United Artists Theatre
263 S. First Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
263 S. First Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Golden State Theater & Realty Corp., United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: William Binder, Ernest Curtis, William Day, Charles Peter Weeks
Firms: Binder & Curtis, Weeks and Day
Styles: Art Deco, Spanish Gothic
Previous Names: Hippodrome Theatre, Beatty's American Theatre, State Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Hippodrome Theatre was opened March 1, 1919 with Bessie Barriscale in “Two-Ton Betty” plus 6-acts of vaudeville on the stage. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 4 ranks organ. It was originally designed in a Spanish Gothic hybrid style in a collaboration of local architects Binder & Curtis with San Francisco architects Weeks & Day. The tall narrow facade with spindly columns and tracery would find even better interpretation several years later in Weeks & Day’s California (Fox) Theatre, just down the street.
On September 22, 1922 it was renamed Beatty’s American Theatre, screening Lewis Stone in “The Prisoner of Zenda” & Ben Turpin in “Home Made Movies” plus vaudeville on the stage. From June 28, 1938 it spent many years (in an Art Deco reincarnation) as the State Theatre. It was finally the United Artists Theatre, with a towering neon vertical sign much like that of several other United Artists houses, most notably the one in Berkeley.
The theatre was entered through a long narrow lobby structure, with the auditorium occupying a large plot of ground in the center of the block. The United Artists Theatre was closed in 1972 and was demolished as part of downtown redevelopment, and though the Binder & Curtis-designed Montgomery Hotel adjacent underwent restoration, the site of the United Artists Theatre has sat empty as a parking lot for over forty years.
Contributed by
Gary Parks
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
I used to change the marquee on this theater. I got $7.00 each time I did it. That was big money back then but then I had to get up this big ladder. I don’t know how I did it but I did. It was fun. That was back when I was 18.
Wow jon62, I remember back then that was a huge Marquee. Maybe it was you I saw up there from time to time and said I hope he knows what he is doing. lol
Late `40’s photo as the State Theatre added courtesy of Harold Hal Burks. State blade sign is visible on the left.
I had some fun times working there.. I was able to buy some seats when they started to close down..sad time but too expensive to operate I guess…i only made $1.35 an hour😀
Grand opening ad for the Hippodrome posted.
Reopened as American on September 22nd, 1922, as it became part of the Beatty’s theatre chain which included the Jose and Liberty theatres. Grand opening ad posted.
Renamed State on June 28th, 1938, with little fanfare. Ad posted.
It reopened as UA theatre on November 14th, 1951, with a benefit performance and to the public the next day. Grand opening ad posted.
Closed 1972
I loved the UA, especially watching from the balcony. I was also facinated by the clock to the left of the screen.