Yost Theater facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Yost Theater

Exterior of venue, featuring the marquee (c.2017)
Former names	Auditorium Theater (1913) Clune's Santa Ana Theater (1913-19)
Address	307 N Spurgeon St Santa Ana, CA 92701-4856
Location	Lacy
Capacity	1,000
Construction
Opened	June 16, 1913 (1913-06-16)
Renovated	1919, 1921, 1935, 1947, 2007, 2013
Architect	Frederick Eley
General contractor	Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer
Yost Theater-Ritz Hotel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NRHP reference No.	86000107
Added to NRHP	January 23, 1986

The Yost Theater is a concert and event venue located in Santa Ana, California. It is a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can find it in Santa Ana's Downtown Historic District. For many years, under the Olivos Family, it was a popular movie theater. It showed films from the exciting Golden Age of Mexican Cinema.

In more recent times, the Yost Theater was used by different church groups. It also had a big makeover in 2007. Today, it's a busy place that hosts all sorts of events. You can go there for concerts, interesting Ted Talks, fun school dances, and even weddings!

The Yost Theater's Journey Through Time

The Yost Theater has a long and interesting past. It has changed names and purposes many times.

Early Days and Name Changes

The theater first opened its doors in 1913. Back then, it was called the "Auditorium Theater." Later that same year, its name changed to "Clune's Santa Ana Theater." It wasn't until Ed Yost bought the theater that it finally got the name we know today: the Yost Theater. In 1950, a man named Luis Olivos leased the theater. He was the father of Louie Olivos Jr..

A Hub for Entertainment

The Yost Theater was a very busy place. It showed many different kinds of performances. In its early years, it hosted vaudeville shows, which were like variety shows with different acts. It also showed silent films, which were movies without sound. Later, it started showing "talkies," which were movies with sound.

Under the Olivos Family, the Yost Theater became famous for showing Mexican films. Louie Olivos Jr. brought many talented Mexican movie stars to the Yost. Some of these stars included Antonio Aguilar and Vicente Fernández. But it wasn't just Mexican stars! Famous American performers like Ike and Tina Turner, and Sonny and Cher also performed there.

New Owners and Renovations

In 1986, the Chase Family bought the Yost Theater. They were known for developing the Fiesta Marketplace shopping area. After this, the theater was used as a church for a while. During this time, some parts of the inside of the building were changed.

In 2007, the Los Angeles Times newspaper reported exciting news. The Yost Theater was going to reopen for everyone in the community to enjoy! Architect Thomas Berkes led the work to restore the theater. It was turned into a place for live concerts and performances. It reopened that same year. After reopening, the Centro Cultural de México started organizing concerts and other events there. They even hosted Dolores Huerta, a famous leader from the United Farm Workers, and a talk about the artist Frida Kahlo.

In 2010, the City of Santa Ana Planning Commission made some important decisions. They approved permits that allowed the Yost Theater to operate after hours. This meant it could host evening events. It also allowed the theater to serve as a banquet hall for parties and special gatherings.

Famous Performers at the Yost

Many well-known artists have performed at the Yost Theater over the years. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

• 

  The Yost in 2007

• 

  Cine Yost

• 

  Marquee in 2007

More to Explore

• Historic Downtown Santa Ana
• Downtown Santa Ana Historic Districts
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Orange County, California
• Santa Ana, California
• El Cine Yost and the Power of Place for Mexican Migrants in Orange County, California, 1930-1990
• The Yost Theater Project