(Photo : CELIA JIMéNEZ)
In the heart of Salinas, amidst its 150th-anniversary celebrations, a historic gem awaits its resurrection: El Rey theater. Closed for 33 long years, the entertainment center has carefully restored this downtown's landmark for the last five years, with a focus on restoring its past reputation as the entertainment hub of the downtown area.
Restoring a Historic Gem
This process has been a monumental task, consisting of assiduous caring for detail at the end. People have painstakingly peeled back around 30 layers of paint to reveal amazing frescoes. From the fixtures matching the 1930s styles down to the screws and light sockets to creating the utmost authenticity, every little aspect of the place has been put a lot of thought into. Owner Kurt Mayer, who did not give up and finally bought the theater in 2019, has made every attempt possible to retain the originality in his restoration planning and also to make sure of excellence.
"El Rey is not just a theater; it's a symbol of Salinas' rich history and vibrant culture," concludes the departing Salinas City Council member Steve McShane. Besides the V Fair Theater stands for the city of Salinas in its best years and the profitability during the first two decades of the 20th century as well as later on while it became a dirty movie venue. With a convenient Main Street location, at a 300 block, just around the corner from a booming revitalization of the local economy/area, El Rey stands as the personification of downtown renewal.
Vision for the Future
The goal of El Rey goes beyond bringing it back into its former flourishing state; this idea seeks to make it a full-fledged function hall able to accommodate all kinds of events, like concerts, weddings, and meetings. The act approval of the Planning Commission of the building's historic designation by Salinas City Council is not only a small step on this road but also a miracle in its own right. This identification not only pays homage to the theater's history but also, among other things, offers opportunities for granting support and low-interest loans from the agencies of the state and federal governments, and this is certainly of paramount importance because of the provision of financial aid.
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Though the El Rey premises are at the moment inaccessible to the public, the works are proceeding full blast. The reconstruction process is anticipated to be over in the next two years. Amidst the imminent rebirth of this renowned movie theater, it may seem like a fresh spring air of revival with the enthusiasm and anticipation that the community who is looking forward to the cultural awakening.
Journey of Restoration
Each venue has its set of rules and requirements. El Rey Theatre is a very old venue, built in 1910, and is an example of Spanish Baroque style architecture. This Distinctive landmark has been the iconic symbol of downtown for last 27 years before it closed down in 1989 and over the past five years now, has been under thorough restoration that seeks to rescue and preserve its past glory as a hub for entertainment.
Peeling away over 30 layers of paint, without a hint of frustration, was one thing; discovering frescoes underneath it all was another level of excitement. And sourcing authentic 1930s-style fixtures, even down to the screws to the light sockets was another task that required great deal of effort. Owner Kurt Mayer, who purchased the theater in 2019 and made numerous attempts to do so, showed commitment and dedication to any detail that would ensure his project's historic authenticity and attracting a variety of customers.
"'El Rey is not just a theater, but it is a symbol of Salinas' proud history and one vivid culture,' counsels that the outgoing city councilman Steve McShane. A standalone relic of Salinas' great past, it first served as a traditional movie theater in the early 1900s only to be converted into an X-rated motion theater later. In the heart of downtown city, El Rey is located on Main Street's 300 block, which is currently undergoing a revitalizing process. The neighborhood is alive with budding businesses, and the arrival of this restaurant will fill the gap of the revitalizing area.
Anticipation of Rebirth
The idea is not to replicate the past but to fashion El Rey into a lively venue, which can be used for a variety of functions - ranging from a concert to even a venue of a wedding or a meeting and spiritual gathering. The Council of Salinas finally approved of placing the historic marker on building unexpectedly becomes a landmark along this path. Not only does the Historic Marker highlight the theater's legacy but also offers them the possibility of receiving state and federal grant support and low-interest loan due to their special status which may help the owners financially to restore the theater.
The store in El Rey will be open only to visit for now, but the renovation is proceeding with affected changes and it is expected to be open in the next two years. As the countdown finally drew near to the grand reopening of this theater that for years had been a symbol of the history of the community, the atmosphere was one brimming with this joyful anticipation for the cultural reawakening that its reopening would signify.
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