Metro 4
618 State Street,
Santa Barbara,
CA
93101
618 State Street,
Santa Barbara,
CA
93101
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Metropolitan Theatres (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Metropolitan Theatres
Previously operated by: Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Styles: Mission Revival
Previous Names: Mission Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
877.789.6684
Nearby Theaters
Replacing an old vaudeville house on lower State Street the Mission Theatre had opened in November 1911 and closed in 1937. The Mission Theatre was opened on May 28, 1937 and had 1,000 seats. By 1941 it was operated by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
On November 16, 1989, it had been gutted and converted into a fourplex (built within), with a new marquee. The old stage house was walled off and and the dressing rooms converted into retail space. There is a small history display on your right, when going to the cinemas, before you go upstairs to the restrooms.
“I remember spending rainy summer days there with the summer camp watching animated movies.”
Contributed by
Scott Padrick
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
The Mission Theater is mentioned in the March 6th, 1913, issue of Builder and Contractor. An addition to increase seating capacity was being built at that time. 1912 would probably be the latest date at which the original part of the theater was built. But, when dealing with buildings in Santa Barbara, it’s useful to remember that much of the town was destroyed in the earthquake of 1925, and many buildings had to be entirely rebuilt, so that it’s possible that nothing remains of the original construction. Other buildings survived, but were then, or in subsequent years, extensively remodeled to conform to the Spanish-Mission style which the city officially mandated for new construction after the earthquake. Thus, part, or none of this building may date to 1912 or earlier, and the Spanish style front most likely dates to the mid-1920s or later.
The Mission was a dive for many years. I don’t recall it looking anything like the current Metro 4. I think the entire front got a major facelift about the time of the Paseo Nuevo project. I used to pass by the Mission all the time in the
60's and70’s. I was always curious to see what the latest Spanish speaking film poster would look like. I always wanted to go inside, but that part of State St. was really pretty bad in those days. People now can’t really imagine that there was a time when you could walk down the middle of State St (I mean literally the middle of the street) in the afternoon and not see a car in either direction for blocks. There weren’t any trendy boutiques down there in those days. Just liquer stores, porn shops, thrift stores and lots of bums (well, there’s still lots of bums there)Here are some photos from October 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/2rdth9
http://tinyurl.com/38betx
http://tinyurl.com/2owljv
http://tinyurl.com/34aaoe
Here is a March 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d9yyh9
Definitely a four-screen theatre – more than 700 seats, too!
Mission Theatre in 1980: View link
Another 1980 daytime shot: View link
As seen after the June 29, 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake: View link
Opened November 16th, 1989 with an benifit and regular showings the next day.
Metro 4 opening 12 Nov 1989, Sun Santa Barbara News-Press (Santa Barbara, California) Newspapers.com
Opened or reopened on May 28th, 1937. Grand opening ad posted. Another Mission theatre opened in November 1911 and closed in 1937.