Cinema Theatre
519 J Street,
Sacramento,
CA
95814
519 J Street,
Sacramento,
CA
95814
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previous Names: Godard's J Street Theatre, Sutter Theatre, El Rey Theatre, Rio Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Godard’s J Street Theatre was opened in 1915. It was renamed Sutter Theatre on March 8, 1930. It was renamed El Rey Theatre on November 30, 1933. Damaged by a fire in 1941, it was repaired and reopened as the Rio Theatre on March 21, 1942. By 1962 it was screening Mexican movies. On August 17, 1966 it was renamed Cinema Theatre and went over to screening adult movies in 1969, with live burlesque on the stage. It was closed and demolished in the late-1960’s.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
This is an early sixties view:
http://tinyurl.com/yhn7fge
The book “Sacramento: Indomitable City” by Steven Avella says that Charles W. Godard opened this theater in 1915. He had earlier operated a number of other Sacramento theaters. A History of California published in 1906 and revised in 1913 has biographical material on Godard. The 1906 edition says that he took over the Acme Theatre in 1903, and the 1913 edition adds the Liberty and Majestic to the chain of three theaters he was operating by then.
When I came to Sacramento in 1962 the Rio was showing Mexican films. It closed sometime later but was then re-opened by a new operator showing 16mm. “pin up” (nude model) adult films! Live burlesque later replaced or was added to the film programs. I can’t remember exactly when it closed for good and demolished, sometime in the latter part of the 1960’s I believe.
The Rio was previously named the El Rey.A fire did $50,000 worth of damage in 1941.Re-opened in 1942 as the Rio.
Reopened as Sutter as a cinema on March 8th, 1930 and reopened as the El Ray on November 30th, 1933. Grand opening ads posted.
Became Rio on March 21st, 1942. Another ad posted.
Became Cinema Theatre on August 17th, 1966 and started to show adult movies in 1969. Grand opening posted.