Belmont Cinemas Three
100 El Camino Real,
Belmont,
CA
94002
100 El Camino Real,
Belmont,
CA
94002
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Blumenfeld Theater Circuit, Landmark Theatres (USA)
Architects: William Bernard David, William W. Wolf
Functions: Gymnasium
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Belmont Theatre, Bel-Art Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Belmont Theatre opened as a single screen cinema October 19, 1949, with Cary Grant in “I Was a Male War Bride” and Dennis Morgan in “It’s a Great Feeling”. There was a carpet store along side of it. It was built by Roy Cooper of West-Side Valley Theatres. The theatre featured a giant 40 or 50 foot-high free standing neon sign. The auditorium seated 900 and featured Art Deco style swirls on the walls.
Around 1965, the carpet store was converted into an auditorium and operated as the Bel-Art Theatre. In other words, there were two theaters, side-by-side and each was owned by a different person. The giant neon tower was modified to flash between "Belmont" and "Bel-Art".
In 1972 the Cooper family bought out the Bel-Art side of the complex and thus the Belmont Twin Cinema was born. The neon sign was once again modified to flash only the "Belmont" name. In 1977, the large 900-seat auditorium was cut in half and the theatre became the Belmont Cinemas Three.
The seats (Heywood Wakefield) in the twin side were re-covered with new fabric and green and gold wall drapes were added. Two new air units for the twin side were flown in by helicopter and installed on the roof. The lobby was painted brown and an orange snack bar installed.
In the early-1980’s, Roy Cooper passed on and the complex was leased out to S & K Enea Theatres. The new company stopped playing first run and began playing second run films for $2.00. The low admission price increased foot traffic, which resulted in the theatre becoming worn.
In 1987, the complex was leased out to a Santa Rosa Company which ran the theatre into the ground. When their lease ended around 1991, the theatre was a dump. New owners came in and renovated the theatre. The seats in the twin side were re-painted and re-covered again. The lobby and snack bar were painted.
In late-1995, Landmark Theatres began operating the old movie house. They operated it for two years and then the theatre closed again.
It remained closed for three years before being converted into a gym. The outside remains the same.
Contributed by
Mike Croaro
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
The November 12, 1949, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that Blumenfeld Theatres had recently opened their new Belmont Theatre on El Camino Real. The magazine said that 900-seat house was designed by William B. David, and William W. Wolf of San Francisco was the architect (meaning Wolf probably signed his name to the permits, but David was the actual architect.)
As a child I could see the flashing “Belmont/Bel-Art” sign from my bedroom window. The sign was high enough to stick up over the buildings on El Camino and Old County Road.
In 1964 the kids in our neighborhood filled the theater when “Hard Day’s Night” was shown. I also recall seeing “My Fair Lady” there.
Memories. My dad was one of the construction workers when The Bel-Art was added.
October 19th, 1949 grand opening ad in photo section