960’s at which time the name changed and was operated as the “Paris Theatre” a porn house, after about ten years the name changed again to “Cinema 19”, still a porn house, until it closed in 1985. Although no longer a theatre the building still stands and is a retail store.
The Kern Theatre started it’s life as Parra’s around 1909 then about 1915 the name was changed to the Hippodrome then in 1938 the name was changed again to the Kern Theatre. The earthquake of 1952 damaged the building to the point that it was no longer useful as a theatre. The building is still standing and is being used a retail store. The fly loft can me made out by viewing the building from the alley.
The Rex Theatre building was torn down in the 1950’s and was on the corner of 19th and L streets. The location is now a parking lot.
The Rialto Theatre building is still standing and is now a 99cent store. The Rialto was owned by the Lemmucchi family who also owned the Granada Theatre across the street. The theatre used Powers model B Projectors.
The “Grill” mentioned in the caption of the photo refers to the grill-work in the cieling directly above the pipe organ console, there is another grill on the other side of the auditorium. The pipe chambers for the organ are located behind and speak thru these grills. When the lighting is correct one can look up thru these grills and see the swell shutters for the organ opening and closing while the Page pipe organ is being played. There are also colored lights that can be turned on so there is a soft red or blue glow behind the grills.
They are the chambers for the pipe organ.
The projectors from the Riviera Theatre were stored under the orchestria pit of the Avalon Theatre in the Casino Building. They were Simplex E-7s. One of the projectors was ruined by a saltwater flood. I own the surviving projector and it is in use at my theatre in Bakersfield California. To see the projector click here www.granada-theatre.com that projector is the second one shown (with the smaller lamphouse). I obtained the projector in 1980….Jim Spohn (661)326-1308
The Granada Theatre in Bakersfiled California is a specialty house doing silent movies with a Wurlitzer pipe organ, and screenings for private parties. The theatre is being restored. A new projection screen, sound equipment and Carbon-arc projectors have been installed was well a modern projection equipment. Interested parties may contact Jim Spohn at (661) 326-1308 or look in the Bakersfield telephone directory under Robert Morton.