American Theatre

The American Theatre was in operation by 1923, when this brief notice appeared in the September 8 issue of The Moving Picture World: “The Apollo Theatre will be opened shortly at Ventura, Cal., by the owners of the American Theatre.”

The principal owner of the American was Charles Corcoran, later a local partner with West Coast Theatres in the Ventura Theatre. The partnership predated the construction of the Ventura, as noted in this item from MPW for March 6, 1926:

“Corcoran Sells

“The West Coast Junior Theatre circuit has completed a deal with the American Amusement Company of Ventura, Cal., through Charles Corcoran whereby the circuit comes into possession of more than 50 per cent of all the holdings of Corcoran in the American Amusement Company. This includes the Apollo Theatre and valuable real estate in Ventura.”

I believe this was called the Ventura Theatre in 1930. I just added a photo from then, which has that name on the vertical sign. It definitely has the same street presence as 530 E. Main Street does today. But I believe the original theatre building that was three stories, has been replaced with a two story building. Or had the top floor removed. The current structure has modern looking I beams exposed. Searching “Buffalo Exchange Ventura California” will get you to the outside street view. Once you turn around in the image. The corner building down the same side of the street is identical to the 1930 photo I posted.