Arkley Center for the Performing Arts
410-20 G Street,
Eureka,
CA
95501
410-20 G Street,
Eureka,
CA
95501
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1932 photo added credit Doris Clarke Patterson Collection. 1935 photo & description added credit Humboldt County Historical Society.
You can see the front of the building here.
You can see the back of the building here.
Another old Loews to add to my list.
I have a January 1925 program from this theater, which can be seen here.
This theater reopened on Friday night, February 2 with a sold out performance by Kenny Rogers. The next day the theater opened for an open house for the community which included tours, live music and food. I was on the first tour of the afternoon and we were shown the entire theater from the green rooms to the kitchen to the backstage area, bathrooms, and the catacombs under the theater. The theater currently does not have a projection booth and is intended for live performances but we were told they will be purchasing a digital projector.
This theater is now completely (to its mostly former glory) by the Arkleys. Go to www.arkleycenter.com for more info. It is now open and is a performing arts venue.
Richard Sweasey was the mayor of Eureka in the 1920s.
By the way, more information can be found at www.arkleycenter.com They were handing out informational brochures about their restoration at this month’s arts alive.
Local conservative rich philanthropists Rob & Cherie Arkley have bought this theater and have almost completed the restoration apparently. They are saying that the theater will open in 2007 under the new name “The Arkley Center for the Performing Arts”. This theater was christened the Richard Sweasey Theater theater after the mayor of Eureka of that time. The theater is rightfully called “The Richard Sweasey Theater” and will be forever.
Nice color photo (as Daly’s) here:
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The influence of Reid Bros. is evident in the design of this facade, which bears many similarities to that of their Coliseum Theatre in San Francisco (still standing and converted to a Walgreens and luxury condos, but with facade intact). Of the two, I would say the Eureka house is the prettier, though both should be noted for exhibiting the Craftsman influence in their detailing along with the obligatory Rennaissance applied ornament.
Mr. Kurt Kramer did not leave an E-mail address, but it is hoped that he found the historic information regarding the LOEW’S STATE THEATRE in Eureka as he had hoped. In case he did not, the best bet to find records is to go to the nearest historical society and the largest public and school/university libraries. These are often repositories of local records, in addition to the Building Inspection records of the local municipality, of course. The county Register of Deeds will need the legal description of the land to locate deeds, covenants, and ancillary records, though their office can usually convert the street address to legal description. Also, the State Historic Preservation Officer in Sacramento may well be able to direct him to other sources, and he would do well to contact the Ex. Director of the Theatre Historical Soc. of America for any records regarding the theatre or the architects, at: www.HistoricTheatres.org Best Wishes!
Who is the Richard Sweasy (sp?) named on the facade? Looks like it was built in 1920. I’d say the style was atmospheric. Baroque but not Spanish Colonial.
The State Thetare is located at 410-420 G Street. It seated 1109 people when it opened and was later reseated to 991 people.
We are in the process of renovation and would like to find out info on the reid bros architects of SF do you know if there is any archeival info plans etc…thanks