Circle Theatre
407 S. Main Street,
Corona,
CA
92882
407 S. Main Street,
Corona,
CA
92882
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previous Names: Teatro Chapultepec, Radio Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Information available in the local history room at the Corona Public Library says that Luis Cruz built the Teatro Chapultepec in 1924. It opened July 29, 1926. The Riverside Press-Enterprise says that it was a major cultural center for the area showing English and Spanish films. It also offered vaudeville entertainment from Mexico and Los Angeles. If the Mexican community wanted to go to the other theatre in town, the Corona Theatre, they had to sit in a segregated section.
The Film Daily Yearbook of 1928 said it had 550 seats but by 1931 they had changed that to 350 seats. In 1935 it was renamed Radio Theatre and had 350 seats. It was renamed Circle Theatre on October 1, 1936. It now had 340 seats. It was on the east side of S. Main Street between 4th Street and 5th Street. The Circle Theatre closed in 1955. The Press Enterprise said it was converted to a carpet store, with the carpets hanging from the former stage area.
A January 1970 news article announcing its pending demolition said the theatre was built in 1914 instead of 1924.
The other theatre in town, the Boller Brothers-designed Corona Theatre, is still in remarkably good condition and is being used as a church.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
An image of the auditorium (and a full house) can be found in Mary Bryner Winn’s book, “Corona,” part of the “Images of America” series.
This item is from the March 29, 1926, issue of Motion Picture News concerns a theater being built at Corona, California, by J. J Cruz: