California Theatre
1122 4th Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92101
1122 4th Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92101
26 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 152 comments
Per a request prior to the foreclosure, I’ve withheld commentary till now.
Right now the California has fallen into the hands of Windmill Investments (of Los Angeles). With a bit of luck, I’ll make contact with representatives of the company next week. I will likely be making an offer to photograph the site commercailly to document it for historical and resale purposes. The local consortium held out an offer to ‘possibly’ photograph it, but I have my suspictions that the site will be sold to an overseas buyer given the current market and Windmill’s connections and I may not be living on the west coast much longer.
More to follow soon,
JJ
Bill,
I may be able to assist. How much correspondence have you had with the lender? Do you know if he is willing to sell the property?
I didn’t see 60 Minutes El Sistema: Changing Lives…but will check it out.
RRR
Dear Curious,
It was a no bid take back and the deeds show it to be more like $4 million and yes we are working on it.
Did you see this on “60 Minutes:” “El Sistema: Changing Lives …
The reason for this small miracle is Venezuela’s music education, known as El Sistema. … Currently, about 250,000 children take part. Can San Diego do this? Will you fight to get it here? This could be big, REAL BIG for all of San Diego.
If you have an interest, why not ask 10 friends to help us and do you have any money?
Prof Bill Neill
Just curious if anyone here knows the status of the Theatre? I read an article that it has been purchased out of foreclosure for $6 million. Is the current owner planning to put it on the market for sale, or have plans to renovate it himself?
RRR
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Mr. Neill, I’ll likely be calling you tonight, but there’s aspects of this that I find implausible given the condition of the building when last I saw it and according to most recent reports. Most of the retail sections have been stripped bare and require extensive renovation. That observation is from what I saw when I was there last spring. I’d like into the complext to photograph it as is. Let’s see what’s there.
JJ
jjmaccrimmon -at- gmail -dot- com
Bill Neill, Box 33666, San Diego, CA 92163, Phone: 619-281-2200
We are actively pursuing the saving of the California Theater.
Today, February 11, 2008, we have completed the Nomination paperwork for the placement of the property on the State Register and have plans and commitments to proceed with the National Register of Historic Places.
This property is already on the San Diego City register.
We are completing the paperwork for our charitable organization to receive donations and take title to the property when and if the several conditions can be met. The process is slow and time consuming, but it is worth the effort, as we are determined to win this battle to save the theater.
We already have interest and tenant commitments for occupancy of 3 of the 5 retail shops, main restaurant, and two major occupants of the tower and short term theater usage. Theater commitments have also been made by several A-List Stars and major companies willing to assume and produce several shows and even interest in a TV show with national syndication is in the works on the theme of the “SHOW-TIME AT THE APOLLO” which is of interest to all of San Diego.
Historic information can be found by reading the Cinema Treasures web site. We invite all interested parties to contact me, by phone at 619-281-2200 or email at billneill at yahoo dot com.
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Notes on the California.
I’m still trying to get in touch with them. I finally have a name for the agent.
Ohh JJ, explore it and document the inside of this magnificent building, is not only your wish, its mine too.
Its very sad and unvelievable, that some people don’t realize the historic value of this theater, i’ve seen some inside pictures, and I think is still time to restore it.
Hey big guys, (owners ), realtors, who ever owns this jewel, have you seen the new version of the KING KONG movie..?? THE THEATER… THE ALAHAMBRA,, YESS. thats how this wonders used to look.
Hoping for the best……..
Ladies and gents, an update, or not. Approximately a week ago, I sent a registered letter to the owners of record, California Theatre Investment Group LLC. This was my third attempt to contact them for legal permission to enter the site and photograph the complex. The Post Office has the letter in their tracking system and they have attempted to deliever it several times – unsuccessfully.
The result.. nothing. No one is even making an attempt to sign for the letter at the Post Office. I am convinced at this point that the business listed as the owner of this building is a front or a shell and nothing is being done to restore it.
This sadly follows a familiar trend concerning historic/abandoned locations. A company will buy a site and propose redevelopment only to be turned down because of it’s historic nature of the building(s). When they exhaust the normal efforts to gain the partial and total demolition of a site, they sell it to a holding company which promises restoration of the property. The only thing that happens is they sit on the site for years doing minimal ‘upkeep’, and allowing it to deteriorate in hopes that as time passes a more favorable situation will develop (condemnation, fire, vandalism, etc).
My hope is that I’m mistaken and the owners of the propety will yet contact me. The next steps to get in touch become more complicated. The California Theatre Investmenet Group LLC is registered in California (USA) so there has to be a lawyer or law office acting as their representative – that’s one avenue to pursue. Next the registration in California requires the principals of the LLC (the main investors) to be identified. That’s my second avenue to investigate. In both cases, any help from the community here would be very appreciated. I’d like to explore and document this site before it disappears forever.
Well folks, it’s been a month since mailing the owner and I’ve received no response. It’s been 3 weeks since e-mailing Mr Young and Mr Neill (above). No response has come back from either of these gentlemen despite their interest in the building. Looks like I’ll be getting on the phone to call a few folks for info and legwork there.
Is there anyone on the list in San Diego that has heard anything new or recent in terms of the theatre and its on going status?
