Arcata Theatre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is orphaned as few or no other articles link to it.
Please help introduce links in articles on related topics. (September 2006)

Arcata Theatre is a historic structure located in the city of Arcata in Humboldt County, California.

George Mann was the theatre entrepreneur who built the Arcata Theatre in 1927. William B. David was commissioned as architect. It cost between from $40,000 to $60,000 to build and opened on February 5th , 1938 with “Thin Ice” starring Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power.

The theatre was a success and was soon offering up to six films a week along with added attractions, cartoons like Popeye and Betty Boop, news, and sports.^[1]

[edit] Description

The Arcata Theatre's architectural design was combination of Art Deco and Art Moderne. Inside the decorated was in the Art Deco style with cumulus clouds painted on the ceiling. Murals of swimming mermaids were painted on the walls. Images of sea life covered the surfaces.

In 1948 the theater was expanded and renovation and a new, cinemascope screen replaced the older, smaller screen. Carpeting and air cushioned seats were added. In 1982 the theatre was sold to David Phillips who continued to operate it as a movie house. The theater was sold in 2000 to Robert White. The present owners, Lara and Brian Cox of Arcata, bought the Arcata Theater in May of 2004.

Cox has stated the theater is undergoing renovations to open again at an unspecified date.