Esquire Theatre

1939 ³

The Esquire Theatre was located at 1715 San Pablo Avenue. It was originally the Reliance Theatre, and later the American Theatre.

When it first opened on September 2, 1916 the Reliance Theatre was large, with 1,800 audience seats. It was in the building of the Reliance Athletic Club, constructed in 1892. ¹

Four years later in 1920 the theater underwent a name change to the American Theatre. In 1932 it underwent a remodel and re-opened under Charles Carroll. ^4,5

Finally, in August 1939 the theater was once again renamed to the Esquire Theatre. It closed in 1952.

re-opening, April 1932 ⁴1943 ²

A streamlined commercial building that originally housed a Mel's Drive In (with an address of 1701 San Pablo) replaced the theater building.

Links and References

• Cinema Treasures
• Pacific Coast Music Review 1917

1. Theatres of Oakland by Jack Tillamy and Jennifer Dowling
2. ohrphoto.oaktheaters.016 Oakland History Center, Oakland Public Library
3. ohrphoto.oaktheaters.015 Oakland History Center, Oakland Public Library
4. ohrphoto.oaktheaters.001 Oakland History Center, Oakland Public Library
5. American Theatre Open Today Under Carroll, the Veteran Oakland Showman Emeryville Golden Gate Herald April 22, 1932