The california was in fair shape except the curved steel arches on the roof were sprayed with cement and they were rusting heavily, when I run it, it could have been rejuvenated. the halls were terrazzo and in good shape and there was a little spalling of concrete on the exterior…a contractor removed the spanish tile on the parapet wall while we were there because they were coming off..quite dangerous!!! I practically lived there…I wonder what happened to some of the restaurants that finished there…Mike Corbin’s Beefmasters by theatre entrance moved a block south and where is he now?…The chinese buffet on the corner of 4 and c moved a block away and where are they?….It was a convenient location right by city hall and downtown. At one time there were 5 eating places operating at the same time…..People were coming and going 24 hrs a day there…closed it aug. 1990..
To D Scrimger,
I can certainly understand that it will be costly to an extent. Since the building recieved a historic landmark status, that both imposed restrictions on what could be done, but also what has to be done. For example, you can not under California statue change the appearance of the building from the historical constructs of versions, this includes structural upgrades, but excludes fire protection. Becasue the building was already built and subsequently modified to the 1964 California Earthquake protection standards, it wouldn’t require further modification except to install a fire suppression system.
As for cheap labor, too many places doing renovations and building already use cheap labor from south of the border. Fact of life now, but I don’t see this changing. I am curious about how extensively the building was upgraded before it was closed down. “If” I can get permission to photograph, I’m curious how solidly built the place was. Falling through floors really sucks.
To William,
It’s always sad when a grand old place goes away. It’s part of why I try to document and record them. Sometimes the images inspire action, somethings they spur memories. In Beverly Hills, I’m not surprised it got torn down. Los Angeles has not memory of history beryond what’s convienent to sell the next big thing. I photogrpah sites and activities there regularly mainly because so much is disappearing. This site is at the edge of the Gas Light District and might pull in more support. The stories of who’s played this place are utterly amazing.
Here’s a link to the external photos I took in March while in town. http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/196615.html
The Warner Beverly Hills theatre returned from sitting idle for almost a decade. To become a concert/variety arts center in the heart of Beverly Hills. The owners of the property closed the theatre down because of the cost ($14 Million) for the earthquake retro-fit of the house. The house was in great shape at the time.
Today it’s a parking lot on Wilshire Blvd. @ Canon Drive for the Rolex company offices.
When I ran the building, it had a feasability study to see how it would conform to earthquake protection, etc. Core samples taken and engineering was figured on it…it was cost prohibitive. An inner steel bracing structure system wopuld have to be added, plus fire equipment, sprinklers and more.
A shame that they just didn’t keep it going. For 17 years now it has been in the process of being ruined….Only someone who wants to throw money at it could re-do it…It would not garner enough rent these days to pay for the high labor costs of our present generation…remember when it was built…LABOR WAS CHEAP IN THE DEPRESSION AND A LITTLE BEFORE THAT TIME. Former building manager engineer, D. Scrimger
As a bit of added information, I sent correspondence to the title holder of record for the California Theatre on April 11th. No response has come back nor has the letter been returned as undeliverable. I’ve also had no replies from either Mr. Young and Prof. Neill whom I’d e-mailed at the addresses listed above on the 13th of this month.
According to the multiple phone and business directories, the Trustee “Lance Badgwell” and the LLC for the company has no phone number. Something smells fishy to me. Is anyone else listening in on this Theatre and has any more recent information?
Greetings all,
Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of wandering downtown San Diego with a friend and fellow photographer. In our wanderings, we stopped to admire the California. In fact several old-timer, passers-by told us stories about the place which peaked my interest.
I’m a photographer, documentarian and amateur historian. I publish under the name “JJ MacCrimmon” and happen to be one of the moderators of the international abandoned places community on Live Journal (http://community.livejournal.com/abandonedplaces/profile). Although I realize The California isn’t “abandoned” in the sense that it’s been left to rot, it is a truly historic ghost left sadly empty and idle. Given that, I’d love to have the opportunity to photograph and document the site. My goal is artistic documentation and I am will willing to provide of complete set of uneditted digital prints to the owner and the SD Historical Society.
I am intending to send this written request to the registered title holder, but felt that this venue might offer a interesting outlet first. Given the the historic nature of this beautiful location, I’d also like a definitive answer as to who truly speaks for the California? I’ve read both Mr Young’s and Mr. Neill’s comments over the last year in this forum. Gentlemen, it isn’t clear based on your posts and comments.
Sincere and hopeful regards,
JJ MacCrimmon (Photography)
Like to know that myself.
Can anyone tell me of any plans to actually restore the theatre? It seems as though there is a lot of talk but not a lot of action. I hate seeing it in its current state.
We have hundreds. Feel free to contact me.
I am trying to collect pictures of the inside of the New California Theatre in San Diego. The Historical Society only has 2 picutures. Please help. It is my hope to restore this Theatre to its 1927 glory, but will be difficult to do without pictures of the inside. Thank you for any help.
Dear Mr. Scrimger, Please contact me at
I was the last on site manager of the california theatre building in san diego..I closed it down around august of 1990…it was in the coggeshall trust operated by the union bank..I knew that place forwards and backwards…we had five restaurants on the ground floor..the theatre and seven more floors in the office tower for a total of eight floors…after closing, the restaurants were allowed to stay until their leases ended..I understand that it has been ramsacked of copper and brass…it had a beautiful mail drop box in the elevator lobby and some other amenities that were unique…terrazzo floors above in the halls with marble mop boards….Over the years I had even operated the projectors for special films…the organ society also had their monthly show their…tooo bad it has gotten beat up in the process..we were usually 90 % rented out in the offices…every thing from architects and engineers to fly by nights…many stories could be told about the place, just in my tenure…d. scrimger
how many cinema subwoofers will it have?
David Young, thanks for posting the photos of the auditorium. How wide a movie screen can fit on that stage?