California Theatre (San Bernardino)

{{short description|Performing arts center in California, US}}

{{Infobox theatre

| name = California Theatre of the Performing Arts

| image = California Theatre, San Bernardino.JPG

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| caption =

| image_map =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_caption =

| address = 562 W. 4th St.

| city = San Bernardino, California

| country = United States

| designation =

| coordinates =

| architect =

| builder =

| owner = City of San Bernardino

| tenant =

| operator = Theatre Arts International

| capacity = 1,718

| screens = 1

| type = Movie palace

| opened = {{start date|1928}}

| reopened =

| yearsactive =

| rebuilt =

| closed =

| demolished =

| othernames =

| production =

| currentuse = Performing arts venue

| parking =

| publictransit =

| website = {{URL|http://www.californiatheatre.net}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| embed = yes

| name = California Theatre

| nrhp_type =

| image =

| caption =

| location =

| coordinates = {{coord|34|6|23|N|117|17|43|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = California#USA

| architect = Perrine, John Paxton

| architecture = California Churrigueresque

| added = December 22, 2009

| area = {{convert|0.5|acre}}

| refnum = 09001116{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

}}

}}

The California Theatre of the Performing Arts or simply referred to as the California Theatre is a performing arts center in the historic Downtown area of San Bernardino, California. Originally a part of the Fox Theatres chain, it opened in 1928. It still houses its original Wurlitzer Style 216 pipe organ.{{cite web |title=CinemaTreasures |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theater/1968/ |access-date=2010-01-20}} It was also the site of the last performance by Will Rogers prior to his death in a 1935 plane crash.

In the early years of Hollywood, filmmakers would test-screen their movies at the California Theatre. Classic films such as King Kong and The Wizard of Oz were first seen by audiences at the theatre in the 1930s.

The theatre is managed by Theatrical Arts International, the largest theatre company in the Inland Empire, which presents Broadway tours from the national touring circuit, and has hosted the San Bernardino Symphony since 1929. The theatre has recently hosted the tapings of Showtime's The Latin Divas of Comedy, and The Payaso Comedy Slam.{{cite news |last=Weeks |first=John |title=Inland Empire – a pop culture bastion |url=http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_4639257 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320000920/http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_4639257 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-03-20 |date=2006-11-10 |publisher=San Bernardino County Sun |access-date=2007-12-17}}