Mission Theatre

The former Mission Theatre still stands on what today is the pedestrianized Figueroa Street Mall in downtown Ventura, California. It was planned by Sheridan Newby and Neill Baker to the plans of theatre architect Louis Arthur Smith in 1927. The pair closed their Liberty Theatre to build the Mission Theatre. Upon excavating the Old Mission grounds for the project’s foundation, the workers found interesting Indian artifacts. The western “Don Mike” starring Fred Thomson opened the theatre with an Andy Gump comedy short, 5 acts of vaudeville and Oliver Reardon, Jr. at the Robert Morton pipe organ on August 2, 1927.

The Mission Theatre added sound in 1929 and was refreshed in 1939. The theatre discontinued operation on June 19, 1950 with showings of Jim Bannon in “The Fighting Redhead” and Harry Carey in “China’s Little Devils”.

In 1952, the theatre was used by the Youth of Christ for events and services. In 1953 to present, the theatre has been home to the Knights of Columbus Hall.

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