TOUR THE HISTORIC ORINDA THEATRE

Matias Bombal will conduct 1 1/2 hour public tour of the historic 1941 Orinda Theatre the last Sunday of this month at 11 a.m. He will relate the history of the theatre and describe its Modern Baroque and Streamline appointments to tour goers.
The Orinda Theatre was designed by architect Alexander Aimwell Cantin for Donald Rheem who opened it December 27, 1941. With some influence from the Streamline Moderne style, notable among its appointments were auditorium wall and lobby ceiling murals by Anthony Heinsbergen with pioneering use of UV pigments in the paint which made the murals glow under "black" light. A developer bought the property in 1984 with plans to demolish the theatre to build a shopping center. A grass-roots movement sprung up to convince the community at large of the value of saving it; after many struggles the shopping center was built around the theatre, which was renovated and re-opened in 1989. A new "movie palace wing" was added in 1996 with two more screens in vintage-style auditoriums. For the last eleven years, operators Zemrak-Pirkle Productions, LLC have been the stewards that keep the theatre a vibrant part of the community with first-run films, live shows and special movie events. The Time-Out website, based in France, listed the Orinda the 23rd most beautiful theatre in the world in 2025.
The public tour will be 11 a.m. There will be no charge for the tour, but donations to assist the ongoing operational costs of the theatre will be accepted.
The tours will continue on a monthly basis the last Sunday of each month at 11 a.m. The tour lasts 1 1/2 hour.
Can't make the FREE public tour? We offer private tours of the theatre as well, during non-operating hours, for a fee of $200.00, email Matias Bombal to schedule: mabhollywood@gmail.com
2 Orinda Theatre Square #101, Orinda, CA 94563.
Steps from the Orinda BART Station (Yellow Line)
Street parking. There is also a parking garage on the same block, 3 hour validation available in the lobby.
www.orindamovies.com/ @TheOrindaTheatre
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