Leo Schario passed away at the age of 92 last week. He was a wonderful friend and mentor and one of our earliest “Save Our Balboa” crusaders. His theatre knowledge and experience was unsurpassed and he was an instrumental player in our efforts to save the Balboa Theatre from being gutted. In the beginning, it was a very small band of activists that persevered in our efforts to save the Balboa Theatre from destruction. It started with an army of powerful detractors and ended with an army of supporters. Few are aware of what a tremendous struggle it was. Thank you Leo for caring and always being generous with your time, your knowledge, your experience and most of all your friendship. Sincere condolences to your long time friend and partner Hugh Chandler.
The theatre hasn’t opened yet. I probably won’t be attending any of the events. My job is done. Here is the latest:

The first free public previews of the theatre will be on Jan. 11, 12, and 13th. These will be “ticketed†events, but the tickets will be free. The exact method of distributing the tickets is still being discussed. The stage performances on those days are still being finalized.
The Gala on January 31st will also be a ticketed event with ticket prices possibly in the vicinity of $250. Tickets are not yet available. The intent is that the proceeds from the event (the amount over and above the cost of the event) will be put in an endowment fund with the San Diego Foundation. The endowment will be used to provide grants to local non-profit users of the Balboa to assist them with the rental fee of the theatre.
It is my understanding that there were organ pipes in those rooms. I always thought that the wooden chutes brought air to them but perhaps they just distributed the sound from them to the upstairs lobby. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. I think you were the one that showed me the remains of the original blueprints that someone decided to just rip off the wall.
Here is a link to a great Union/Tribune article: View link
I stand corrected. Yes, the facades for the organ echo chambers are still there. The air chutes are gone, therefore no organ pipes, and the one on the right side is merely a passage from the booth to the manager’s office. My mistake.
For the person who wanted to volunteer at the Balboa, a good way might be to join the:
Balboa Theatre Foundation.
PO Box 371461
San Diego, CA 92137
(619) 233-1333
I doubt if there will be any projection equipment in the booth (don’t know, for sure); mostly digital equipment, follow spots, etc. for live performance. Other than that, the booth is fully restored, even the toilet. The managers office will be directly across from it on the 4th St. side with a door and walk directly to the booth. The organ echo chambers are gone.
The organ being installed into the Balboa Theatre is not the original one. That one remains at Symphony Hall (Fox). The one being installed at the Balboa is a rare Wonder Morton Organ, one of only five and comes from Loew’s Valencia Theatre in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The Balboa Theatre Foundation has purchased it, is restoring it and installing it into the Balboa Theatre. They still desperately need donations to complete the project so if you are so inclined please make a tax deductable donation to the Balboa Theatre Foundation’s organ fund.
I had a tour of the theatre on Friday and it is really going to be outstanding thanks to the sympathetic shepharding of architects, engineers and overseen by the Centre City Development Corporation.
Balboa update:
All phases of the Balboa are coming together very rapidly, now. The scaffolding is down and decorative finishes are being completed. The exterior was “bubble wrapped” and blasted to restore the exterior finishes. The original marque will be replicated, the domed entry restored, etched glass doors copied. Even the beautiful murals in the lounge will be copied. It is going to be spectacular.
The man on the scene that is making this all happen is Gary Bosse, Senior Project Manager for Centre City Development Corp. He’s the man and will probably, never get the recognition that he deserves. This is my little tribute and thank you.
Steve Karo
For those wishing to keep informed of the Balboa’s progress, you can now go to the “horse’s mouth”.
The following is the Centre City Development Corp.’s own web page devoted to the progress of the Balboa. Pidgeons, broken windows, open windows are irrelevant. Barricades have been up and restoration has been obvious and ongoing for some time. Re-opening is slated for Dec. 2007.
Weslake, Reed & Leskowsky are nationally known and tops in the field of historic restoration. The Balboa’s restoration is fully funded, planning, demolition and seismic retrofit are already completed. Restoration is in it’s final phase as you can see by the CCDC photos. Check it out for yourself: View link
I have a few corrections and comments about the Balboa Theatre.
1-The theatre was acquired by the City of San Diego in 1986 not to restore it but to gut it. It was a prolonged battle to keep that from happening.
2-The original construction cost was $800,000 (not $1.5 mil).
3-The original seating capacity was 1534.
Comments:
Yes, I remember the cedar lined room in the basement which was a remnant from a furrier or cleaner, I believe. It is gone along with everything else in the building, as the restoration continues.
To Dan Whitehead:
You will always be one of the unsung heros of the Balboa. You allowed me to do my dog and pony show in the theatre many times, against the wishes of your employer (Walnut Properties) and the City of San Diego. Best regards to you, always!
The construction bids for the final phase of the Balboa’s restoration have just been opened and with a little luck the theatre will reopen in the fall of 2007. The major portion of demolition and seismic retrofit is now complete. Excellent management is already in place to operate the theatre. It’s happening and will be spectacular when completed.
The Balboa Theatre has lost another hero.
