Threatened: Dome Theaters

Century 22 Theater, as part of the Century 21 through 23 complex.  Photo found at Silicon Valley Modern.

Demolition of Cinedome 70 in Riverdale, Utah.  Photo found at
The Standard Examiner.

Time is ticking between developer motivated tear downs and Mid-Century Modern supporters of San Jose's Century Dome Theaters.  Dome theaters as far east as Utah have already fallen to the wrecking ball.  Built in 1970, Riverdale's Cinedome 70 was in the way of a new car dealership. Supporters tried to save the theater but failed.

Several dome theaters in California have already met their demise, including Orange County's Century Cinedome Theaters, demolished in 2000, and Pleasant Hill's CineArts, demolished this year.  Ironically, their failures occurred in the wake of the City of Los Angeles protection of the Pacific Cinerama Dome Theater in Hollywood. Century 25, now known as the The Retro Dome, has recently closed its doors in Silicon Valley, citing an interest in finding a new location for its venue.  Is this the next dome to fall?

The challenge for any preservationist fighting to save contemporary places is to establish both historic significance and support for what the public might not yet appreciate. Professionals within the field will cite the National Parks Service 50 year rule, where "properties that have achieved significance within the past 50 years shall not be considered eligible for the National Register." Indeed, state offices of historic preservation, including California, adopted this guideline for their evaluations.  Yet even the National Parks Service recognized the significance of more recent post-war architecture that deserves evaluation.

Dome theaters, cinedomes, or cinerama domes are powerful icons representing the West Coast's modern aesthetic set apart from any other place in our nation.  The post-war rapid development of the west encouraged some architects and developers to find efficient and expedient ways to use building resources.  In this era, developer Joseph Eichler gained national attention, along with other visionary architects Richard Neutra and Charles & Ray Eames.  The theater's architect, Vincent G. Raney, should be recognized for his contributions to the arts and entertainment industries, even as many of his theaters are closing.

The simplicity of geodesic dome theaters spawned tremendous imagination, setting the stage for all IMAX wonders and L.A.'s Vortex Dome, to the humble igloo-shaped personal and mobile theaters.  Innovation is not limited to the new and shiny objects of today. Californians have a wonderful opportunity to bring creative minds together to not only petition to save dome theaters, but to consider adaptive reuses or new theater experiences within the context of a significantly historic place.  In this land of innovation, modern values, and serious technology talent, there should be viable response to the wrecking ball.