New Peralta Theatre
1488 14th Street,
Oakland,
CA
94607
1488 14th Street,
Oakland,
CA
94607
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The theatre and the adjacent building were reimagined as the 6 unit Peralta Theatre Lofts. In the photo I’ve uploaded, Unit F, on the left is the former theatre and boasts 12 foot ceilings among other amenities.
Motion Picture Herald, Aug. 16, 1952: “The 450-seat New Peralta in Oakland, closed by William Garren, June 21, was set to be reopened August 10 by Robert Wells.”
Went by there recently on the bus and repair/renovation work seemed to be occurring (FINALLY!). Not sure if it’ll be a church again though.
This was taken a few years ago. The aerial view of the roof shows severe damage.
http://tinyurl.com/yghpfea
Update—-As of November 2, the burned-out former New Peralta was still standing; its future still remains in doubt.
Looks like another treasure lost.
Some terrible news to report—-the former New Peralta, more recently Mt. Zion Spiritual Temple—-was severely damaged by a fire this past September 27. Though the church intends to rebuild, the building’s future is very much in doubt.
A sign on the New Peralta reads WEST COAST KINGDOM—-MT. ZION SPIRITUAL TEMPLE—-apparently the church is, contrary to speculations in my initial post, still known as Mt. Zion.
The New Peralta Theater was built in 1915 for Wallace Clark, a real estate magnate; the architect was Allen J. Yerrick. It was a Mission Revival-style theater that operated until 1953; soon afterwards it was converted into the Mt. Zion Spiritual Temple, a very prominent Black church (particularly in the 1960’s and 1970’s)founded by “King” Louis Narcisse. It remains a church today, though apparently not Mt. Zion.