Sonora Theatre

According to an October 1976 interview in the Union Democrat with former mayor Odillo Restano, the Sonora Theatre opened on Thanksgiving 1917. Mr. Restano, who became well known as a civic leader, leased the theater in 1927 and ran it until the 1960’s.

William Mooser II of San Francisco was given credit as the architect. Mr. Mooser, in addition to other California landmarks, also designed the 1898 Tuolumne County courthouse in Sonora.

The 560-seat theater was remodeled in 1949 giving it a more contemporary post-war design. The Sonora Theatre’s advertisements dropped out of the listings in June of 1966 and the building was demolished in November of 1967. The new Bank of American, designed to blend in with historical Sonora, opened on the site in April of 1968.

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