Tower Theatre (Sacramento, California)

The Tower Theatre, built in 1938, is a Sacramento, California landmark[1] and the oldest remaining, continuously running picture palace.[2][3]

Tower Theatre
Map
Address2508 Land Park Drive
LocationSacramento, California
Coordinates38°33′42″N 121°29′37″W / 38.5616°N 121.4935°W / 38.5616; -121.4935
OwnerReading Cinemas
TypeMovie theatre
Opened1938 (1938)
Website
www.angelikafilmcenter.com/tower

The theater was designed by California theater architect William B. David in the Streamline Moderne style of architecture.[4][5] The original owner was Joseph Blumenfeld, a second generation theatre owner. At the time, there was only one movie screen. The first movie shown was Algiers. The theatre was renovated in 1972 and divided into a three screen cinema.[6]

They were bought by the Reading International theater chain in 1998, who, upgraded the theater in 2012 with digital projectors. In 2016, it was sold to an endowment fund as a long-term investment.[7]

The theater has showcased the premieres of Colin HanksAll Things Must Pass and Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird.[8] Both Hanks and Gerwig are Sacramento natives.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sacramento Register of Historic & Cultural Resources City of Sacramento Listings of LANDMARKS HISTORIC DISTRICTS &CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES Ordinances August 2015
  2. ^ "Tower Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Tower Theatre, a Sacramento landmark, built in 1938, that is famous for its neon displays". Library of Congress. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  4. ^ Gebhard, David (1996), The National Trust Guide to Art Deco in America, National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States Wiley, p. 218, ISBN 9780471143864
  5. ^ Trew, Leslie Ann. "NOMINATING THE TOWER THEATER TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES: A LOOK AT THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION" (PDF). California State University, Sacramento. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  6. ^ "A Brief History of the Tower Theater in Sacramento". Culture Trip. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  7. ^ Shallit, Bob (May 20, 2016). "Sacramento's iconic Tower Theatre sold to endowment fund". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Overview". angelikafilmcenter.com. Retrieved 22 August 2023.