1122 Broadway, c.1912 1
The Lyric Theatre refers to one of two small, short-lived theaters near 12th and Broadway. The first was at 466 - 12th Street, run by Charlie H. Kucks. The second was at 1122-1124 (1064-1066 Broadway before 1912 renumbering) in the Central Block, run by William B. Martin.
NB: Theatres of Oakland says the Broadway space had been the Novelty Theatre beginning in 1902, but newspapers and directories show that at 1121 Broadway (1063-1065 Broadway before renumbering) across the street from the beginning. 2 The 1903 Sanborn map labels the Broadway space as a shop, with offices and rooms above.
12th Street: Lyric, Star, and Empire (1904-1906)
In December 1903, Charlie Kucks announced he was going to open a new Vaudeville theater on 12th Street near Broadway called the Lyric. 3 The 1904 directory lists it at 466 - 12th Street. An article in April 1904 says it was to become the Star Theatre, run by H.S. Barnett. That only lasted a few months, because an article in June 1904 says it was becoming the Empire Theatre, under the management of Joseph Muller.
1903 3
1902 Sanborn
Theatres of Oakland says it was open 1904 to 1906, and notes that it was one of the few places in the East Bay where lives were lost in the 1906 earthquake. 2 Five people in the lodging rooms above the theater were killed when a wall from Kahn's next door collapsed onto the building. Several people associated with the theater were injured. 4 The building was repaired after the earthquake, but the ground floor where the theater had been was leased for a restaurant. The Empire Theater circuit continued on in other cities.
Broadway: Lyric (1907-1913)
The second Lyric Theater seems to have started in 1907, run by William B. Martin. It was at 1122-1124 (1064-1066 Broadway before 1912 renumbering) in the Central Block,
In 1911, they showed footage of the Philadelphia Athletics versus the New York Giants in the 1911 World Series.
1908 ad
1911 Sanborn excerpt
In 1913, the Lyric Theater Company announced they were moving their corporation from Oakland to San Francisco. Fred Dahken, Jr., of Turner & Danken, was the president. By the 1914 directory, the space was the California Cafe.
Links and References
- ohrphoto.oaktheaters.028 Oakland History Center, Oakland Public Library
- Theatres of Oakland by Jack Tillmany and Jennifer Dowling Arcadia Publishing 2006
- Kuck's Lyric Theatre Oakland Tribune December 22, 1903
- Five Are Killed Oakland Tribune April 18, 1906
