T & D Theatre
621-623 12th Street,
Paso Robles,
CA
93446
621-623 12th Street,
Paso Robles,
CA
93446
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, T & D Jr. Enterprises
Architects: Albert H. Larsen
Styles: Spanish Colonial
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One of many T & D Theatres which once existed in California, this central coast house was opened in November 1930. It was designed by San Francisco architect Albert H. Larsen. It was closed by Fox Theatres chain in 1955, and demolished in February 1957.
Contributed by
Joe Vogel
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The December 24, 1955, issue of Boxoffice said that Fox West Coast was planning a $100,000 remodeling of the T&D which would make it one of the most luxurious theaters in the region, and that the Hi-Ho Theatre would be reconditioned and serve as the town’s theater until the remodeling was completed. But the planned renovation of the T&D was never carried out.
Instead, it looks like the T&D was shut down in 1957. The January 19 issue of Boxoffice that year said the Fox West Coast had applied for permits to demolish the auditorium of the T&D Theatre and convert its lobby into retail space.
The chain then renamed its Hi-Ho Theatre the Fox Theatre later that year. I’ve found no later mentions of the T&D in Boxoffice, but the former Hi-Ho continued operating as the Fox for many years.
Paso Robles Press 26.Sept.1929 Plans For New Theater Drawn. Details call for $165,000 construction. Store, offices, apartments included in plans.
29.May.1930 Theater Building To Start Next Week. Revised Cost $85,000. Stores to be added as needed. To be finest structure of kind in county. Of Spanish style, the theater will have one of the most imposing lobbies in Central California. From 12th Street the lobby will extend 53 feet and be 30 feet wide. The auditorium proper will be 73 by 160 feet.
6.Nov.1930 Thousands Join in Welcoming Theater. “Up the River” shown with Humphrey Bogart, Clare Luce, Warren Hymer, William Collier, Sr., Joan “Cherie” Lawes and Spencer Tracy making his screen debut.
27.Sept.1946 T&D Theater Installs System To Kill Germs…a system of ultraviolet ray fixtures installed, Al Stanford, manager, has announced.
9.Dec.1955 Hi-Ho Theatre To Be Re-Opened. Temporary closing of the T&D Theatre for a $100,000 remodeling program…was announced today by William H. Thedford, northern California division manager for Fox-West Coast Theatre Corporation. To accomodate local theatre-goers during the time the T and D must be closed, the company is reconditioning the Hi-Ho Theatre on north Spring street and all films scheduled for the T and D will be shown there. It will take about two weeks to re-equip the Hi-Ho with new seats, sound equipment and other facilities, but the company plans the reopening by Christmas. Meanwhile, the T and D will close after the Saturday night performance…(Note: The T&D never reopened.)
28.Dec.1956 Crocker-Anglo Bank Continues “Site Search.” Among buildings under consideration are the old Post Office and the T & D Theatre, on 12th Street.
27.Jan.1957 Crocker-Anglo To Make Site-Decision Jan. 8… the Old Post Office building, on 12th Street, probably will be selected.
25.Feb.1957 Monday (Front page photo) BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE- Large section of roof of T & D Theatre crashed to floor of auditorium, Friday night, minutes after wrecking crew had left the building. Workers said today that rains had probably allowed walls to “lean outward,” allowing huge beams to drop. Weakened walls are creating additional hazard for members of the wrecking crew…
Link to Paso Robles Historic Photos: http://www.pasoroblesdowntown.org/photo_gallery.htm Photo #2/18 is also on page 84 in the Arcadia Publishing book “Images of America, Paso Robles,” by Hobbs and Radford of the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum. The caption says that this photo was in 1946. “Time of Their Lives” starred Bud Abbot, Lou Costello and Marjorie Reynolds.
The photo page lostmemory linked to is gone, but it might have been this web page that has two photos of the T&D Theatre(click thumbnails.) Another small photo can be seen on this page.