bringing filmed entertainment to Ukiah since the 1940s
years. It was designed by William B. David for Redwood Theatres and was
built on the site of the Ukiah Milling Company (the mill stones can been seen
at the Mendocino County Museum in Willits).
The facade is topped with a wonderful tower and there is a great curve effect
in the cornice. Up stairs originally housed an apartment and had a long set of
green concrete stairs that ran along the south wall of the building. There is
also a small store space to the north of the building that for many years
housed a beauty salon.
In the 1970s the original single screen auditorium was gutted and two screens
were built within it's shell. All that was kept of the original design were the
chrome handrails and concrete steps, which formed the raised seating in the
back of the auditorium. Also in the '70s, an addition was built to the south of
the theatre which houses two smaller screens. All four of the auditoriums had
curtains that would rise before the start of each movie. Above the doors for
each screen a small marquee was added, which were replaced a few years
ago by ones that are more modern in design.
A new men's restroom was built in the 1980s and the women's was enlarged.
In the 1990s the owners decided to add an additional 2 screens. Most of the
original round lobby, which had survived for 50 years, was demolished and
replaced by a mostly rectangular room. The column that was originally in the
middle of the lobby was split into two pieces and placed on either side of the
new concession stand. The office space was enlarged into the lobby area. All
that remains of the original lobby is the poster box and a small section of
curved wall.
Moviegoers originally entered a small outer lobby before entering the inner
lobby. The outer lobby was demolished, and the doors moved closer to the
street, to allow room for the larger concession stand and the doors for the
two newest screens. The light green tile was replaced by navy blue tile.
The vertical marquee has only been slight altered over the years. The space
where the red plastic letter once hung has been replaced so that flat, clear
plastic with back lettering can be used. Also, the number 6 was added to the
east corner of the sign. Recently the large letters were removed and restored.
The sign looks better than it has in decades.
In 2004 the Ukiah Theatre underwent a massive overhaul. Stadium seating
replaced the terrible seats that were installed in the '70s. Sadly, the chrome
handrails and raised concrete steps of the original auditorium were removed
to accommodate the new seating. The hallway that would have originally been
the back section of the auditorium has been covered in sheets of wood, the
mouldings removed. The lobby poster box (one of the few remaining interior
features) has been covered up for some unknown reason. The signs that were
located on the ceiling at the entrances to the rest rooms have also been
replaced, with signs that are too big and out of place. The 2 halves of the
column that was split in 2 back in the 90s have had false wood pieces added
to them.
In 2004, after the remodeling was complete, the Theatre was sold to Regal
Entertainment Group, the largest exhibitor of motion pictures in the word.
They own, Regal Cinemas, United Artist Theatres, and Edwards Theatres.
