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Closed for years and near demolition by neglect,
San Jose's historic California Theatre reopened in September 2004.
Its restoration designed both for live stage performances and for motion pictures,
it is the new home of
Opera San Jose and
Symphony Silicon Valley.
“The renovated California offers a luxurious taste of old-fashioned design ... it's a dark, warmly upholstered palace in the old style, full of patterned carpeting and plaster ornamentation. To walk into [its historic entrance lobby] is to be plunged into a bygone world of plush opulence.” Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle - September 21, 2004
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Photo gallery: Click on a small image below to view one or more larger images.
Jump ahead to The Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organs photo section Note: If you are unable to access some of the images linked from these photo pages or see |
| In the historic First Street lobby and auditorium foyers: | |||
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| Orchestra seating | Grand Tier and Mezzanine | Views from the mezzanine | |||||
| View The Stage From Various Seats | Opera, symphony, and film screening | ||||||
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| Historic Plaster Grillwork | Juliet Balconies | ||||||
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| Chandeliers | Acoustic shell for Symphony Silicon Valley |
View from the stage | |||||
| First Street Side: | |||||||
Entry and box office |
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| Above:Entry ceiling Right: East Conference Room overlooks courtyard and fountain |
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| New construction - Market Street Side: | |||||||
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| Rehearsal Room on third floor |
West Conference Room and foyer |
Musicians' Room | Dressing Rooms | ||||
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| Market Street Exterior View |
Market Street Lobby and the original Theatre Fly Arbor |
Market Street Marquee contrast with the -- |
First Street Historic Marquee |
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| Hoist has raised orchestra pit floor to stage level |
Backstage fly lines |
In the auditorium ceiling |
California Vertical Sign | ||||
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| Orchestra pit Opera San Jose | Traps under stage | In the projection booth: Follow spot and movie projecton equipment | |||||
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| Organ console elvated to stage level for pre-movie concert |
Auditorium Organ Console Page | First Street Lobby Organ Page |
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The four manual 1925 Wurlitzer console was restored in the California Theatre.
Originally installed with the 28-rank organ in Chicago's Uptown Theatre,
it now plays the 21-rank California Theatre organ
(1521 pipes plus symphonic percussion).
Most of the theatre organ itself (pipes, wind chests)
is from the Palace Theatre in Dallas, Texas.
A second organ is being built in the First Street lobby with 10 pipe ranks and a two manual Wurlitzer console. This organ made its public debut September 20, 2008 as guests arrived for Opera San Jose's 25th Anniversary Gala. Symphony Silicon Valley and Opera San Jose frequently offer an informal lobby organ concert preceding their season performances. Organ Stop Lists: Theatre organ Lobby organ |
Pipe chambers page |
Copyright © 2010 Bob Shomler. Please see the Copyright Page. | |
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The California was the Fox California for some of its time. See historical article by the San Jose's Preservation Action Council, a 1987 photo of the shuttered theatre with the Fox name on the marquee, and some historical notes on the marquee signs from Gary Parks. California Theatre operation and schedules: These web pages contain photos with some building architecture and restoration information. This is not an official site for the California Theatre. I am not involved with the California Theatre itself; I assist the opera, symphony and others who perform there, and have set up these personal-site pages to share theatre photos with many who have requested. The theatre, 345 South First Street in San Jose, is owned by the city of San Jose and managed by Team San Jose, a non-profit established to operate San Jose's city-owned performance venues. The First Street entrance is closed except for performances and events. The building is open to visitors only by special arrangement or by attending an event there. Box office sales are handled by each organization that uses the theatre. A partial list of scheduled events may be found under the Event Calendar tab on the Team San Jose California Theatre Venue page. | |
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