Leo Schario passed away at the age of 92 last week. He was a wonderful friend and mentor and one of our earliest “Save Our Balboa” crusaders. His theatre knowledge and experience was unsurpassed and he was an instrumental player in our efforts to save the Balboa Theatre from being gutted. In the beginning, it was a very small band of activists that persevered in our efforts to save the Balboa Theatre from destruction. It started with an army of powerful detractors and ended with an army of supporters. Few are aware of what a tremendous struggle it was. Thank you Leo for caring and always being generous with your time, your knowledge, your experience and most of all your friendship. Sincere condolences to your long time friend and partner Hugh Chandler.
Steve Karo
The theatre hasn’t opened yet. I probably won’t be attending any of the events. My job is done. Here is the latest:

The first free public previews of the theatre will be on Jan. 11, 12, and 13th. These will be “ticketed†events, but the tickets will be free. The exact method of distributing the tickets is still being discussed. The stage performances on those days are still being finalized.
The Gala on January 31st will also be a ticketed event with ticket prices possibly in the vicinity of $250. Tickets are not yet available. The intent is that the proceeds from the event (the amount over and above the cost of the event) will be put in an endowment fund with the San Diego Foundation. The endowment will be used to provide grants to local non-profit users of the Balboa to assist them with the rental fee of the theatre.
Happy Holidays to all.
Dan,
It is my understanding that there were organ pipes in those rooms. I always thought that the wooden chutes brought air to them but perhaps they just distributed the sound from them to the upstairs lobby. Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine. I think you were the one that showed me the remains of the original blueprints that someone decided to just rip off the wall.
Here is a link to a great Union/Tribune article:
View link
I stand corrected. Yes, the facades for the organ echo chambers are still there. The air chutes are gone, therefore no organ pipes, and the one on the right side is merely a passage from the booth to the manager’s office. My mistake.
For the person who wanted to volunteer at the Balboa, a good way might be to join the:
Balboa Theatre Foundation.
PO Box 371461
San Diego, CA 92137
(619) 233-1333
Hi Dan,
I doubt if there will be any projection equipment in the booth (don’t know, for sure); mostly digital equipment, follow spots, etc. for live performance. Other than that, the booth is fully restored, even the toilet. The managers office will be directly across from it on the 4th St. side with a door and walk directly to the booth. The organ echo chambers are gone.
To DanW, Thanks for the kind comments.
The organ being installed into the Balboa Theatre is not the original one. That one remains at Symphony Hall (Fox). The one being installed at the Balboa is a rare Wonder Morton Organ, one of only five and comes from Loew’s Valencia Theatre in Jamaica, Queens, New York. The Balboa Theatre Foundation has purchased it, is restoring it and installing it into the Balboa Theatre. They still desperately need donations to complete the project so if you are so inclined please make a tax deductable donation to the Balboa Theatre Foundation’s organ fund.
I had a tour of the theatre on Friday and it is really going to be outstanding thanks to the sympathetic shepharding of architects, engineers and overseen by the Centre City Development Corporation.
Steve Karo
Balboa update:
All phases of the Balboa are coming together very rapidly, now. The scaffolding is down and decorative finishes are being completed. The exterior was “bubble wrapped” and blasted to restore the exterior finishes. The original marque will be replicated, the domed entry restored, etched glass doors copied. Even the beautiful murals in the lounge will be copied. It is going to be spectacular.
The man on the scene that is making this all happen is Gary Bosse, Senior Project Manager for Centre City Development Corp. He’s the man and will probably, never get the recognition that he deserves. This is my little tribute and thank you.
Steve Karo
For those wishing to keep informed of the Balboa’s progress, you can now go to the “horse’s mouth”.
The following is the Centre City Development Corp.’s own web page devoted to the progress of the Balboa. Pidgeons, broken windows, open windows are irrelevant. Barricades have been up and restoration has been obvious and ongoing for some time. Re-opening is slated for Dec. 2007.
Weslake, Reed & Leskowsky are nationally known and tops in the field of historic restoration. The Balboa’s restoration is fully funded, planning, demolition and seismic retrofit are already completed. Restoration is in it’s final phase as you can see by the CCDC photos. Check it out for yourself:
View link
Steve Karo
I have a few corrections and comments about the Balboa Theatre.
1-The theatre was acquired by the City of San Diego in 1986 not to restore it but to gut it. It was a prolonged battle to keep that from happening.
2-The original construction cost was $800,000 (not $1.5 mil).
3-The original seating capacity was 1534.
Comments:
Yes, I remember the cedar lined room in the basement which was a remnant from a furrier or cleaner, I believe. It is gone along with everything else in the building, as the restoration continues.
To Dan Whitehead:
You will always be one of the unsung heros of the Balboa. You allowed me to do my dog and pony show in the theatre many times, against the wishes of your employer (Walnut Properties) and the City of San Diego. Best regards to you, always!
The construction bids for the final phase of the Balboa’s restoration have just been opened and with a little luck the theatre will reopen in the fall of 2007. The major portion of demolition and seismic retrofit is now complete. Excellent management is already in place to operate the theatre. It’s happening and will be spectacular when completed.
Steve Karo