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Building History

The San Francisco-based construction journal, Building and Engineering News, indicated in its issue of 02/04/1923, that F.A. Leal commissioned the San Francisco architect Henry A. Minton (1883-1948) to design him a “Two-story reinforced concrete and frame theatre, store and office building,” to cost $25,000 and to be located in Irvington, CA, later annexed to Fremont, CA.(See “Building News Section: Theatres,” Building and Engineering News, vol. 22. no. 5, 02/04/1922, p. 14.) The building was probably complete by late 1922 or early 1923.

Leal had made some money in the grocery business in Irvington, CA. A notice in the Retail Grocers' Advocate in 05/1918 stated:“J.F. Leal has purchased a half interest in the grocery business of F.A. Leal.” (See “Along the Pacific Coast,” Retail Grocers’ Advocate, vol. 23, no. 18, 05/03/1918, p. 14.) By 1922, Leal began to reevaluate his business operations and taking on a partner, P.C. Hansen. When this building was erected, the upper floor offices were at least partially occupied by the firm of Lean and Hansen. This firm sold grain and feed in Irvington, and succeeded the firm of Leal and Company. A grain dealers' periodical carried the notice in that year: “The grain and feed business of Leal & Co. has been dissolved. F.A. Leal and P.C. Hansen purchasing the stock and interest of the Irvington office and F.A. Amaral buying the Milpitas office.” (See “Grain Trade News: California,” Grain Dealers Journal, vol. 22, 05/25/1922, p. 697.) Leal and Hansen also began to deal in lumber by 07/1922.A note in the American Lumberman, 07/15/1922, reported that in Irvington, CA: “Leal & Hansen recently began retail lumber business.” (See “Business Changes, Incorporations, Etc., New Ventures, “ American Lumberman, vol. 84, no. 2461, 07/15/1922, p. 68.)

By 1931, P.C. Hansen operated his own lumber firm in the nearby town of Niles, CA, while Frank Leal continued operating in Irvington.

A great-granddaughter of the building's owner, Frank Albert Leal, Patricia Gabriel, wrote on the web site, CInema Treasures.org, on 03/27/2007: "My Great Grandfather Frank Albert Leal built the Leal Theater in approx. 1915, it opened for business around 1918. The idea for building the 1st theater between Oakland and San Jose come [sic] to him after watching movies being shoot [sic] in The Niles, Ca, also now part of Fremont. The family ran the theater with my Grandmother Mary E. Freitas playing the organ and my Grand Aunt Anna Perry working as an usher and many cousin [sic] working the ticket window, etc. The Theatre was open until my Great Grandfather’s death in 1944, but was reopened by the family shortly after that and ran until around 1954. The building is indeed still there, in the 1980’s the City Fremont and the Irington Township historical Society earmarked it as a Historical Landmark." (See Patricia Gabriel, Cinema Treasures.org, "Leal Theatre, Fremont, CA," published 03/27/2007, accessed 03/30/2020.)

PCAD id: 23400