I worked at the Alhambra as an Usherette from September of 1957 to July of 1959. Mr. Mears was the Mgr in charge but I do not remember the names of the other employees. A tall blonde fellow and a slim lady who was the Assistant Mgr. These two had eyes for each other even though he was married to another. I remember hurrying from the parking lot and seeing young people ‘making out’ in the gardens.I loved working here even though Mr. Mears was very strict with the employees. I made $1.50/hr back then.

We ask for your memories, photos and ephemera, a tease of things to come in our documentary now in production, Alhambra: Sacramento’s Palace of Fantasy. PLEASE SHARE THIS VIDEO! Thanks. Contact us at: https://vimeo.com/220408233

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The last movie shown at the Alahambra Theatre before it closed on September 4, 1972 was a double feature (A Man for All Seasons and Nicholas and Alexandra).

http://www.centerforsacramentohistory.org/Resources/Sacto-Facto

Scroll down to the “Sacramento Trivia” section, Question 10.

I saw Fantastic Voyage there as a kid. It was the “go to” event for birthday parties. I was very sad to see it torn down and to this day will never shop at a Safeway.

I was only 2 when this was torn down but what a magnificent building! I have heard a lot of long time Sacramentians talk about the drama that surrounded destroying this theater and the movement of trying to save it. Why was such an old and historic building torn down for a grocery store?

for those that are curious about what the interior of the Alhambra Theater looked like I cannot post a pic because of copyright however here is a link to The Sacramento Public Library

https://server16362.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15248coll1&CISOPTR=1380&CISOBOX=1&REC=1

To Leonard and all the awesome folks who tried to save this theater Thank you, however 40 years later you wonder if the measure succeeded if the Theater would still be with us today, As much as I loved this place I don’t think so, The Problem with the Alhambra was simply it was built in the wrong place, it’s facilities was grand but not anything like the Paramount in Oakland or the Fox in San Francisco it was a neighborhood theater and a BIG one at that, Way Too Big, for those that knew this theater I think the Gardens outside were more beautiful than the inside, The Ceiling was not anything special and wasn’t the walls Stone? I do remember the Big Isle down the middle of it but again what do we remember about the interior. There is Not ONE picture of it anywhere on here or the Net.

To be very honest Sacramento really does not have any real Cinema Treasures, ok The Crest is nice but again it was a “Work Horse” theater in its day, The Tower, Century’s, State and Capitol Theaters were beautiful the day they open but we know there fate, split degraded and destroyed in the name of Progress, We now have the Megaplex’s, Imax behind what’s left of the Esquire and Like the National in LA, Good theaters torn down only to see the vacant and parking lots, (Cinema 1 and 2 and the Showcase) This Week we heard that the Woodland City Council is Saving the State BRAVO at least someone cares :)

I grew up a few blocks from the Alhambra in the 50’s. Us girls would descend the staircase imagining we were royalty going to a ball. it was our giant playhouse!! I worked on the Save the Alhambra committee with John Roberts who later incorporated his memorabilia into his restaurant, Harlows. I have several paintings of it from William Tuthill and G. Reynoso. I am actively pursuing several leads for photographs of the interior. I saw Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz there when I was very young. I freaked out when the Witch disappeared except for her shoes and my grandmother took me outside into the garden to calm down. Does anyone know what the last movie shown there was?

When I was a little girl of kindergarten age, my mother wanted to show my father and a visiting ex-boyfriend that women could get jobs too. This was 1958. The next day my mother went out and got a job as a ticket taker at the Alhambra Theater. Her boss was dear Mr. Mears. I can remember many a Saturday when Mom would take my sister and I with her to work as Dad had to work too. The “musicals” became our babysitters. There was “South Pacific” and “GiGi” and many more musicals and movies that I watched hundreds of time. (Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but it was a lot). Between films, my sister and I would go outside to play “movie scenes” by the fountain and in the beautiful gardens in the front of the theater. I am saddened that this wondrous treasure has been destroyed, but it will always stay in my memories and I’m sure in many others.

Please can anyone tell me what year the “Alhambra Theatre Went Dark” (closed). I was an usher at the Alhambra 1966-1967, my first job out of high school. A great theatre, and it was a great experience to work there, great memories.

Found quite a few photos of the Alhambra on the Sacramento archives website. Just go to http://www.sacramentoarchives.org and search the catalog for “Alhambra Theatre”. There are plenty of photos of the exterior, some of the gardens, and quite a few detail shots.

I am trying to locate some color photos of the theatre. Does anyone know where I might be able to find these?

I’m glad to help, but do notice that I got those dates wrong. Most of the palace was actually built between 1353 and 1391. The Moors had already been driven out of Spain by 1533.

An interesting question. Ultimately, all Alhambra Theatres are named after the original Alhambra, a Moorish palace near Granada, Spain (lots of theatres are named Granada, too.) Most of the palace was built between 1533 and 1553. Here is a web page about it.

The name Alhambra means Red Castle in Arabic. The original Alhambra was the subject of a popular book by American author Washington Irving in the mid 19th century. Irving portrayed the palace and its gardens in a very romantic way, and that romanticism probably had a lot to do with making the name popular with theatre builders. Irving’s book is now in the public domain and can be read on-line.