United Artists Theatre
263 S. 1st Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
263 S. 1st Street,
San Jose,
CA
95113
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Golden State Theater & Realty Corp., United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: William Binder, Ernest Curtis, William Day, Charles Peter Weeks
Firms: Binder & Curtis, Weeks and Day
Styles: Art Deco, Spanish Gothic
Previous Names: Hippodrome Theatre, American Theatre, State Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Hippodrome Theatre was opened March 1, 1919 with Bessie Barriscale in “Two-Ton Betty” plus 6-acts of vaudeville on the stage. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 4 ranks organ. It was originally designed in a Spanish Gothic hybrid style in a collaboration of local architects Binder & Curtis with San Francisco architects Weeks & Day. The tall narrow facade with spindly columns and tracery would find even better interpretation several years later in Weeks & Day’s California (Fox) Theatre, just down the street.
On September 22, 1922 it was renamed American Theatre, but from June 28, 1938 it spent many years (in an Art Deco reincarnation) as the State Theatre. It was finally the UA Theatre, with a towering neon vertical sign much like that of several other UA houses, most notably the one in Berkeley.
The theatre was entered through a long narrow lobby structure, with the auditorium occupying a large plot of ground in the center of the block. The UA was demolished as part of downtown redevelopment, and though the Binder & Curtis-designed Montgomery Hotel adjacent is undergoing restoration, the site of the UA Theatre has sat empty for over twenty years.
Contributed by
Gary Parks
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
I should note that the article I cited in my previous comment is in the December, 1919, issue of The Architect & Engineer, not the October issue. Here’s a direct link. Scroll up one page for a photo of the facade. Four interior photos are farther down, following the article text.
I’m trying to confirm a Ted Healy (The founder of the Three Stooges) appearance (possibly under his birth name of Ernest, or Lee, Nash) in a show titled “Just a Laugh” on July 7, 1920. Please email me at Thanks, Frank Reighter
I used to change the marquee on this theater. I got $7.00 each time I did it. That was big money back then but then I had to get up this big ladder. I don’t know how I did it but I did. It was fun. That was back when I was 18.
Wow jon62, I remember back then that was a huge Marquee. Maybe it was you I saw up there from time to time and said I hope he knows what he is doing. lol
Late `40’s photo as the State Theatre added courtesy of Harold Hal Burks. State blade sign is visible on the left.
I had some fun times working there.. I was able to buy some seats when they started to close down..sad time but too expensive to operate I guess…i only made $1.35 an hour😀
Grand opening ad for the Hippodrome posted.
Reopened as American on September 22nd, 1922, as it became part of the Beatty’s theatre chain which included the Jose and Liberty theatres. Grand opening ad posted.
Renamed State on June 28th, 1938, with little fanfare. Ad posted.
It reopened as UA theatre on November 14th, 1951, with a benefit performance and to the public the next day. Grand opening ad posted.