Minor Theater facts for kids
The Minor Theatre is a very old movie theater in Arcata, California. It's special because it's the second oldest movie theater in the United States built just for showing movies! It first opened its doors in 1914. Today, it's still a popular place to watch films.
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A Look at the Minor Theatre's History
The Minor Theatre was built by a person named Isaac Minor. It cost about $20,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! Construction started on April 2, 1914. The building was finished in November of that year. It was made from strong concrete to be safe and resist fires. The grand opening was on December 3, 1914.
Changes Over the Years
The theater has closed and reopened a few times.
- It closed in 1938 but opened again in the 1950s.
- It closed again in the 1960s because many people started watching TV at home.
- It reopened in 1972.
- In 2016, it closed briefly but reopened just a few months later.
A cool fact is that a secret trap door used by the famous magician Harry Houdini is still inside the theater!
Early Features and Ownership
When it first opened, the Minor Theatre had space for a live orchestra. Twelve musicians could play music during the silent movies. The stage was also very big. It could fit a large group of actors or even a chorus of 75 people!
In 1971, a group of students from Humboldt State University bought the theater from the Minor family. One of these students was David Phillips. He helped start the Humboldt International Film Festival.
Modern Updates and Use
The Arcata City Council approved plans to update the theater in January 1989. In 2006, a company called Coming Attractions Theatres leased the building.
Today, the Minor Theatre has three screens. This means it can show three different movies at once! It can seat 461 people. Since 2017, the Minor Theatre has been the main home for the Humboldt International Film Festival.
Images for kids
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The outside of the Minor Theatre
See also
- Arcata Theatre
