Cine 7 Theatre

3814 MacArthur Boulevard,
Oakland, CA 94619

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Golden State Theater & Realty Corp.

Architects: Alexander Aimwell Cantin, Alexander Mackenzie Cantin

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Laurel Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Old Oakland Laurel Theatre

The Laurel Theatre opened in March 16, 1939 with Luise Rainer in “The Great Waltz” & Constance Bennett in Service De Luxe". It was designed by father & son architects Alexander Aimwell Cantin & Alexander McKenzie Cantin, both of the. formed the Cantin and Cantin architectural firm in 1945. It closed and reopened as Cine 7 on July 7, 1962, and closed again about 1984.

It was converted into church, and became a branch of Victory Outreach.

In January 2016 it was announced by the Historic Preservation planner that the building was available for relocation, and a new project will be coming to this location. The building will be torn down unless someone would like to move it. It was demolished in June 2017.

Contributed by Garrett Murphy

Recent comments (view all 28 comments)

terrywade
terrywade on August 17, 2007 at 8:16 am

Someone needs to bring back the Laurel Theatre. The area doesn’t have any movie theatres. Bring in the guys that run the El Cerrito and have food,drinks and movies. Across the streets sits the old Hopkins, another old Oakland neighborhood house that has been many things since it’s movie days. Bring back Mrs A to manage the New Laurel. Is she still around. A real class manager for the UA circuit. Always had a flower in her hair, says my friend Ed Jacklich who worked for her in the late 60’s.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 13, 2009 at 7:08 pm

Here is an April 1964 ad from the Oakland Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/arkn4u

gsmurph
gsmurph on March 16, 2009 at 5:45 pm

Victory Outreach has left the former Cine 7; the new occupant is called the Dominion Christian Center.

Bobbt37
Bobbt37 on August 24, 2013 at 4:01 am

I just moved into the Maxwell Park area, attending Fremont High in the 50’s and a neighbor asked me if I wanted to go to the movies with him and the rest of the guys. That was the first time I went to the Laurel Theater. It was around 1953. We moved around Oakland a lot. From downtown to East Oakland.

xsallnow
xsallnow on July 16, 2014 at 2:52 pm

I saw “The Girl Can’t Help It” at the Laurel in 1957. I think the co-feature was “Dino” with Sal Mineo. Does anyone remember that? A nice neighborhood theater.

mlind
mlind on August 1, 2015 at 2:31 pm

When I was at Mills College (1962-66), this was the closest theater. We could walk to it.

gsmurph
gsmurph on June 9, 2017 at 4:13 pm

I am sorry to report that the Laurel/Cine 7 is undergoing demolition as of this writing.

terrywade
terrywade on August 17, 2017 at 9:52 pm

So sad this great little Laurel Theatre has been taken down. This was my neighborhood theatre as a kid along with the Fairfax in Oakland. Golden State Theatres/United California Theatres ran some great kid shows with KARTOONASCOPE. The Laurel was a church the last few years. I missed going over and taking some photos on It’s last days. They always had nice curtains and blue lights on them. UA wanted more cash with the art films and changed the name to Cine 7. The local Catholic church St Laurence O' Tools sent out notes to protest the change I remember. They brought back reg films after a few months. The city of Oakland could care less about these old classic movie buildings that could have re born as a new entertainment place.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 8, 2018 at 1:48 pm

This reopened as Cine'7 (Ciné 7) on July 7th, 1962. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

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