To spot the Crest Theatre, just look for the towering neon sign flashing “CREST” in bold letters, soaring above a glowing, retro marquee that’s surrounded by loops and swirls of vibrant red, green, and yellow lights-trust me, you can’t miss it!
Alright, while you’re standing here, take a deep breath and soak in those classic, old-Hollywood vibes! The Crest Theatre is more than a bright beacon on the street-it’s a time machine, ready to whisk you through Sacramento’s entertainment history. Picture it: it’s 1912, and the place opened up as the Empress Theatre, with usherettes shuffling people in for vaudeville acts-comedians, dancers, magicians-one act after another, right here under glittering lights and the buzz of excitement.
Not long after, the name changed to the Hippodrome. But this glamorous facade also saw a night of sudden tragedy. On September 14, 1946, out of nowhere, the old marquee crashed down. It was a day the city would never forget-a bystander, Mrs. Jessie Shirley Potter, lost her life, and Joseph Brady was gravely injured. The city mourned, court battles raged, and the theater, scarred but still standing, closed its doors. A hush fell, but only for a while.
Like any good drama, the climax arrived in 1949 when this building was reborn-the Crest Theatre! Step into the ‘50s and ‘60s: think swarms of moviegoers dressed to impress, lining up to see Hollywood’s latest, the rustle of popcorn bags, the thrill of being the first to watch the newest blockbuster in town’s finest first-run movie palace. Through the years, though, the theater’s fortunes shifted. By the ‘70s, it slipped into sub-run movies-less glitz, a bit more grit-and soon after, it went dark for a spell, shuttered as owners searched for the right script to bring it back to life.
The eighties saw experiments: dinner theater anyone?-and finally, in 1995, victory! The Crest underwent a full facelift, revitalizing its stunning Art Deco auditorium. They even dug down and built two secret little cinemas underground! These days, Empress Tavern sits where those little theaters used to be-so if you hear the sound of laughter and clinking plates, that’s dinner theater spirit, revived in another way.
But the Crest isn’t just about movies; it’s Sacramento’s main stage for the weird, the wonderful, and the wildly creative! There’s the infamous Trash Film Orgy-imagine summer nights filled with cult films, wild costumes, live music, and bands of film nerds cheering onscreen antics. Or the Sacramento French Film Festival, the only one in Northern California, filling July with the sounds of French dialogue and laughter. There’s the Jewish Film Festival too, with stories, music, and-of course-a proper nosh.
And don’t forget about the concerts! Iconic bands have rocked this stage-from Guns N’ Roses to Cyndi Lauper. Fashion gets a wild twist here too, like at the Artists Fashion Show, where outrageous outfits and big hearts teamed up to fight AIDS, all powered by ticket sales and a splash of creativity.
So, as those neon lights shimmer above you, just imagine all the footsteps that have echoed here, all the stories told, and all the eyes-yours included-that have glanced up, feeling the magic of the Crest!
