The Little Theatre History:
In April 1947 this 700-seat, $465,000 theatre in San Lorenzo, opened with a flurry of excitement. Attending guests dressed in the height of fashion to view the opening of "Dark Mirror" starring Olivia DeHaviland. They also were among the first the see Anthony Heinsbergen’s glorious fluorescent murals.
This Theatre was the first in Northern California with fluorescent painted murals and black lights. This was twenty years before the Fillmore in San Francisco made this popular and you probably won't find them anywhere else today. These enormous jungle scenes are the first black light murals in Northern California history. In addition to the works of Heinsbergen, the theatre was designed by San Francisco architects Alexander and Mackenzie Cantin, who were known for unique marquees.
In 1982 The Theatre closed its doors! Vacant since 1982, the theatre fell into disrepair. Its frequent visitors were pigeons, rats and transients, which left a massive mess. In 1993 the Parmar brothers tried to purchase this historic art deco facade theatre. But, since they couldn't provide twenty parking spaces, the County planners would not give their approval.This theatre has remained a historical structure and it can become a beacon to a new and revitalized San Lorenzo Village Square with community involvement.
Awards and Merits:
ART DECO PRESERVATION AWARD from the ART DECO SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA IN May, 1986 ten of these are given each year to buildings deemed worthy of preservation.
The Lorenzo Theater was designated a California Historic Resource early in 2001.
On September 12, 2002, the Lorenzo Theater was named a Historic Preservation (HP) District by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the first in Alameda County.