Merced Theatre (Merced, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Merced Theatre
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| Location | 301 W. Main St., Merced, California |
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| Area | 0.52 acres (2,100 m2) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architect | James William Reid, Merritt Jonathan Reid |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival style |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000248 |
| Added to NRHP | May 1, 2009 |
The Merced Theatre is a historic building in Merced, California. You can find it at 301 W. Main Street. This theatre was a very important place for people in Merced. It was a social and cultural hub from the 1930s through the 1950s.
The theatre is special because of its unique design. It mixes two cool styles: Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The Merced Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 1, 2009. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.
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Designing the Theatre
The Golden State Theatre Company wanted a grand new theatre. They hired the San Francisco architects, the Reid Brothers. These brothers were famous for designing other big buildings. One of their other amazing designs is the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California.
The Reid Brothers made sure the Merced Theatre was super modern. It had the newest technology for showing movies. It was also one of the first buildings in Merced to have air conditioning. Imagine how cool that was in 1931!
Cool Features Inside
The architects added some really dramatic touches inside. They designed the theatre to look like a Spanish castle. There were even special machines that made "clouds" float across the ceiling. The ceiling also looked like a starry night sky.
Building the Merced Theatre
A builder named Gian Battista Pasqualetti constructed the theatre. He used strong materials like steel and reinforced concrete. The steel came from Golden Gate Iron Works. Beautiful iron decorations were made by San Jose Iron Works. Colorful tiles came from the Hispano Maresque Tile Company.
The building is covered in white stucco. A tall tower, about 100 feet high, rises above the entrance. On top of the tower, bright orange neon letters spell out "MERCED." You can see this sign from far away!
Inside the Theatre
When you step into the lobby, you'll see a large mural. This painting shows scenes of Spanish exploration. A Dutch artist named Antoon Bonaventure Heinsbergen created it. The lobby also has original furniture. These are Spanish-style wooden sofas and chairs.
The theatre was originally very large. It could seat 1,645 people for movies and live shows. For a while, it was part of the United Artist chain of theatres. In the 1980s, the theatre was divided into four smaller sections. This changed its original grand design.
Restoration and Today
Over the years, the theatre started to show its age. But it later received a full restoration. This brought it back close to its original design. Now, the Merced Theatre is a busy place again. It hosts many touring shows and films throughout the year.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Merced para niños
