Sunshine Theater
502 Center Street,
Taft,
CA
93268
502 Center Street,
Taft,
CA
93268
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The Sunshine Theater was on the corner of the same block as the Hippodrome Theatre and according to the Bakersfield Californian, it opened in December of 1920. The C&C Theatre was previously at this location on the Sanborn Insurance Maps of 1917. In the 1920’s, the Sunshine Theater played host to many boxing matches, both professional and non-professional.
Other theatres advertised in Taft before 1919 were the Optic Theatre, formerly the Star Theatre, at 428 Center Street. There were open-air theatres at 418 Center Street and 516 Center Street, next to the Hippodrome Theatre. The Opera House was at 311 Center Street.
The Sunshine Theater was destroyed by fire on July 10, 1937, which also took out half of a block. The Californian noted that a survivor of the fire was a singed mother cat, whose five kittens were less fortunate (apparently, Mr. Mistoffelees was nowhere to be seen). The site today would be next to the IOOF Hall, which was built after the fire.
Contributed by
rpierce
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
This undated photo from the California State Library collection shows Center Street in Taft, Looking west across 5th Street. The C & C Theatre is on the corner, and it appears to be the same building that was later the Sunshine Theatre. On the right can be seen a collection of movie posters on display in front of the Sparber Building. This was 428 Center Street, the Star/Optic Theatre.