California Theatre, The
Also known as: The California Theatre of the Performing Arts
Why it's listed
Opened in August 1928 by the Fox West Coast Theatre Corporation, this San Bernardino theatre on West Fourth Street was designed by John Paxton Perrine in a lavish Spanish Eclectic style. Built of steel-reinforced poured concrete with a stuccoed, symmetrical front facade, it seated 1,750 and offered plush seating and air-conditioning. Six former storefronts on the ground floor now serve the theatre, and the marquee and second-story balustrade have been replaced. Inside, a Wurlitzer Style-216 organ, Opus 1850, is one of only thirteen of its type built and the only one still in its original location. The theatre is significant for its role in entertainment during Hollywood's Golden Age, from 1928 to 1950. It hosted movie world premieres, including After the Thin Man, and screened films such as King Kong and The Wizard of Oz to test audience reaction. It also staged vaudeville and other live shows, making San Bernardino a major regional venue.
Significance in brief: The theatre is nominated under Criterion A as a center of entertainment and recreation for San Bernardino during Hollywood's Golden Age, from its 1928 opening to 1950. It hosted several movie world premieres and test screenings of films such as King Kong and The Wizard of Oz. Its Wurlitzer organ is the only Style-216 remaining in its original location.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09001116, listed December 22, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 562 W. 4th St., San Bernardino |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | December 22, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09001116 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Perrine, John Paxton (Architect) |
| Architectural style | 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Mission-Spanish Colonial (Eclectic); Spanish Eclectic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a theatre and music facility; the organ is only about 50% playable due to age and lack of maintenance. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.71898, -117.29401 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09001116.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5021138
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.