Majestic Ventura Theatre

26 S. Chestnut Street,
Ventura, CA 93001

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Related Websites

The Majestic Ventura Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, Principal Theaters Corp. of America, Pussycat Theatres

Architects: Lewis Arthur Smith

Functions: Concerts

Styles: Mission Revival

Previous Names: New Ventura Theatre, Ventura Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 805.653.0721

Nearby Theaters

News About This Theater

2011 Ventura Film Festival

The New Ventura Theatre opened in August 1928. On July 11, 1973 it reopened after being taken over by the Pussycat Theatres chain, screening adult movies. After decades of showing movies, the Ventura Theatre closed and it was converted into a concert venue.

The seats on the main floor have been removed, and only the balcony seats remain in place. There is a bar in the rear of the main floor.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 20 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 21, 2009 at 10:47 pm

I noticed that photo before, Ken, and it’s not the Ventura Theatre. I think it might have been an older theater called the Mission. According to a couple of cards in the California Index, the Mission Theatre in Ventura was being operated by a woman named Jenne Dodge as late as 1939, and she had been running it for several years at that time.

My mom lived in Ventura in the late 1920s and remembers going to the movies there, but doesn’t recall the name of the theater and can’t recall much about it, other than that it was a fairly small place in an older building, with a small candy shop next door. She doesn’t even remember which street it was on. If she still had good enough eyesight I could show her the photo and she might recognize it, but she can barely see now.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 21, 2009 at 10:50 pm

I didn’t think the theater was in LA, as Life alleged. It wouldn’t make sense to tell someone to go to Ventura if they were somewhere in Los Angeles. Thanks for the information.

joliz
joliz on March 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm

This is the old American Theatre, 530 E Main St. Ventura. It was located just a half block from the Ventura Theatre, which is around the corner on Chestnut street. It was a venue for the silent films in the 20’s and was owned by Chas. B Corcoran who built the Ventura Theatre at the end of that era. The building was made over into the County Stationers store and then became Bonnie’s, which burned down and was rebuilt not too long ago. Right now it is empty.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 28, 2009 at 6:49 pm

Here is a December 1975 ad from the Oxnard Press Courier:
http://tinyurl.com/dkskja

Ross Care
Ross Care on October 4, 2010 at 6:34 pm

Entrance & Ticket Kiosk:
View link

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on February 12, 2011 at 4:07 am

Word is that they’re going to start showing movies again, possibly as early as this summer, with digital projection.

MagicLantern
MagicLantern on February 19, 2011 at 2:13 am

They’re now shooting for a May-June debut, with film festivals, local community artists and connections with Los Angeles indie exhibitors also taking place.

theventurafilmfestival
theventurafilmfestival on July 12, 2011 at 6:04 pm

The Ventura Film Festival shows films there every year.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268724_10150708470975437_124867670436_19637106_957537_n.jpg

rivest266
rivest266 on March 17, 2023 at 7:24 pm

Held an reopening on July 11th, 1973 under Pussycat theatres management.

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