by Quincey Klein

Editor-in-Chief

Ready for the beginning of the summer, the newly remodeled Los Gatos Theater opened its doors on May 2 to the public during their Grand Reopening following its Community Open House during the afternoon of Apr.  24. Many Los Gatos residents have been anticipating the opening; families, couples, and students have all flocked to the theater to see this summer’s hottest releases, as well as all of the changes made to the theater over the past 19 months.

The Los Gatos Theater first opened its doors in 1915, almost a hundred years ago, making the theater a historic local fixture. No stranger to remodeling, the theater was reconstructed following a 1929 fire and was expanded from single into twin theaters in the late 1980s. The builders and designers of the most recent remodeling project created an Art Deco look as a nod to its historic past. They also returned to the theater’s original design with one larger theater with 265 seats, including 21 balcony seats, and a screen measuring 38 feet by 19 feet. Its updated look is complemented by all leather seats, tasteful carpeting, a snack area, as well as a brand new screening room upstairs. The theater also employs the latest in digital technology, doing away with traditional movie reels and opting to use a server using keys from movie distributors. As the theater has advanced technology capabilities, movie-goers can expect to see some 3D movies featured. The newly remodeled theater embraces its rich history while including modern comforts.

LGHS students were able to get an exclusive sneak preview of the movie-watching experience of the new Los Gatos Theater during a screening of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 on May 1 at 7:30 PM. The event raised money for the New Millenium Foundation, an organization that contributes toclassroom needs at LGHS. Seniors Melanie Goetz and Priscilla Chun organized and publicized the event successfully. Also, the Los Gatos Theater held CASA’s (Community Against Substance Abuse) annual fashion show, “Look of Los Gatos” on April 25, whose theme was fittingly “Movies Through the Decades.”

A local family purchased the theater with the intention to establish it as a community resource that goes beyond just movies, as seen by the various charity events that have been hosted at the location since its remodel. The Los Gatos Theater is sure to be a community gathering place and treasure.

(Sources: San Jose Mercury News, losgatostheater.com)

(Photo courtesy of Los Gatos Theater)