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User:Mliu92/sandbox/Century Theatre Domes (San Jose)

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Century 21 Theatres
The Domes
Century 21 Theatre
Century 21 is the oldest theatre of the three and retains its original single-screen design.
Century 21 Theatres is located in San Jose, California
Century 21 Theatres
Century 21 Theatres
Location of the Century 21-22-23 Theatre complex in San José
Full nameThe Winchester Theaters
Address
  • (Century 21) 3161 Olsen Dr
  • (Century 22) 3162 Olin Ave
  • (Century 23) 3164 Olsen Dr
  • San José, CA 95117
Coordinates37°19′09″N 121°57′09″W / 37.31917°N 121.95250°W / 37.31917; -121.95250
Public transit
OwnerSyufy Enterprises (1964-2014) (as Century Theaters 1964-2006)
OperatorSyufy Enterprises
TypeTheatre
Genre(s)motion pictures
Capacity
  • 950 (21)
  • 1,900 (22)
  • 950 (23)
Construction
Opened
  • Century 21: 24 November 1964 (1964-11-24)[1]
  • Century 22: March 1966
  • Century 23: 1967
RenovatedCentury 23: 17 June 1973 (screen divided)
ExpandedCentury 22: 197x (satellite domes)
Closed30 March 2014 (2014-03-30)
ArchitectVincent G. Raney
Main contractors
Century 21 Theater
NRHP reference No.DO_14000306

The Century Theatre Domes are a set of three domed movie theatres in San Jose, each originally built as single-screen auditoriums on land controlled by the Winchester Mystery House. They were designed by architect Vincent Raney; the first dome, Century 21, opened in 1964 as the first Century-branded theatre of the Century Theatres chain. The dome design of Century 21 was repeated throughout the Bay Area (including two neighboring sister domes, Century 22 and 23 in 1966 and 1967, respectively) and northern California in other Century-branded theatres. The dome design and name were part of a deliberate marketing tactic meant to evoke the future.

The three Century domes were not included as part of the 2006 sale of the Century chain to Cinemark Theatres, and they were operated by the original owners of Century Theatres, Syufy Enterprises, under the new moniker Winchester Theaters until the original 50-year property lease expired in 2014. The current owners of the land, Federal Realty, filed for a special use permit in 2013 to demolish all three domes, possibly to free land to expand the neighboring Santana Row shopping and residential development.

Since Century 21 has retained its original single-screen design, it was declared eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in June 2014, following the recommendation of xyz org. A grassroots organization, Save the Domes, has been organized to preserve the iconic dome theaters.

History edit

For the first Syufy Cinerama theatre, Syufy chose the name Century 21 to evoke the future. Vincent Raney had been hired by Syufy on prior theatre projects, but drew his inspiration from the Cinerama Dome Theatre in Los Angeles for the design of the San Jose theatre. The original roof used contrasting shingles to create a starburst motif

Vincent Raney married one of the daughters of the then-owners (Browns) of the Winchester House property and was likely instrumental in convincing them to lease the land to Syufy for use as a movie theater.

Michelle Bevis authored at least two letters on behalf of the Raney and Farris families opposing historic status, citing the declining competitiveness of a single-screen movie theater and changing viewing habits. It should be noted that since the land is still privately owned, the designation as a historic landmark does not preclude private use demolition.

Opened November 1964 screening It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

  • July 25, 2013: special use permit filed to demolish
  • January 9, 2014: historic landmarks commission nominated it as a city landmark.
  • March 18, 2014: proceed with city landmark designation process based on NRHP application info.
  • March 30, 2014: last picture show of Raiders of the Lost Ark
  • April 22, 2014: California state historical resources commission recommends NPS eligibility to list on NRHP
  • June 13, 2014: NPS determines C21 eligible for NRHP listing, DO_14000306
 
The Century 22 Theater featured three screens in the main dome and the two satellite domes.

