Globe Theater

The Globe Theater at 1424 23rd Ave. sits adjacent to the Palace Theater and is a treasure all and of herself. Built in 1912, this theater has a rich and dynamic history. The buildings construction site and build date shows a time period where East Oakland industries were beginning to thrive. This theater is one that established the historic 23rd Ave. Commercial District, a district of historical importance recognized by the Oakland Cultural Heritage Survey. During the late 80’s and 90’s it was called The Art Club. It is interesting to note that this was the first space that was rezoned for a live work loft, which has become a residential reuse of most of the old industrial buildings in the area, such as the Vulcan, Cotton Mill, and Dutch Boy Paint. This building was the first. The theater was built by a well known architect, who crafted hundreds of unique buildings in Oakland, named A.W. Smith. It is said that he was notably mannered and an exuberant craftsmen. The Globe was a co project between Benjamin D. Phillips and Steven D. Neppach the first a cattle rancher/real estate owner the latter a produce salesmen with a store next door. The theater held major vaudeville shows but was primarily a movie house with an all day rate, showing mostly family films, newsreels, and documentaries. However there was an instance of great gossip and debate involving the theater being raided in 1919 for showing lewd/pornographic movies to men. The owners at the time Harry Thomas and Earl A. Attlesey were later taken to court and fined, as well as the operator Wallace Assay. It shows the ramblin’ nature of this thriving commercial district where “sarsaparilla” signs hung in the windows of prohibition era “soda” bars, and people came to enjoy theater, movies and nightlife. The Globe was put out of business by the construction of the larger reinforced Palace Theater in 1923. A treasure of Oakland; the Globe is still standing today.