Ritz Theatre

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Uploaded on: May 28, 2021

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On May 16, 1941, the Ritz Theatre was remodeled. The Ritz then reopened with a Warner Bros double feature Bette Davis and George Brent in “The Great Lie” and Humphrey Bogart in “The Wagons Roll At Night”, since the Ritz at the time was still going strong with the popular operation of Warner Bros which it enters its 10th anniversary as a Warner Bros theater a year prior to its remodeling.

Some facts of the remodel goes as follows: An unusual feature is the presentation of 2 large murals, painted in darkness under fluorescent lights by Mortimer S. Peebles of Long Beach, who traveled 70 miles from there to San Bernardino who have it installed. With the aid of special illuminating effects, the scenes assume 3-D proportions and are said to be the only ones of the kind in a section, only at the Ritz of the state of California. A long, streamlined sweep of the auditorium presenting an unusual appearance in scope and visionary advantages, including an uninterrupted view of the proscenium and the mammoth screen is assured from any seat. Some other treatments for the absorptions of foreign sound and noise harmonizes with illumination, and newly installed air-condition as it was functioned as an important mechanical device. Resident Manager John Robinson, took extreme care in the selection of the inaugural bill of fare in order that the features that display there including the sound reproducing and projection devices installed above at the mammoth projection booth.

Carl J. Walker, District Manager for Warner Bros. made an announcement that ordering to accommodate the large number of people who attended the theatre on its reopening, his organization has decided to present a continuous performance beginning at 6:30 PM, with the box office opening 30 minutes prior.

The painting was done by the H. S. Rawlings General Painting Company. The Halsey Machine Mfg. Company of San Bernardino did the furnished materials. The Hammond Lumber Company furnished the lumber and mill work, and most of the furnishing was done by the Transit Mix Concrete Company of San Bernardino, Box 249.