Ideal Theater

The Ideal Theater, formerly the Unique Theater, opened on November 3, 1909, with the movies “The Pay Car”, directed by Sidney Olcott and “The Haunted Hat” and was covered by the Salinas Daily Index.

During February 1910 a Daily Index advertisement was offering the theater for sale by Len Wade, which was bought by Bertha McKinnon, opening on April 17, 1910.

On May 1, 1910, prior to opening, an employee discovered an incendiary device on the stage, which had started but burned itself out after creating a hole in the floor. Not an isolated incident, apparently Mrs. McKinnon and her husband’s properties had endured previous attacks.

On May 22, 1910, the Ideal Theatre closed for lack of patronage. The Daily Index reported “It has been demonstrated that three motion picture and vaudeville theaters in Salinas are just one too many. It is another case of two is company, three is a crowd”.

The Ideal Theater was located in the Pythian Castle, listed on Sanborn Maps. The building survives in use as office space.

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