Majestic Ventura Theatre
26 S. Chestnut Street,
Ventura,
CA
93001
26 S. Chestnut Street,
Ventura,
CA
93001
3 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
The Majestic Ventura Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Circuit, Principal Theaters Corp. of America, Pussycat Theatres
Architects: Lewis Arthur Smith
Functions: Concerts
Styles: Mission Revival
Previous Names: New Ventura Theatre, Ventura Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
805.653.0721
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 20, 2009 — Ventura Film Festival details
The New Ventura Theatre opened in August 1928. On July 11, 1973 it reopened after being taken over by the Pussycat Theatres chain, screening adult movies. After decades of showing movies, the Ventura Theatre closed and it was converted into a concert venue.
The seats on the main floor have been removed, and only the balcony seats remain in place. There is a bar in the rear of the main floor.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
I noticed that photo before, Ken, and it’s not the Ventura Theatre. I think it might have been an older theater called the Mission. According to a couple of cards in the California Index, the Mission Theatre in Ventura was being operated by a woman named Jenne Dodge as late as 1939, and she had been running it for several years at that time.
My mom lived in Ventura in the late 1920s and remembers going to the movies there, but doesn’t recall the name of the theater and can’t recall much about it, other than that it was a fairly small place in an older building, with a small candy shop next door. She doesn’t even remember which street it was on. If she still had good enough eyesight I could show her the photo and she might recognize it, but she can barely see now.
I didn’t think the theater was in LA, as Life alleged. It wouldn’t make sense to tell someone to go to Ventura if they were somewhere in Los Angeles. Thanks for the information.
This is the old American Theatre, 530 E Main St. Ventura. It was located just a half block from the Ventura Theatre, which is around the corner on Chestnut street. It was a venue for the silent films in the 20’s and was owned by Chas. B Corcoran who built the Ventura Theatre at the end of that era. The building was made over into the County Stationers store and then became Bonnie’s, which burned down and was rebuilt not too long ago. Right now it is empty.
Here is a December 1975 ad from the Oxnard Press Courier:
http://tinyurl.com/dkskja
Current photo:
View link
Entrance & Ticket Kiosk:
View link
Word is that they’re going to start showing movies again, possibly as early as this summer, with digital projection.
They’re now shooting for a May-June debut, with film festivals, local community artists and connections with Los Angeles indie exhibitors also taking place.
The Ventura Film Festival shows films there every year.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/268724_10150708470975437_124867670436_19637106_957537_n.jpg
Held an reopening on July 11th, 1973 under Pussycat theatres management.