Arlington Theatre facts for kids
Front of the Arlington with ticket booth at center
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| Address | 1317 State Street Santa Barbara, California United States |
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| Capacity | 2,018 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1931 |
| Reopened | 1976 |
| Architect | Edwards and Plunkett |
The Arlington Theatre is a famous movie theater in Santa Barbara, California, United States. It mixes two cool building styles: Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival. It is the biggest movie theater in the city. It's also a main spot for live shows and performances.
Besides showing movies and hosting artists, the Arlington Theatre is a key place for the yearly Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Contents
History of the Arlington Theatre
The Arlington Theatre was built at 1317 State Street. Before it was built, an old hotel called the Arlington Hotel stood there. That hotel was destroyed by a big earthquake in 1925.
Building and Reopening
The current theater was built in 1930. It was meant to be a grand movie house for Fox West Coast Theaters. Later, in the mid-1970s, it was updated and made bigger by Metropolitan Theaters Corporation. It opened its doors again in 1976.
Recent Operations
In March 2024, the company that runs the theatre, Metropolitan Theatres, faced some financial challenges. However, they have stated that the Arlington Theatre will continue to operate as usual.
Architecture and Design
The Arlington Theatre was designed in the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. This was a popular style in Santa Barbara after the powerful 1925 earthquake. Many buildings were rebuilt in this way.
The Designers
The theater was designed by a Santa Barbara architecture company called Edwards and Plunkett. This company was started in 1925 by William A. Edwards and Joseph J. Plunkett. They worked together until 1940.
Outside the Theatre
The outside of the building has a Mission Revival steeple. It has a special art deco decoration at the top. The building has red roof tiles and a covered courtyard with a fountain. There is also a separate ticket booth outside.
Inside the Theatre
The inside of the Arlington Theatre is very fancy. The ceilings in the lobby areas have heavy wooden beams and are painted. The main auditorium can seat 2,018 people on the main floor and in the balcony.
The theater is designed to make you feel like you are sitting outdoors in a Spanish town square. The walls have fake houses, staircases, and balconies built right into them. It's not just painted on!
Stage and Organ
The stage area used to have a large stone arch. Through it, you could see a painted river and hills on the curtain. Today, that effect is gone. Now, the top of the stage has equipment for lighting live shows. But the ceiling still looks like an outdoor sky with stars.
One of the Arlington's most special features is a Robert Morton pipe organ. This organ came from another theater in 1949. It is hidden under the stage floor. When it's played during a show, the organ's console rises up into view!
See Also
- List of concert halls
- List of historic theatres
