Ritz Theatre

426 E. Main Street,
Stockton, CA 95202

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres

Architects: Alexander Aimwell Cantin, Alexander Mackenzie Cantin

Functions: Retail

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Colonial Theatre

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News About This Theater

Ritz demolition 1970's.

The Colonial Theatre was opened in 1913 and operated until 1922 when it went dark. The building was partially rebuilt to the plans of father & son architects Alexander Aimwell Cantin & Alexander MacKenzie Cantin (who later in 1945 would form architectural firm Cantin and Cantin). It reopened as the Ritz Theatre on September 15, 1937 with Kenny Baker in “Mr. Dodd Takes to the Air” & Chester Morris in “Flight from Glory”. The Ritz Theatre is still listed in 1955 with 926 seats.

It has since been demolished and a large office building which houses the San Joaquim County Department of Child Care Services now stands on an extended site.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

GaryParks
GaryParks on August 27, 2009 at 4:56 am

The first time I was ever in downtown Stockton I drove by the Ritz. This was in late 1986. It looked the same as in the 1982 and ‘86 photos linked above, and was still showing gran estrenos de peliculas Mexicanas. Minutes later I stopped by the Fox California, just down the street, which was getting ready for a concert by '80s teen pop group The Jets. A man who seemed to be a caretaker of the place let me into the Fox for a brief look, and I have yet to go inside since the restoration. By the time I left Stockton, it was getting dark, and the Ritz was lit up. I seem to remember the dominant color of the neon being pink. In the late 1990s I was back in Stockton, and the marquee was off the Ritz building, but I recognized the facade. The building had been converted to some kind of retail use.

itheliving
itheliving on April 2, 2017 at 4:35 am

The Ritz was a downtown mostly 2nd run film house although Road Show films like El Cid and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines opened there. An art deco auditorium décor similar to The Stockton Theater helped.

rivest266
rivest266 on June 24, 2022 at 8:55 am

Opened as Colonial on August 10th, 1913 and closed 1922. Reopened as Ritz on September 15th, 1937. Grand opening ads posted. Ritz theatre openingRitz theatre opening 14 Sep 1937, Tue Stockton Evening and Sunday Record (Stockton, California) Newspapers.com

rivest266
rivest266 on June 29, 2022 at 1:50 pm

Reopened September 3rd, 1954 after new seats, screen and sound system is installed.

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