According to movie theatre historian David Naylor, the T and D (Turner and Dahnken) Theatre was the earliest movie palace opened on the West Coast. The Coliseum in Seattle, WA, was the next oldest. This huge venue seated 2,644 when it opened on 11/22/1916. (Various numbers have been given for the theatre's capacity; some have it seating 3,350 [c. 1916], 2,944 [1941] and 2,632 [1950]. See Cinema Treasures,Accessed 04/30/2010. David Naylor, in his book, American Picture Palaces, [p. 216] indicated that it held 2,644.) It was one of several large houses operating in Downtown Oakland, including the Lux, Roxie and Paramount. By the 1950s, the T and D had the distinction of operating as a 24-hour facility. The last first-run movie to play here was "Lawrence of Arabia."

A ramp, not stairs, led patrons up to the balcony of the The T and D Theatre, a rare feature. It received its Wurlitzer Opus 99 Style 35 organ on Wednesday, 09/13/1916.

From the late 1960s-1975, the T and D exhibited pornography; a makeshift effort to divide the theatre occurred at this time, when the balcony was separated from the auditorium into two screening areas. It briefly showed standard movies c. 1975, but reverted to showing X-rated fare c. 1976 until its closure in 1977.

Demolished; the T and D was razed in 1978.

PCAD id: 14588