The nearly 100-year-old California Theater in San Bernardino has closed for a $6.8 million renovation with an expected reopening this fall, the city announced Monday.
The city-owned 1,700-seat theater is home to the San Bernardino Symphony and hosts concerts and national tours of Broadway productions.
“The California Theatre is well known as a major landmark for visitors coming to downtown San Bernardino,” Deputy Director of Public Works Azzam Jabsheh said in a statement. “The upgrades being planned are a great investment for the city.”
The planned renovation includes upgrades to the theatrical sound system, lighting, curtain and mechanical controls. New heating and air conditioning systems and carpeting, interior and exterior paint, enhanced ADA compliance, architectural finishes and repairs, refinishing the auditorium floor and upgrades to the building’s front facade.
Phase 1 of the full restoration plan was the theater’s Wurlitzer Style 216 pipe organ that completed earlier this year, officials said. Originally installed when the Theater first opened, it is one of only a few Wurlitzer organs remaining in the world.
“Through careful restoration and the use of vintage parts, the Herman Organ Company of Baldwin Park was able to bring the organ’s console back to its 1928 factory appearance, honoring its historical significance while staying true to preserving the original craftsmanship,” according to a city statement.
Funding for the project is from city Measure S funds, Cultural Development Department funds and a $2.5 million grant from the California Arts Council, officials said.
The theater was built in 1928 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Earlier this year Inland Empire Magazine gave it best-performing-arts-venue honors.
Work on the project is by Tilden Coil Constructors Inc.
The theater closed to the public on June 2 and is expected to reopen in early October, officials said.