[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Schoenherr, Steven E. (21 January 2001). "California Movie Theaters with Best Sound". Schoenherr Family. Retrieved 22 Feburary 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) Seltzer, Debra Jane (2015). "San Jose Movie Theaters". Roadside Architecture. Retrieved 22 February 2015.

In the weeks following the last show, which was a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark, the tenant partially demolished the interior of Century 21, removing the seats and some lobby fixtures.[7]

Influence edit

As the first Century-branded theater created by Syufy, the dome became a corporate trademark and similar dome theatres opened by Century Theatres (and United Artists, who employed Vincent Raney as well) include:

Original name City Opened Opening feature Closed Demolished Notes Ref
Century 21 Oakland 1967 Gone with the Wind 198x 199x Twinned in 197x [8]
Century 21 Pleasant Hill 21 February 1967 (1967-02-21) Doctor Zhivago 21 April 2013 (2013-04-21) 8 May 2013 Dimension-150 screen never subdivided; renamed the CineArts 5 prior to demolition [9] [10]
Century 21 Sacramento 1967 Gone with the Wind n/a n/a Twinned in 1978; now screens 13 and 14 of a 14-screen megaplex. The owner of the property has proposed tearing down the domes in favor of expanding neighboring retail and replacing them with a conventional 14-screen movie theater. [11][12][13]
Century 22 Sacramento 1968 Camelot n/a n/a Twinned in 1974; now screens 11 and 12 of a 14-screen megaplex. Vulnerable to proposed redevelopment. [11]
Century 24 San José 18 July 1968 (1968-07-18) xyz December 2013 January 2014 Twinned in 1973 [14]
Century 25 San José 27 May 1969 (1969-05-27) xyz 20 January 2013 Summer 2013 Twinned in 1974; reopened as The Retro Dome in September–October 2009. [15] [16]
Century 21 Salt Lake City 1967 xyz 1998? 1998 Tri-plexed in 197x [17]
Century 22 Salt Lake City 1969 xyz 1998? 1998 Twinned in 197x [17]
Cinedome 20 Orange 17 June 1968 Oliver! 199x 1999 [18]
Cinedome 21 Orange 18 June 1968 Che 199x 1999 [18]
Century 21 Oakland 1967 Gone with the Wind 198x 199x Twinned in 197x [19]

Preservation edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Century 21". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  2. ^ Historic Landmarks Commission (20 May 2014). "Historic Landmark Nomination (HL14-212) for the "Century 21 Theatre" at 3161 Olsen Drive". City of San Jose. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  3. ^ "National Register of HIstoric Places Program: Century 21 Theater". Nationall Park Service. 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  4. ^ Prevetti, Laurel (4 March 2014). "National Register of Historic Places Nomination for Century 21 Theatres". City of San Jose. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  5. ^ San Jose Arts Commission (14 May 2014). "Recommendation of Landmark Designation for the Century 21 Theater". City of San Jose. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  6. ^ Garavaglia Architecture, Inc. (1 February 2013). "Dome Theater: Final Historic Resource Evaluation Report". City of Pleasant Hill. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  7. ^ Weinstein, Dave (1 May 2014). "Century 21 Domed Theater Found Eligible for National Register". The CA Modernist. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Century 8 Oakland". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  9. ^ "CineArts 5 at Pleasant Hill". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. ^ Jones, Carolyn (8 May 2013). "Pleasant Hill's movie dome destroyed". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Century Stadium 14 Sacramento". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  12. ^ Kasler, Dale (5 February 2015). "Sacramento's Howe `Bout Arden center eyes big makeover". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Howe Bout Arden 30 Acre Redevelopment" (PDF). The Edwards Company. 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Century 24". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Retro Dome". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  16. ^ "The Retro Dome: Frequently Asked Questions". The Retro Dome. January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  17. ^ a b "Century 21". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Cinedome Theatres". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Century 8 Oakland". cinema Treasures. 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.

External links edit

 
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