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829 Main Street Redwood City, CA 94063 The Alhambra Theater

The Alhambra Theater was the gathering point for residents of Redwood City. Some of the best shows and entertainment was saw by patrons out for the evening. It was like the Fox Theater is today’s patrons of entertainment in downtown Redwood City. Alhambra Theater’s address is 831-835 Main Street, Redwood City, CA 94063

Today known as the Mason’s lodge formerly the Alhambra Theater circa 1896. 829 Main Street Redwood City, CA 94063 The Alhambra Theater

116 year ago one of the finest theater built between San Francisco and San José. The Alhambra Theater opening night performance was “Men and Women”.   That theater was The Alhambra Theater and the date was January 20, 1896.

The Alhambra Theater owned and operated by Charles Josselyn of Woodside.  Charles Josselyn was such a patron of the arts the city fathers over at Town Hall had named a street after him.

When the Alhambra Theater opened its doors it hailed in the San Francisco newspapers as a great performance of  “Men and Women” It was one of the modern theater of its day with seating capacity of 1,500 people and spacious stage with elaborate dressing rooms for the actors and actresses.

The elaborate Roman-Spanish styled building was the place you wanted  seen at all the most important social and cultural events in Redwood City.  This held true until introduction of the motion picture show. Motion pictures caused the Alhambra Theater to close during the 1919.

In 1921 Redwood City lodge No. 168, F.& A.M. purchased the property.  They were going to use it as a meeting place for their members.  (As a side note, the Masons in Redwood City instituted as San Mateo Lodge in Redwood City on August 23, 1863 and is the oldest Masonic Lodge on the San Francisco peninsula.) 829 Main Street Redwood City, CA 94063 The Alhambra Theater

In 1921 when the Mason purchased the Alhambra Theater and remodeled it.  The ground level became shops.  The Roman-Spanish façade removed and replaced with a stucco finish to match the IOOF Hall, which was next door. 829 Main Street Redwood City, CA 94063 The Alhambra Theater