Colusa Theatre

513 Market Street,
Colusa, CA 95932

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Additional Info

Functions: Church

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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News About This Theater

Colusa Theatre

The Colusa Theatre opened on May 15, 1931 with Jack Oakie in “The Dude Ranch”. It was located in premises which had previously been the Sargent Mercantile Building. The conversion was carried out to the plans of owner Ned Steele. It was severely damaged by a fire in October 1946 and was renovated in August 1947. It continued until closure came in 1995. Renovation work began in 1996 and it reopened soon after.

This rather boxy facade has a very nice marquee which features interesting neon on the bottom. Curiously, it displays no name on the outside. It appears that there were signs at either end. The entire street level is faced with fancy tiles. The Colusa Theatre was closed March 6, 2017. By August 1922 it had become a Spanish church.

Contributed by Seth Gaines

Recent comments (view all 16 comments)

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 26, 2012 at 3:13 pm

A 2010 photo can be seen here.

Michael Furlinger
Michael Furlinger on September 16, 2012 at 12:20 am

Theater now for sale $350,000

Dramatrauma
Dramatrauma on November 13, 2013 at 1:57 pm

The Colusa is having a “Digital or Die” campaign on Kickstarter. Without an upgrade to digital projection the Colusa could close.Donate Today! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/174769538/digital-projector-for-the-colusa-theatre?ref=category

JayHouse
JayHouse on November 13, 2013 at 2:52 pm

I contributed and will put it on the Jay House Facebook page. If you need a place to put someone up for a live fundraiser or an item for an auction, I’ll be happy to donate nights at Jay House vacation rental. -Connie

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 12, 2017 at 7:32 pm

The Colusa Theatre closed March 6th, 2017, and appears to be for sale. Website below. 1 exterior photo and 1 auditorium photo added credit Katherine Mixie Kubicekā€Ž. Thanks For The Memories & For Sale Or Lease on the marquee.

http://www.colusamovies.com/

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on April 19, 2017 at 5:36 pm

The theatre reopened well before 2004. Renovation work began in 1996 and I think it reopened in late 1996 or early 1997… I can’t remember, it’s such a blur. Sad to see it close, I helped a little bit with the renovation in 1996.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on April 19, 2017 at 5:37 pm

Oh — and there used to be a blade sign down the front but it was knocked out in a storm a LOOOONG time ago (60’s? sooner?)

MichaelKilgore
MichaelKilgore on October 9, 2021 at 10:38 am

Motion Picture Herald, Jan. 12, 1952: “The Ned C. Steele father-and-son partnership will be dissolved with the 314-seat Colusa at Williams being taken over by Ned, Sr., and the Sun-Down drive-in, there, going to Jr.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 24, 2024 at 8:57 pm

The official web site link for this closed theater is of course dead and can be taken down. The Colusa Theatre in Williams mentioned in the previous comment by MichaelKilgore is a different house, and shared this theater’s name because both towns are in Colusa County. It is not yet listed at Cinema Treasures, though the drive-in there is.

Ron Pierce
Ron Pierce on December 3, 2024 at 1:57 am

News Clipping in photo section: Owner Ned Steele served as the architect and designed the theater himself

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