Liberty Airdome

Built in 1904 - Terminated with the advent of “talkies” and evaporating coolers.

Built by Dominique Bordagaray, who emigrated from St. Jean Pied de Port, Basses Pyrenees France. Soon after Coalinga began building he bought six lots on “C” St. and 5th Street, where he built a row of store buildings. In one of these he ran a French laundry. Some years later they were destroyed by fire and he built the “Liberty Airdome Theater”. Not to be confused with the “Liberty Theater” it stood in the spot later to become the J.C. Penney Co. building (Corner of Cedar Avenue and 5th Street (now Coalinga Plaza). The Airdome was an open air theater featuring silent films and stage productions, cigar stand for gentlemen and ice cream parlor with tables and chairs. People sat on slats (benches) to watch the productions. In the summer months they would throw sawdust over the floor and wet it down to keep it cool. The boy in the picture is Stanley Bordagaray, Dominique’s 2nd oldest son. Stanley was known as “Frenchie” an(d) went on to play baseball for the New York Yankees in the 1930’s and early-1940’s.

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