Santa Clara Theatre

956 Franklin Street,
Santa Clara, CA 95050

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rivest266
rivest266 on April 18, 2024 at 2:55 pm

It opened as the Casa Grande theatre on November 1st, 1927, and reopened as the Santa Clara theatre on June 4th, 1938. Listings ended in 1965. Grand opening ads posted.

Raskul1
Raskul1 on December 18, 2017 at 12:30 am

I would like to know how if it’s true or false that this theatre was not scheduled to be demolished with the downtown in the 60’s. Also why the hell is it so difficult to get pictures of what it looked like inside the theatre.

Putergram
Putergram on November 16, 2016 at 10:42 am

I worked at the Santa Clara Theater from 1961-June 1963. Mr. Jenkins was the manager at the time. The Usherette’s wore brocade uniforms and carried flashlights to assist patrons in finding a seat. My favorite part of the job was getting to see movies I probably would not have seen. My least favorite part was having to approach “necking” couples and tell them we had a hands off policy. I also remember priests from the University of CA coming to “screen” movies before recommending to students. All and all a great experience.

thecaptainb
thecaptainb on December 24, 2013 at 8:05 am

That’s the Santa Clara theater I know and saw movies on a regular basis. It closed down around 1963 because of the urban renewal project, which turned out to be a complete failure.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on March 31, 2011 at 8:39 am

There sure have been a lot of theatres lost in cities due to urban renewal.Nice photo posted by Lost Memory.Thanks Babcock.

AprendaPresents
AprendaPresents on March 31, 2011 at 6:03 am

I can confirm Harvey Amusement still owned the theater in 1955. I believe they owned it until it was demolished in 1963 as part of an 8-block urban renewal project. The photo posted by Ken Mc is from “Santa Clara” by Bea Lichenstein, the Images of America, Arcadia Publishing. Page 116. Margot Warburton owns the image.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 15, 2010 at 5:24 pm

Boxoffice of July 30, 1938, reported that the Harvey Amusement Company and Gerald Hardy had acquired the Casa Grande Theatre in Santa Clara, and would spend $20,000 renovating it. The house was expected to reopen in August as the Santa Clara Theatre.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 14, 2009 at 11:27 am

Here is a photo circa 1950s:
http://tinyurl.com/nd4njx

GaryParks
GaryParks on October 8, 2008 at 12:55 am

The Santa Clara was originally called the Casa Grande, when built in the 1920s.