Burbank Cinema
552 S. Bascom Avenue,
San Jose,
CA
95128
552 S. Bascom Avenue,
San Jose,
CA
95128
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Operated by: Shaw Theatres
Architects: Alexander Aimwell Cantin, Alexander Mackenzie Cantin
Firms: Cantin and Cantin
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Burbank Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Burbank Theatre opened on December 5, 1951 with Doris Day in “On Moonlight Bay”. It was closed in 1954. It reopened on October 9, 1963 as the Burbank Cinema with Richard Harris in “This Sporting Life” and operated as an art house theatre until the late-1960’s. The Burbank Theatre became a revival house until 1973. Shaw Theaters relinquished operation in 1973.
The Burbank Theatre showed porn films from 1973 to 1977, became a revival house again in 1977-1978, then switched back to porn (triple bills) as the Burbank Cinema in 1978-2000.
The Burbank Cinema was shut down in March of 2000 as a public nuisance by the Santa Clara County DA.
Contributed by
scottfavareille
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Recent comments (view all 37 comments)
Thanks Amir.
A few 2012 photos can be seen here, here and here.
So does anyone know who currently owns the Burbank Theater?
Hi, I really love this theatre, and is in my 2 blocks neighborhood …I took the first photo series from my “Diva” project… I would like to take my second session inside theatre if is possible, please send to me a message if someone knows, how I to do this please…. here it is some of my photoproject with Laura San Pablo my singer friend : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270917439691865&set=a.270911863025756.62364.265549483561994&type=3&theater https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270917486358527&set=a.270911863025756.62364.265549483561994&type=3&permPage=1 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270917673025175&set=a.270911863025756.62364.265549483561994&type=3&permPage=1 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=270917556358520&set=a.270911863025756.62364.265549483561994&type=3&permPage=1
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.270911863025756.62364.265549483561994&type=3
Just sold Jan 13 2022 to True Investments for $1.6 million. This Art-Moderne neighborhood theatre opened in 1949 I think. The building for closed in 2019. I have no idea what the inside looks like at this time. The new owners may have no interest in turning It back into a theatre? The Preservation Action Council of San Jose will try to reach out to the new owners about future use. The former cinema is listed on the Santa Clara Country’s Historic Resources Inventory but legal protections on It’s demolition are very limited. Let’s hope they don’t tear the theatre down and build more condos.
Some more info here. Endnagered
Opened on September 5th, 1951. Grand opening ad posted. Theatre was boarded up in 2021 according to Google Street View.
The Burbank theatre closed or stopped its ads in 1954 and reopened as Burbank Cinema on October 9th, 1963. Another ad posted.
Here’s the scoop:
The Burbank is going the way of the Fine Arts/Mitchell Brothers in Berkeley…Condo City! 👿😭🤮
Except for the the marquee, ALL will be demolished!