Cinema 1 Theatre
363 Main Street,
Salinas,
CA
93901
363 Main Street,
Salinas,
CA
93901
8 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 33 comments
The theatre is undergoing restoration at the current time. Here’s a quote from Gary Parks on Facebook. “Work proceeds apace at the EL REY Theatre, Salinas, CA, a 1935 showplace that has been closed since 1989–save for a couple of brief uses of the lobby as retail space, and an abortive attempt at a church, which slathered-over the interior in harsh white. The exterior is being returned to its original, dramatic paint colors, and the original letterforms will return to the vertical sign and the little fins on the marquee. My etched glass partner and I are creating replica Art Deco etched glass to replace missing or broken pieces, for the interior light fixtures. El Rey will be a multi-use venue, but projection capability is planned, for maximum versatility when special events need it.” Exterior picture of construction activity is in the Photos section.
Opened August 15, 1935
1955 photo added courtesy of Ed Johnson.
1944 photo added courtesy of the AmeriCar The Beautiful Facebook page.
From Salinas a photo postcard view of the El Rey.
Great shots Chuck. Ack this just kills me. I assumed from the state of things outside that the place was derelict and falling apart. And the only things in truly bad shape seem to be from water getting in SINCE the last closure! Those leaks arent repaired and teh place will just rot away when it seems to be so utterly restorable!
Dear Armstrongproductions. Please feel free to contact me. I am andrew. my email is I would love to help you. I may only be able to provide pictures. I am trying to locate drawings and such.. I look forward to hearing from you
Hi L Borg, I am wondering if you would happen to know where I could find a copy of the original blueprints for the El Rey in Salinas? I am working on possibly purchasing and refurbishing the theater and my contractor would like to find a copy of the plans. You can email me off list if you would like: Thanks!
Hello All.
My Uncle, Lawrence Borg Built the El Ray.
in 1928 he became half owner of the Crystal Theatre Lease and Business in Salinas, California.
View link
Under the Name of Crystal Theatre Company, , Inc., and was president of the corporation which in 1935 built the El Rey Theatre in Salinas.
View link
This corporation was dissolved in 1941, after which he was owner of half of the Crystal Theatre lease and business and El Ray Theatre property and business. In 1953 the Crystal Theatre property was sold, although he maintained a one-half interest in the El Rey Theatre until the close of his life.
Uncle Lawrence Also built the Alisal Theatre in Salinas in 1947
/theaters/7170/
and was part owner of that property with John Peters and Fox West Coast Theatres until he sold his interest in 1949.
Thanks Chuck! Your name will be displayed! It will be posted on 6/22
Hi John:
I don’t mind at all, as long as I get credited for the photos! I appreciate your asking first, and thank you for including them in your blog. Have a great day :)
Chuck, is it okay if I add your link above to my film blog. I was out in CA. just a week ago and came across the Cinema 1 theater (and the Fox California). I am looking to post some of my own photos on my blog next week and would like to add a link to your great photos.
Below is my blog
http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/
Update: I was fortunate enough to be invited to take a tour inside the El Rey/Cinema I on May 6, 2010. Complete photo journal with commentary can be found at the following link. Hope you like it!
http://tinyurl.com/elrey2010
The original 1935 owners of the El Rey were Lawrence Borg and John Peters. Later the house was taken over by Fox West Coast. In 1949, FWC departed and Borg and Peters resumed control of the house, according to Boxoffice of September 3 that year. Borg was noted as still being the operator of the El Rey at the time of his death, notice of which which was published in Boxoffice of November 13, 1954.
John Peters must have been related to William Peters, noted in multiple Boxoffice items of the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s as operator of the El Rey at Manteca. robertgippy’s comment of January 31 this year above says that the two El Rey theaters were built by the same family, and were of very similar design.
William Peters was the original owner of the Manteca house, built the year after the Salinas El Rey. Manteca’s El Rey was designed by architects Otto A. Deichmann and Mark T. Jorgensen, so it seems likely that the same architects designed the Salinas El Rey as well, though I’ve been unable to find a source confirming it.
That’s a good one.
Here’s a view of the El Rey in the 1950’s.
View link
Here is another 2009 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y73ut9g
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y2vu8cb
I have a color photo of the exterior of the El Rey, circa 1950. How can I upload the photo to the site?
Thanks,
Salinas Kid
The El Rey supposedly is an exact duplication of the El Rey in Manteca. The verticals are similar, with the word theater on top, and the box office entrance is identical. I’m very curious if the interior murals were the same. I had the pleasure of being in the Manteca El Rey, these theatres were built by the same family.
I used to go to the El Ray (Cinema 1) in 1986-87 when it was a dollar theater and saw KING LING LIVES. It was always showing horrid movies like that, but for a Hartnell College student on a budget you couldn’t beat the dollar admission. I always loved the interior and thought it was such a treasure. My friends and I always dreamed about going into The Fox Theatre, but it was always boarded up. The cineplex at the local Salinas mall is horrible, so it would be grand to have movies again in the El Ray (change the name back) and The Fox. My grandparents lived in Salinas, so I grew up visiting in the summers and Christmas and always rode my bike by those theaters to dream about going inside.
I also remember attending the “Planet of the Apes” marathon in the 70’s. They showed all 5 movies back to back in one day. It started at around 12:oo noon and we got out at around 11:00 pm. What a great memory. The El Rey is for sale now. Here is the current info from the real estate company handling this property;
Property Information
Address: 361-365 Main St, S.
Unit/Suite: Cinema
City, State: Salinas, CA
County: Monterey
X-Street: E.San Luis St
Major Use: Retail
Zone: Salinas – Downtown Salinas
Size & Price
Total SF: 6,324±
Sale Price: $695,000.00
Price/SF: $109.90
CAP Rate: 0.00
Year Built: 0
Parking Ratio: None
Comments
This is the original El Rey Theater at the entrance to Salinas' Oldtown. It is a unique one of a kind building in the heart of Salinas. It includes 6,324 s.f. mezzanine (Upper leverl seating) and 2 – 500 s.f. retail locations on either side of the theater. One of those units is currently rented.
For more information, contact:
NAI BT Commercial,
Monterey/Salinas
Daniel Vorhies
328-B Main Street
Suite
Salinas, CA 93901
831-755-1646
I actually worked at the El Rey in the summer of 1977 when it was a porn house. The money was good but the movies were pretty awful. I did however have the chance to witness several prominent Salinas citizens and politicians using the back rows of the theatre for elicit and at the time “closeted†activities. LOL… who knew? The interior was on it’s way down even though you could still see the beauty behind the age. The bathrooms had the original Art Deco tile colors with the 1†black & white mosaic floors. I would like to see the current condition of the theatre just to compare with my past memories.
Here is a 1950 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/32njko
Great story! Too bad the El Rey sits derelect and unused. The church that misguidedly painted out the magnificent murals took the heart and soul out of the El Rey.