VACAVILLE’S HISTORIC THEATER READY FOR NEW OWNERSHIP, ERA
Historic theaters provide the cultural timeline for towns across America. Built to house live theater stages for touring vaudeville and musical acts in the first quarter of the 20th Century, the boards were converted to movie houses and then often reimagined as concert stages. The marquee anchored the downtown, physically ascending above the town’s facades, the communication hub from which theatergoers gathered the news, caught a first look at Bogart and Bergman, or heard a rising band that would become a sensation.
Many of these auditoriums fell on hard times at some point in their tenure, falling into disrepair if not eventually going dark. While some have remained shuttered, other screens have been gloriously restored, candy concessions converted to stylish adult lounges, with playbills concocted like a fine cocktail to include indie rock bands, nostalgic films and every player in between.
Once laid fallow, numerous marquees often light up with events 300 or more nights a year. While major renovations often accompany purchasing such a space, claiming a turnkey historical theater provides the opportunity to shape a medium sized city’s culture. Vacaville’s Theatre DeVille presents this exact opportunity, an updated environment with business potential that leaps off the screen.
Examples of this economic opportunity via a restored theater could fill a multiplex. Oakland’s Paramount Theatre was instrumental in that city’s cultural renaissance. Fresno has the Tower Theatre and Davis, the Davis Theater. For each, the successful plot came from creating a mixed-arts venue where a stand-up comedy star might follow neo-circus performance and then be followed by a Nashville band. The Theatre DeVille is poised to glean the exact same box office success in Vacaville.
The 10,778-ft2 theater comes fully loaded with modern high tech equipment, with nearly $400,000 in audio, lights, and acoustic spent, allowing for an efficient transition from movie and live theater productions to a medium-sized concert facility. The venue can hold up to 725 people, the mixed-use floor plan combines ample open floor space with 270 anchored theater seats. More details here!
No need for costly refurbishment, the Deville’s meticulous upgrades, fully code compliant, include complete catering equipment. Unlike many 1920’s theaters, the Deville’s classic and clean exposed beam renovations are unhampered by outdated surprises such as overtaxed wiring and outdated electronics. It should be noted the full liquor license is also up to date.
It may sound paradoxical, but the contemporary historical theater experience has emerged as one of the most popular venues in a nightlife scene smitten with speakeasies, mixologists and nostalgic lounges. Theatergoers now expect a total evening experience within a single space, bistro style appetizers or dinner complemented by an après concert cocktail. Add in an espresso and dessert at intermission and you get the idea.
The broadening of our media choices across so many platforms foreshadowed the successes of multi-experience historic theaters from Portland, Maine’s State Theatre to San Diego’s Balboa. These medium-sized spaces offer ideal venues for the myriad entertainers who draw somewhere between saloon and arena-sized audiences, the central core of American and international talent.
Like all grand theaters, these walls possess plenty of stories. Built by W.J. Clark in 1926, the auditorium housed a symphony organ replete with 600 pipes that could replicate drums, chimes and even a xylophone. In 1929, Vacaville residents took a respite from the Great Depression watching the “talkie” debut, “Weary River.”
Kids filled the matinees to catch “Flash Gordon” and other serial thrillers in the 30’s, Walt Disney soon followed. Ownership changes, limited renovations, occasional closures and other travails of most historic theaters persisted until new management completely modernized the theater beginning in 2012.
The Theatre DeVille awaits another exciting new era in 2017. Ideally poised to reclaim its place as Vacaville icon, the theater carries huge potential to illuminate its marquee 6-7 nights a week. Whether showcasing local talent or hosting a new film or music festival, there’s no limit to role this new theater can perform in Vacaville’s cultural landscape.