Unique Theatre
28 E. Santa Clara Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
28 E. Santa Clara Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
1 person
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The Unique Theatre was opened by Sid Grauman on February 5, 1903. He was then twenty years old. The theatre was used for vaudeville and silent films. Reportedly the ticket taker and custodian was Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. The Unique Theatre was destroyed after the 1906 earthquake.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
It was the 1906 earthquake which destroyed this theater. The roof literally caved-in. The only photo I have ever seen of this theater is a shot taken from across the street immediately following the ‘quake, showing the damage. Most of the facade had crumbled forward, and the roof trusses, more or less as a unit, fell-in along one side.
Here is a photo dated 1906 from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/5qbkjv
The exact location of this theatre was on Santa Clara Street, right where that street’s facade of the old c. 1924 Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) tower stands. This can be proven by the fact that the facade visible to the Left of the theatre facade in the oft-published post-earthquake photo of 1906 is a building that stands today, right next to the Bank of Italy tower.
Opened on February 5th, 1903. Grand opening ad posted.