El Campanil Theatre

602 W. Second Street,
Antioch, CA 94509

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Ron Pierce
Ron Pierce on March 10, 2024 at 11:15 pm

Built by Ferd Stamm with Norman Coulter as the architect according to the December 25, 1927, article in the Oakland Tribune. The El Campanil location in the story is confirmed by location at 2nd and G Streets. See news clipping in photo section.

From the city of Antioch: Opened November 1, 1928. “Here stands Antioch’s magnificent art deco theatre, the El Campanil Theatre, which opened on November 1, 1928, to great fanfare, including an automobile parade. The builders of the Casino Theatre, Ferd Stamm and Ralph Beede, also built the El Campanil, at a cost of half a million dollars. The Casino could only handle single reel silent films, but the state of the art new theatre could handle multi-reel films. Within a year, however, Stamm and Beede invested in the equipment to handle talkies. Like the Casino, the theatre presented vaudeville.”

Bill H
Bill H on January 24, 2015 at 1:57 pm

Also see article written when theater was new, see Motion Picture News (Jan – March 1929). Look up February 2, 1929 issue on pages 306 – 307 !!

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on August 8, 2012 at 10:42 am

There are five photos of this theater on this webpage; clicking on them will enlarge the thumbnails.

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 2:07 pm

A few 2011 photos can be seen here and here.

Campanil
Campanil on February 14, 2011 at 2:27 pm

When the theatre was “rehabilitated” in 2004, the stage was extended, new lighting, sound, marquee and 700 new (vintage style) seats were installed.
Visit the website at: www.elcampaniltheatre.com

bago1
bago1 on April 15, 2009 at 9:23 am

i been to this theater twice to see 2 really good shows in late 2007 i seen a mexican folk band from richmond ca called Los Cenzontles and they rocked the house and in march of 2008 i seen another very good band from los angeles called mariachi divas they played to a sold out Audience and also rocked the crown i had such a good time .
but as a theater it has that classic charm i really enjoyed this place i’m glad this cinema gem was restored …..

tomdelay
tomdelay on May 2, 2006 at 7:06 am

I am not sure what ‘cosmic’ is talking about above. The El Campanile had a 2 manual 6 rank style 165 Wurlitzer that was installed when the theatre opened.

After leaving the El Camp,the organ went to an Oakland area nightclub known as 615 Club where it was played for dancing by
the late Dave Quinlan.

When the 615 was closed, the organ was moved to Rudy’s Supper Club in Vallejo where it contineud to play for many years, again played by Dave Quinlan.

Due to the vintage of the organ (1928), the organ was equipped with “black cap” [electro] magnets to actuate the switching and pipe valves. These magnets are often prone to failure, but are easy to replace.

Sadly, an electronic organ sales effort got the Supper Club to dump the pipe organ because it “was in bad shape” and the club hauled in some sort of electronic organ and sold the pipe organ. The pipe organ was broken up for parts and no longer exists. Some parts were used in the composite Wurlitzer in the Fox Theatre in Hanford, CA (which is now, misguidedly, about to be replaced with another composite organ with none of the quality of the organ presently installed.)

Marcy
Marcy on October 11, 2004 at 4:49 pm

The team responsible for renovating and preserving the theatre deserves a huge applause. Not only did we enjoy the Debbie Reynolds show held there, but the theatre was as lovely and charming as my mother used to describe, as it was THEE place to go when she was a young girl. Thank you so much for allowing us “youngsters” to marvel in some of Antioch’s great history.

kathie
kathie on September 11, 2004 at 3:32 pm

This theatre is reopen and beautiful! Debbie Reynolds will be appearing October 9th, 2004! A series of productions by Playhouse West is scheduled. Currently classic movies are shown one weekend a month. Visit the website @ www.elcampaniltheatre.com

daveatelcampanil
daveatelcampanil on March 6, 2004 at 10:35 pm

The theatre is presently closed for the first phase of a four phase renovation/restoration project. It is due to reopened July 4, 2004 as a performing arts theatre.