The Regent Theatre (Regent Photo Theater in some references) was at 1116-1118 Broadway. It was a 286-seat theater near the Key System Building. It was later the Newsreel Theater, the Peerlex Theatre, and finally a Pussycat Theater.
1951 Sanborn excerpt
Regent Theatre
The Regent opened in 1912 under the management of Frank J. Edoff, the son of James P. Edoff. 1 As one of the smaller theaters, it struggled some times but lasted until 1940.
Newsreel Theater
In August 1941, the space became the Newsreel Theater. The theater included a reading room "with all the latest newspapers and magazines" and a 6-foot globe for patrons to trace events. The building also included a radio studio which was the newsroom of KROW. 4 The gala opening event included movie star Rita Hayworth. 5
NB: Not to be confused with the Fox News Theatre, which opened further up Broadway in 1942.
1941 4
1941
Peerlex Theatre
In 1951 it became the Peerlex Theatre. 2 As the Peerlex, it soon began showing more sensational films like Violated (1953), before progressing to adults-only films. The last references found for the Peerlex are from 1964, when they were open all night, and featuring "Art Cinema" with such features as Dr. Sex (1964).
Pussycat Theater
In 1969, it became a Pussycat Theater, again with the "Art Cinema" label. Although the city didn't like it, the theater apparently had a lot of patrons. 3 Another opened in the former Claremont Theatre in Temescal in 1977. The city finally managed to close the downtown Pussycat in 1986.
Links and References
- Model Regent Theatre Opened to the Public This Afternoon Oakland Enquirer July 5, 1912
- Theatres of Oakland by Jack Tillmany and Jennifer Dowling Arcadia Publishing 2006
- Downtown Oakland: on the cusp of change Oakland Tribune July 15, 1984 (p2)
- New Newsreel Theater Opens Friday, Aug. 15 Oakland Post Enquirer August 7, 1941
- Celebrities To Take Part in Colorful Fete Oakland Post Enquirer August 15, 1941
