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Overview

The Argus Theatre operated at 630 State Street in Downtown Santa Barbara, CA, in 1917.

Building History

It is likely that the Argus Theatre was situated in an existing, commercial building in Downtown Santa Barbara, and opened around 03/20/1913. It operated as the Argus until about 1918, when its name changed to "Lloyd's Theatre." It was renamed the "Strand Theatre" by 1920, but did not operate long under this name. According to the Cinema Treasures.org website and poster Joe Vogel, the Los Angeles architect, Arthur Lawrence Valk (1865-1929), designed the Argus in 1913. (See Joe Vogel, Cinema Treasures.org, "Strand Theatre," accessed 03/26/2025.)

Herbert Aaron Keno Marble (1876-1943) was the theatre's manager in 1917, exhibiting Bluebird and Metro Pictures. (See Santa Barbara, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 29 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Place: Los Angeles; Date: 20 Feb 1943; Social Security: 563125089, accessed 03/26/2025.) Marble performed a variety of jobs during his lifetime, suggesting his resourcefulness and skills as a handiman. His jobs included work as an insurance agent in Manchester, NH (in 1900), clerk for Santa Barbara General Hospital (early 1918), moving picture operator (also 1918), plumber (1922) and electrician (1930 and 1940). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Manchester Ward 5, Hillsborough, New Hampshire; Roll: 947; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 0101, accessed 03/26/2025; Santa Barbara, California, City Directory, 1918, p. 194; Ancestry.com, Source Citation Registration State: California; Registration County: Santa Barbara County Source Information: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005, accessed 03/26/2025; Santa Barbara, California, City Directory, 1922. p. 210; Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 0046; FHL microfilm: 2339868, accessed 03/26/2025; Ancestry.com Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Roll: m-t0627-00399; Page: 81B; Enumeration District: 60-157, accessed 03/26/2025.)

PCAD id: 25700