 Golden Bough Playhouse | |
 | |
| Former names | Arts and Crafts Hall, Abalone Theatre, Studio Theatre of the Golden Bough, Manzanita Theatre, Filmarte, Golden Bough Cinema |
|---|---|
| Address | Monte Verde Street |
| Location | Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 36°33′6.61″N 121°55′27.95″W / 36.5518361°N 121.9244306°W |
| Owner | Pacific Repertory Theatre |
| Type | Regional theatre |
| Capacity | Founders Theatre: 280 Circle Theatre: 120 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1952 |
| Architect | James Pruitt |
The Theatre of the Golden Bough also known as the Golden Bough Theatre, was built by Edward G. Kuster in 1924 on Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It was destroyed by fire on May 19, 1935. Kuster moved his film operation to the former Arts and Crafts Hall on Monte Verde Street, nearby in Carmel, which he had previously purchased. He renamed it the Filmarte, and it became the first art house between Los Angeles and San Francisco.[1] In 1940, Kuster renamed the theater the Golden Bough Playhouse and presented plays and films year-round. In 1949, this second Golden Bough also burned down.
In 1952, Kuster built a three-story, two-theater facility on the Monte Verde Street site. The main auditorium, called the Founders Theatre, with 280 seats, presents both movies and live performances. Beneath the main stage, a 120-seat theater-in-the-round was named Circle Theatre. Since 1994, the facility has been owned and operated by Pacific Repertory Theatre, Monterey County's only year-round professional theatre company. A two-phase renovation of the aging facility began with an interior building project in 2011. A second phase of the project, including both interior and exterior renovations, was completed in 2024. The theater is the oldest indoor performing arts venue in Carmel.[2][3]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Historywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Kent L. Seavey (July 3, 2002). "Department of Parks and Recreation" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ Grimes, Teresa; Heumann, Leslie; Laffey, Glory Anne (2023). "Historic Context Statement: Carmel-by-the-Sea" (PDF). The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.