History
Birth
to Rebirth
1924: Birth. The theater opened and
thrived as it hosted nationally known
vaudeville acts including the Sunkist
Beauties and Fachon & Marco who
performed on opening night.
1930: Change of pace. Modest renovation
to enhance the Spanish Revival architecture
ushered in the next phase of the
renamed El Teatro Balboa. For ten
years, the theater showed Spanish-language
cinema and stage shows.
1942(?): Patriotism.
The theater gave itself over to
the U.S. Navy in
early days of World War II. The office
space was converted to housing to
help accommodate the swelling ranks
of the U.S. military. America as
a whole recovered quickly from WWII,
but the Balboa struggled.
1959: Near Death. The historic Balboa
was slated to be demolished to make
room for a parking lot. It was saved
by Russo Enterprises who operated
the theater as an action-movie venue.
1972 Saved.
The City of San Diego places the
building on the local Register
of Historical Places. 1985: City Property. The city acquired
the Balboa Theatre through eminent
domain and placed it under the
control of the Centre City Development
Corporation (CCDC). The CCDC was
charged with saving the Balboa
building but did not have the funds
to renovate. The building sat.
Protected but neglected.
1986: Community
Support. A volunteer organization,
The Balboa Theatre
Foundation, was created to get a
renovation project funded and started.
1992: Registered. The foundation
successfully lobbied to get the Balboa
on the National Register of Historic
Places and fundraising began in earnest.
2002: City Moves. After numerous
attempts from 1985 to begin privately-funded
renovation and operation, the CCDC
stepped up to the plate in October
of 2002 and authorized rehabilitation.
2003: Architects
Chosen. In August 2003, CCDC hired
Westlake Reed Leskosky
as the project architect and the
design phase began.
2005: Work begins. In April of 2005,
hammer was put to concrete as selective
demolition and abatement-construction
officially began.
2005: Earthquakes? Here? A major
hurdle in the restoration was a
required seismic retrofit. All
were concerned that the difficulty
of bringing the building up to
modern seismic safety codes might
doom the project. However, in July
of 2005, the hurdle was jumped
and the building's future was assured.
2006: Craftsman and Artisans. In
January of 2006, renovation and restoration
began. An extraordinary effort to
bring the theater back to its opening
finery -- including two waterfalls
-- is underway.
2008: Opening
Night, part II. In the Winter
of 2008, the beautiful Balboa
Theatre will once again open its
doors and provide San Diegans and
visitors with great performances.
The Balboa Theatre shines again.
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