For the historic theater in Newport Beach, see Balboa Theater.
The Balboa Theatre is an historic vaudeville/movie theatre in downtown San Diego, California, US, built in 1924. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, the Balboa was refurbished (beginning in 2005) and reopened as a performing arts venue in 2008.[1]
The Balboa was built by businessman Robert E. Hicks, architect William H. Wheeler, by the Wurster Construction Company for $800,000 in 1924.[2] A grand vaudeville/movie palace combining Moorish and Spanish Revival styles, the single-balcony theatre originally had a seating capacity of 1,513;[3] waterfalls on either side of the proscenium arch provided air cooling.[4][3]
As part of the Fox West Coast circuit, the Balboa featured live vaudeville and movies, accompanied by orchestra and organ. An article from the American Theatre Organ Society states that Edward Swan was the organist at the Balboa Theatre in 1925-26 and he claims that the original 426 pipe Robert Morton organ was the finest he had ever played. It had an echo organ over the balcony. He “played the features while the small orchestra did the vaudeville segments. Sometimes Ed also played the organ or piano with the orchestra and his playing time lengthened to 10 or 12 hours a day.” In 1930 the theatre was upgraded for sound pictures and a new neon marquee was added.[5] In 1934, it was remodeled, reopening as Teatro Balboa, featuring Spanish-language films.[6] The theatre's office space was converted to housing for the U.S. Navy during World War II.
The theater in 1979
After the war, Balboa languished as a movie house and in 1959 was purchased by the Russo family. Because of its rich history and splendid architecture the Balboa was designated as a local historic site in 1972.[7] Although the 1973 Horton Plaza Redevelopment Plan called for complete restoration of the building as a theatre, the City of San Diego instead condemned it; the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC) made plans to gut the theatre for commercial space, intending to strip the interior and build four floors of retail space.
Restorationedit
In 1985, a small group of advocates led by Steve Karo formed the Save Our Balboa Organization to lobby against destruction of the theatre and to support its restoration. The Save Our Balboa group garnered public support and eventually prevailed in a long and hard-fought effort to stop destruction of the theatre. The Save Our Balboa Organization developed into the Balboa Theatre Foundation which continued lobbying for restoration and in 1996, succeeded in listing the Balboa Theatre on the National Register of Historic Places.[8] After twenty years, CCDC did a turnaround and decided to fund a complete restoration which began in 2005. They not only funded, at a cost of $26.5 million, but superbly managed the project, working with restoration architects Westlake Reed Leskosky, now DLR Group.[9][10] The theatre re-opened in 2008 and is now an excellent venue for live theatre and concerts.
Interior of the Balboa Theatre before a concert in 2022
In 2009, after extensive renovation, the Balboa Theatre Foundation rededicated a 1929 Wonder Morton organ, one of only four such organs in the world. The Foundation purchased, restored and relocated the 4-manual, 23-rank organ from Pennsylvania to the Balboa Theatre after a five-year-long restoration.[11] The original Robert Morton organ was moved to the Fox Theatre in 1929, which is now Copley Symphony Hall. [12]
Current useedit
The Balboa Theatre now hosts the Mainly Mozart Festival, special events, and touring companies of Broadway productions. The city of San Diego holds the annual "State of the City" address at the theatre.[6]
Referencesedit
^"Balboa Theatre History | San Diego Theatres". sandiegotheatres.org. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
^ abHarris, Phil (2009). Toward Human Emergence: A Human Resource Philosophy for the Future : Reflections on Accelerating Change, Making Human Choices, and Destiny. Human Resource Development. p. 217. ISBN978-1-59996-167-5.
^Jones, Welton. "The Balboa Theatre". San Diego History Center. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
^"An 18-year Redevelopment Battle". SOHO - Save Our Heritage Organization. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
^ ab"Historic Balboa Theatre". SanDiego.org. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
^"Historical Landmarks Designated by the San Diego Historical Resources Board" (PDF). City of San Diego.
^"Balboa Theatre". ATOS - American Theatre Organ Society. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
^Hebert, James (August 2, 2009). "Balboa Theatre's restored organ returns to action". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balboa Theatre, San Diego, California.
