Century 23
3164 Olsen Drive,
San Jose,
CA
95117
3164 Olsen Drive,
San Jose,
CA
95117
6 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Syufy Enterprises
Architects: Vincent G. Raney
Previous Names: Winchester 23
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
408.984.5610
Nearby Theaters
The Century 23 opened as a companion to the wildly successful Century 21 and Century 22 theatres that stood across the small side street that is Olsen Drive. March 14, 1967 marked the theatre’s debut feature “The Sand Pebbles” starring Steve McQueen.
This dome theatre was twinned on June 27, 1973 when a wall was built straight down its center creating two somewhat awkward theatres.
The theatre was remodelled again in the mid-1990’s to reposition the seats and screens to improve the site lines. The theatre also received a new decor of all red features: seats, carpet, curtains, restrooms and neon.
When Century Theatres was sold to Cinemark in 2006 this theatre was excluded from the sale. Though the signage remains unchanged as Century 23 it was renamed Winchester 23 in all media.
The Century 21, 22, 23 and 24 have often been referred to as “The Block” by those that have worked at any of these or the nearby Century Theatres. It was closed in March 2014. It was demolished in 2019.
Contributed by
Scott neff
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
in the early 1980’s, I worked for Syufy as an Assistant Manager at Century Almaden (five-house theatre at Blossom Hill Rd and Almaden Expressway) and help out occasionally on the Big Block, mostly for Ron Giffen at Century 23 or Bill Tannehill at Century 21. I met Ray Syufy Sr. once when he came to Century Almaden to decide whether to split the center big house in two, but he never did. Sometime later while working the door at Century 23 a younger man walked up and said he was Ray Syufy and he wanted to see the manager. I chuckled, since I had already met Ray Syufy. I went to the office and told Ron Giffen some guy said he was Ray Syufy and wanted to see him. Ron exclaimed, “That could be Ray Syufy, Jr.!” I was mortified.
Where Did my friend Mr. Bill Williams go after the Century 22 Closed?
There is a large preservation movement… The City of San Jose has just granted the Century 21 City Landmark status— it doesn’t remove the threat of demolition, but it makes it tougher to do. The National Register of Historic Places is determining whether or not it will be added to the register… the state can also do this.
We hope the developers of the property will see the value in a restored movie house, possibly with Stargazer’s from CO or a similar company.
PLEASE help us save the Century 21! Sign the petition, pass it along to all of your friends— there’s strength in numbers! If anyone has any Hollywood connections— please put them in contact with us! http://www.change.org/petitions/save-the-winchester-domes
or on Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/savedome
Hi, I’m the same guy who reported on the Century 22 being demolished. I revisited the theaters again 2 weeks ago, and it looks like they finally also tore down the 23. Like the 22, you might as well change the status for this one to Demolished. They also tore down the Flames coffee shop as well.
Is the sign still there?
Sign was there last time I checked, but it should be coming down soon. Shame, I remember them saying somewhere that the 22 could’ve been spared, and I honestly wish it did. They could’ve just built the parking structure where the 23 was.
How did they get the letters and numbers on and off that high marquee?
Each tier has a catwalk.
Grand opening ad posted.
Two screens on June 27th, 1973. Another ad posted.