California Community Theatre: A Timeline
PacRep Theatre: the Carmel Club of Arts & Crafts opened the town's first theatre & cultural center, the Carmel Arts & Crafts Clubhouse.
1928
The Alcazar (Plaza Playhouse Theater’s original name) opened on April 27, 1928.
1929
Long Beach Playhouse was founded in Long Beach.
1937
Lamplighters Community Theatre: Founded as The La Mesa Little Theatre
1941
Ramona Hillside Players was founded in Hemet.
Town Hall Theatre Company was founded in 1944 in Lafayette, CA
1946
Morgan-Wixson was founded (under the name Santa Monica Theatre Guild). The Guild has been located at its present site on Pico Blvd. since 1966.
1946
Coronado Playhouse was first organized as the Coronado Players.
1948
Chanticleers Theatre was founded in Castro Valley.
1950
Fall 1950. Frank Jones, librarian, and Clyde Nielsen, banker, led theatre enthusiasts in an enterprise they called Stockton Civic Theatre.
1953
The Cabrillo Playhouse: The San Clemente Community Theatre was chartered as a non-profit corporation. The Cabrillo Playhouse opened in 1966.
1957
Visalia Players was founded. They have been various places, but since 1976 has its home at the Ice House Theatre in Visalia.
1958
The Conejo Players was born with a "Let's start a theatre" attitude, a meager treasury, & a handful of volunteers to build a stage in a barn & put on shows.
1959
Pacifica Spindrift Players formed in Pacifica, California.
1959
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre was founded as the first organization in Santa Maria to provide continuous live theatre performances.
1961
Westminster Community Playhouse: 1961: theatre founded; 1974: theatre constructed; first show: May 31, 1974; Westminster, CA
1962
Huntington Beach Playhouse was founded.
1964
The Hi-Desert Cultural Center’s was officially organized in 1964, and quickly developed into the largest arts organization in the region.
Performing Arts Company of Laguna Woods/ Theatre Guild Division was formed in 1966 in Laguna Woods, CA
1967
Golden Chain Theatre was founded in Oakhurst.
1968
Tehachapi Community Theatre was founded.
1969
South Valley Civic Theatre was founded in Gilroy California (originally called Gilroy Community Theater).