Balboa Theatre at Cinema Treasures
January 01, 1970
balboa, theatre, historic, theater, newport, beach, balboa, theater, historic, vaudeville, movie, theatre, downtown, diego, california, built, 1924, listed, national, register, historic, places, 1996, balboa, refurbished, beginning, 2005, reopened, performing,. For the historic theater in Newport Beach see Balboa Theater The Balboa Theatre is an historic vaudeville movie theatre in downtown San Diego California US built in 1924 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 the Balboa was refurbished beginning in 2005 and reopened as a performing arts venue in 2008 1 Balboa Theatre San Diego CAAddress868 Fourth AvenueSan Diego CaliforniaUnited StatesOwnerCity of San DiegoOperatorSan Diego TheatresCapacity1 339Current useperforming arts venueConstructionOpened1924Reopened2008ArchitectWheeler William H Wurster Construction Co et al Websitesandiegotheatres wbr orgBalboa TheatreU S National Register of Historic PlacesSan Diego Historic Landmark No 77Show map of San DiegoShow map of San Diego County CaliforniaShow map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesCoordinates32 42 50 N 117 9 38 W 32 71389 N 117 16056 W 32 71389 117 16056Architectural styleMission Spanish RevivalNRHP reference No 96001177SDHL No 77Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 24 1996Designated SDHLAugust 4 1972 Contents 1 History 2 Restoration 3 Current use 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe Balboa was built by businessman Robert E Hicks architect William H Wheeler by the Wurster Construction Company for 800 000 in 1924 2 A grand vaudeville movie palace combining Moorish and Spanish Revival styles the single balcony theatre originally had a seating capacity of 1 513 3 waterfalls on either side of the proscenium arch provided air cooling 4 3 As part of the Fox West Coast circuit the Balboa featured live vaudeville and movies accompanied by orchestra and organ An article from the American Theatre Organ Society states that Edward Swan was the organist at the Balboa Theatre in 1925 26 and he claims that the original 426 pipe Robert Morton organ was the finest he had ever played It had an echo organ over the balcony He played the features while the small orchestra did the vaudeville segments Sometimes Ed also played the organ or piano with the orchestra and his playing time lengthened to 10 or 12 hours a day In 1930 the theatre was upgraded for sound pictures and a new neon marquee was added 5 In 1934 it was remodeled reopening as Teatro Balboa featuring Spanish language films 6 The theatre s office space was converted to housing for the U S Navy during World War II nbsp The theater in 1979 After the war Balboa languished as a movie house and in 1959 was purchased by the Russo family Because of its rich history and splendid architecture the Balboa was designated as a local historic site in 1972 7 Although the 1973 Horton Plaza Redevelopment Plan called for complete restoration of the building as a theatre the City of San Diego instead condemned it the Centre City Development Corporation CCDC made plans to gut the theatre for commercial space intending to strip the interior and build four floors of retail space Restoration editIn 1985 a small group of advocates led by Steve Karo formed the Save Our Balboa Organization to lobby against destruction of the theatre and to support its restoration The Save Our Balboa group garnered public support and eventually prevailed in a long and hard fought effort to stop destruction of the theatre The Save Our Balboa Organization developed into the Balboa Theatre Foundation which continued lobbying for restoration and in 1996 succeeded in listing the Balboa Theatre on the National Register of Historic Places 8 After twenty years CCDC did a turnaround and decided to fund a complete restoration which began in 2005 They not only funded at a cost of 26 5 million but superbly managed the project working with restoration architects Westlake Reed Leskosky now DLR Group 9 10 The theatre re opened in 2008 and is now an excellent venue for live theatre and concerts nbsp Interior of the Balboa Theatre before a concert in 2022 In 2009 after extensive renovation the Balboa Theatre Foundation rededicated a 1929 Wonder Morton organ one of only four such organs in the world The Foundation purchased restored and relocated the 4 manual 23 rank organ from Pennsylvania to the Balboa Theatre after a five year long restoration 11 The original Robert Morton organ was moved to the Fox Theatre in 1929 which is now Copley Symphony Hall 12 Current use editThe Balboa Theatre now hosts the Mainly Mozart Festival special events and touring companies of Broadway productions The city of San Diego holds the annual State of the City address at the theatre 6 References edit Balboa Theatre History San Diego Theatres sandiegotheatres org Retrieved 2022 05 18 San Diego s Historic Places Balboa Theatre Video SDpostcards 2008 09 01 Retrieved 4 November 2016 a b Harris Phil 2009 Toward Human Emergence A Human Resource Philosophy for the Future Reflections on Accelerating Change Making Human Choices and Destiny Human Resource Development p 217 ISBN 978 1 59996 167 5 Jones Welton The Balboa Theatre San Diego History Center Retrieved 4 November 2016 An 18 year Redevelopment Battle SOHO Save Our Heritage Organization Retrieved 4 November 2016 a b Historic Balboa Theatre SanDiego org Retrieved 4 November 2016 Historical Landmarks Designated by the San Diego Historical Resources Board PDF City of San Diego National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 Balboa Theatre Restoration Recognized with Multiple Awards PDF Downtown Today 59 8 Summer Fall 2008 San Diego s Historic Places Balboa Theatre Video SDpostcards 2009 08 28 Retrieved 4 November 2016 Balboa Theatre ATOS American Theatre Organ Society Retrieved 4 November 2016 Hebert James August 2 2009 Balboa Theatre s restored organ returns to action San Diego Union Tribune Retrieved 23 March 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balboa Theatre San Diego California Balboa Theatre at Cinema Treasures Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balboa Theatre amp oldid 1207585765, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
