Cascade Theatre facts for kids
Address | 1731 Market St. Redding, California United States |
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Owner | Southern Oregon University |
Operator | JPR Foundation |
Capacity | 1,348 |
Current use | music venue |
Construction | |
Opened | August 9, 1935 |
Reopened | 2004 |
Website | |
Cascade Theatre
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Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
Built by | Salih Brothers |
Architect | J. Lloyd Conrich |
Architectural style | Art Deco |
NRHP reference No. | 01001459 |
Added to NRHP | January 17, 2002 |
The Cascade Theatre is a famous building in Redding, California. It shows off the cool Art Deco style. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
A designer named J. Lloyd Conrich from San Francisco created the theater's plans in 1934. It was built for the Naify family. They owned many movie theaters in northern California.
The theater opened on August 9, 1935. It had 1,348 seats for moviegoers. It was also the very first public building in Redding to have air conditioning!
Over the years, things changed. In 1979, the big theater was split into four smaller ones. Then, in 1997, it closed its doors.
But the story didn't end there! The Cascade Theatre reopened in 2004. Southern Oregon University and the JPR Foundation bought it. They brought the theater back to its original look. Today, it's a busy place for concerts and art shows.
Contents
What Makes the Cascade Theatre Special?
The Cascade Theatre is built from strong materials like masonry and concrete. It looks mostly plain from the outside. But its front, or facade, is very special.
The Front of the Building
At the street level, there are storefronts. Above them, on the second floor, you can see long windows. These are part of the main theater area.
The front of the building has a large marquee. This is a sign that sticks out. There's also a tall neon sign that spells "CASCADE" vertically. Ribbed columns with neon lights frame this sign.
Cool Art and Designs
The very top of the theater building has amazing art. It's a detailed relief frieze, about 5 feet tall. This art shows scenes of California industries. It wraps around the sides of the building too.
Inside the Theater
When you walk in, you enter the lobby. It's a long room that runs parallel to the street. The original ticket booth is gone now.
The lobby is decorated with special light fixtures. The ceiling is also very detailed and slopes upwards. Inside the main theater, you'll see more art and fluted columns.
There are two main seating areas. One is on the ground floor, called the orchestra section. The other is a balcony above it. The walls and ceiling of the auditorium have beautiful murals painted on them.
The theater can now seat 997 people. There is also space for 10 wheelchairs.
Historical Importance
The Cascade Theatre is important because of its history and design. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 17, 2002. This means it's recognized as a special historical place.