The Minor Theater, located at 1015 H Street in Arcata, California

Arcata, California

-Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile...

, is one of the oldest buildings in the United States built for feature films that is still open and showing movies. It was the first building in Humboldt County to be built as a "true movie theater."

History

The theater was built by Isaac Minor for a cost of $20,000. Ground was broken for the building of the theater on April 2, 1914, and the project was finished in November of that year, built in reinforced concrete for structural safety and fire-resistance. The grand opening was December 3rd, 1914. It closed in 1938 and reopened in the 50s. It closed again in the 60s due to the popularity of television and reopened again in 1972. The trap door that Houdini used is still there.

The orchestra had room for twelve musicians. "The stage measured 25 to 43 feet and had an upward slope of three inches to the rear and was large enough to accommodate a large theatrical company or a chorus of at least 75 people."

It was purchased in 1971 from the Minor family by a group of Humboldt State University

Humboldt State University

Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...

 graduates, notable among them David Philips, one of the founding students of the Humboldt Film Festival

Humboldt Film Festival

The Humboldt Film Festival is a short film festival held annually each spring in Arcata, California.The Humboldt Film Festival has been bringing independent and alternative short films to Humboldt County for forty-four years...

.

The Arcata City Council approved renovations in January, 1989.

The facility was leased by Coming Attractions Theatres in 2006. It is currently a triplex and seats 461.

The Minor theater has housed the Humboldt Film Festival on multiple years.

External links

• The story of the Minor Theater - North Coast Journal
• A Love Affair with Film - North Coast Journal
• Coming Attractions Theatres