Park Theatre
1275 El Camino Real,
Menlo Park,
CA
94025
1275 El Camino Real,
Menlo Park,
CA
94025
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Landmark Theatres (USA)
Architects: Otto A. Deichmann
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Nov 21, 2007 — Plans to purchase and restore the Park Theater fall through
- Oct 3, 2007 — Historic theater's restoration plan faces final hurdles
Built in 1947, The Park Theatre is located between Oak Grove and Val Pariso in lovely Downtown Menlo Park. Like the nearby Guild Theatre, the Park Theatre is a short drive north of the Stanford Shopping Center. In the early days of the Park Theatre, live vaudeville-style stage plays abounded.
Eventually converted to a movie theatre, the theatre hosted the Bay Area’s premiere of “Singin' in the Rain” in 1952. Since this time, the Park Theatre has retained its classic and elegant atmosphere, and in 1998 it was presented with a plaque for its contribution to historical preservation.
Between 1989 and 2002, Landmark Theatres operated the theater and featured the finest in independent film and foreign language cinema.
Recently, however, the theater closed and the property was put up for sale. Additionally, the letters and neon tubing have been removed from the theater’s marquee. The Park Theatre was demolished in April 2014.
Contributed by
Michael Collier, Donald John Long
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
Try it again, it’s working for me.
Yes, it looks good now; however, note that the Daily News likely won’t keep the article at this url for very long, so you might want to provide a brief summary of its content here.
The August 24, 1946, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that the Park Theatre was under construction and expected to open in November that year. It was designed by San Francisco architect O.A. Deichmann (Otto Deichmann.) He also designed the Del Rio Theatre in Riverbank, California.
The March 22, 1947, issue of Boxoffice said: “Bob McNeil of Golden State gave a gala reception at his home last week following the opening of the Park Theatre at Menlo Park. Looks like the opening was a bit behind schedule.
I forgot to close my quotes. The last sentence in that comment wasn’t in the Boxoffice item.
Nice phots Lost Memory.
I was working here when the theatre was shut down. It was a sad day for everyone. The owner tore out the sign illegally because Menlo Park had already deemed it as historical landmark. I remember that day too cause I was managing the Guild and another manager called me to tell me she was watching a wrecking crew take the sign apart and she wanted me to do something. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. If I was smart I woulda walked right over and made some BS up like I was with the city attorney’s office. Of course, he only got a slap on the wrist for that. Luckily I got some beautiful Super 8 footage of the animated marquee before it came down.
To; all this weekend they are having a demo sale they are tearing the building down, they have the Box office Complete Free Standing and all the seats ,the projectors and all booth equiptment, candy counters,Popcorn Machine, front doors, glass blocks in lobby, marquee letters and the P A R K from the vertical Sign , also lighted Poster Cases. The sale is THIS Sat And Sun 11/02-11/03 9 am to 4 pm , Bring Flashlight it is dark in there
The Park has been completely demolished. I went to the demolition sale. A friend of mine and I bought all four of the metal sign fixtures which one held etched glass signs for the restrooms and the doors leading to the auditorium. Our plans are to restore these sign housings and I will create new etched glass, and these will be reused in another historic theatre we have in mind. Another friend of mine bought a pair of freestanding display frames which were stored in an alcove off to the side of the auditorium. This same friend tried to buy a pair of the original entry doors, but the sellers would not budge on price.
Gary it’s good to hear you went to the Demo Sale and bought some of the items, when i posted it on here I didn’t think anyone went! So it was great news to my ears that you did!
I only went to this heater one time, but I drove up from Campbell in the mid-90s, in order to see the Ian McKellan version of “Rcihard III,” set in a 1930s, fascist Britain. Totally worth it!