Ye Liberty Playhouse - Oakland

c.1914 ohrphoto.oaktheaters.051

Ye Liberty Playhouse was a stage theater that opened in the area of the Realty Syndicate Building in March 1904, and included a revolving stage designed by Harry W. Bishop. The Realty Syndicate Building itself was constructed in 1910-1911, and incorporated the original facade. The theater was later converted to a movie theater and went through a series of name changes (along with an change in address to 1432 Broadway).

In 1915, the theater was renamed the Hippodrome and used for a combination of "High-Class Vaudeville, Feature Photo Plays, and Animated Weeklys". ² It was also briefly known as The MacArthur Theater, before reverting to its original name of Ye Liberty. ¹ In 1921, it re-opened as the Century Theater. In 1933 it was remodeled into the 1,548-seat Central Theater showing movies. ^2,5

In 1961, the theater at the rear was torn down, ⁶ and the entry converted to retail space. The arched entrance to the theater was removed at the same time.

Early History

The building was designed by architect D. Franklin Oliver. The ceiling artwork was painted by an Australian artist, Marion Drewe (Coleman). The auditorium of the playhouse had a 75' wide revolving stage, conceived and patented by Harry W. Bishop. ^2,7 The original entrance was arched (similar to the existing entry to the north) and had steps up. Incised above the arch was "-19-Ye Liberty Playhouse-03-" (the year of construction), along with the comedy and tragedy masks.

Noted artist (and chess master) Grace Wishaar painted scenery at Ye Liberty Playhouse c.1904-1910.

1904 ad

The first productions staged were:

A Bachelor's Romance by Martha Morton
Barbara Frietchie by Clyde Fitch

Other productions in its first year included a variety of plays and other events, including:

Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice presented by "Bishop's Company", starring Landers Stevens as Shylock and Jane Kelton as Portia. ⁴

The photo of the entrance from the Oakland History Center shows The Fight as playing that week. The photo is likely from the week of April 20, 1914, when Ye Liberty presented the play.

1921 SF Blue Book 1921, ibid

Hippodrome

In 1915, the theater was renamed the Hippodrome and used for a combination of "High-Class Vaudeville, Feature Photo Plays, and Animated Weeklys". The theater was redecorated, but most of the employees remained, and it was still run by Harry Bishop. ^2,8

1917

1911 Sanborn excerpt 1950 Sanborn excerptCC SA-BY Our Oakland Patriotic rally outside of Ye Liberty Playhouse with crowds and cars lining the street (circa 1910s) ³