Balboa Theatre

Balboa Theatre
868 4th Avenue, San Diego, CA
(619/858/760) 570–1100
Opened: March 28, 1924
Architect: William H. Wheeler
Capacity: 1,339
www.sdbalboa.org

Click here to view Balboa Theatre Video - Courtesy of The Balboa Theatre Foundation

Named for the Spanish explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa—the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean in 1513—the Balboa Theatre thrived from its opening in 1924 through 1930, and hosted nationally recognized vaudeville acts, including the Sunkist Beauties and Fanchon & Marco, who performed on opening night. Some of the biggest movie stars of the time also appeared at the theatre, making it the centerpiece of local culture and entertainment.

The 1,534-seat theatre was built for $800,000 by the Balboa Building Company, with William Wheeler serving as the design architect. The theatre's interior reflects 1920s design sensibilities, blending Mediterranean Classicism with Moorish and Spanish Revival styles. One of the Balboa Theatre's unique features was its two elevated, recessed waterfalls flanking either side of the proscenium opening. The auditorium chamber was described as a "glittering jewel box," because of substantial use of gold metallic wall paint. The ceiling includes ornate and gilded plaster grillwork that funnels sound throughout the building. One of the theatre's unique performance-related design features is an oversized orchestra pit that can accommodate 30 to 40 pieces with easy access. Due to the theatre's design and finishes, it possess excellent acoustical qualities for live, nonamplified performances.

In 1930, the theatre was renamed El Teatro Balboa and underwent a modest renovation that enhanced the Spanish Revival architectural features and added a neon marquee. El Teatro Balboa showed Spanish-language cinema and stage shows until the early 1940s, when the U.S. Navy appropriated the office space to house sailors during WWII. The theatre was almost demolished in 1959 to accommodate a parking lot, but was spared by Russo Enterprises, which bought the building and operated it as an action-movie venue.

The City of San Diego placed the theatre on the local Register of Historical Places in 1972, and in 1985, the Centre City Development Corporation (CCDC), the City's downtown redevelopment agency, acquired the property by eminent domain. In 1992, the Balboa Theatre Foundation successfully placed the theatre on the National Register of Historic Places. After numerous efforts over the past 18 years to privately renovate and reopen the Balboa Theatre, CCDC has committed to retaining this venue as a public asset and will restore it using the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.

In 2007, THE HISTORIC BALBOA THEATRE will reopen as a performing-arts venue designed to house diverse programs of local, national and international performances, presentations, and community, corporate and convention gatherings.

Contact CCDC at (619) 533-7163 or bosse@ccdc.com

Mission

To transform the Balboa Theatre into a contemporary performing arts venue treasured by patrons, producers, presenters, performers and San Diego's regional community, while contributing to redevelopment and the advancement of a vital downtown theatre district.

Celebrating its rich history, the Balboa Theatre will be restored in accordance with a local application of the Secretary of the Interior's standards for historic preservation. Visitors will be inspired by its beauty, comfort, flexibility and functionality. The Balboa Theatre's transformation will result in a well-equipped, fully functioning venue to effectively and efficiently house diverse programs of local, national and international performances, cinema screenings, and community, corporate and convention gatherings.

For music, dance, film, theatre or formal gatherings, the historic Balboa Theatre will once again become a venue of preference.

Fun Facts

• The Balboa once hosted ice skating exhibits by creating a portable sheet of ice on the stage.
• A traveling circus performed at the Balboa, shocking guests by bringing elephants on stage.
• During World War II, the U.S. Navy used the Balboa's office space to house sailors.
• The Balboa was built with 1,513 seats to commemorate the year Vasco Nuñez de Balboa reached San Diego.
• The Balboa featured two working waterfalls on either side of the stage, which will be rehabilitated.

Restoration Timeline

• OCTOBER 2002 - CCDC Board authorizes the rehabilitation of the historic Balboa Theatre.
• MAY 2003 - Owner's representative was selected to lead the project team.
• AUGUST 2003 - CCDC hires Westlake Reed Leskosky as the project architect and the design phase begins.
• APRIL 2005 - Selective demolition and abatement-construction officially begin.
• JULY 2005 - Seismic retrofit strengthens the Balboa Theatre's foundation.
• JUNE 2006 - Renovation and restoration begin.
• JANUARY 2008 - The Balboa reopens!