Est. 1928 · Will Rogers' Final Performance · 1928 Vaudeville Palace · Mighty Wurlitzer Organ · California Churrigueresque Architecture
The California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a landmark of downtown San Bernardino's cultural renaissance. Designed by architect John Paxton Perrine and completed in 1928, the theater was built by Fox West Coast Theaters as a premier venue for vaudeville performances and motion pictures. The building exemplifies the ornate California Churrigueresque architectural style, distinguished by its elaborate exterior ornamentation and carefully curated interior spaces.
The theater's most significant historical claim centers on Will Rogers, the beloved humorist, actor, and social commentator. On June 28, 1935, Rogers performed his final public appearance at the California Theatre. Less than two months later, on August 15, 1935, Rogers died in a plane crash in Alaska alongside aviator Wiley Post, making his San Bernardino performance historically poignant.
During its golden age in the 1930s, the theater hosted major Hollywood releases. Audiences first saw King Kong and The Wizard of Oz on its screen, establishing the venue as a crucial stopping point for major releases. The theater's centerpiece—the Mighty Wurlitzer organ—remains one of only a few of its kind still in its original installation, making the California Theatre exceptional in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and rare even across Southern California.
After decades of serving the community, the theater underwent substantial restoration and renovation efforts in recent years, returning it to its original architectural glory while maintaining modern performance standards. Today it hosts Broadway musicals, concerts, comedy performances, and cultural events, continuing its mission as a performing arts venue. The restored interiors showcase the original ornamentation and craftsmanship that defined 1920s theater design.
Sources
- https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/two-sides-of-will-rogers-at-historic-san-bernardino-theater
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=185315
- http://www.californiatheatre.net/History.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Theatre_(San_Bernardino)
- https://socallandmarks.com/index.php/2021/04/05/california-theatre/
ApparitionsShadow figuresCold spotsPhantom voicesDoors opening/closingLights flickeringSensed presence
The most persistent legend surrounding the California Theatre centers on Will Rogers himself. In the dressing room where Rogers prepared for his final performance in 1935, staff members and visitors report a marked temperature drop—the space remains notably colder than surrounding areas despite efforts to maintain consistent climate control. Multiple accounts describe seeing movement in peripheral vision within this room, and apparitions glimpsed through the small window have been attributed to Rogers. The specificity of these reports—concentrated in the exact dressing room Rogers occupied—suggests a residual manifestation tied to that significant historical moment.
Beyond Will Rogers, the theater harbors other reported presences. On the second floor, particularly in the dressing room adjacent to the laundry room, staff describe encounters with a notably assertive spirit. Employees have heard disembodied voices when no one else occupied the space, experienced doors opening and closing without physical cause, and observed lights switching on and off of their own accord. One theater worker characterized this particular presence as having a distinctive personality—described as "sassy," suggesting intentional interaction rather than mere residual activity.
The second-floor restroom has emerged as another focal point of reported paranormal phenomena. Multiple staff members and visitors have experienced the sensation of being watched while alone in the bathroom. One account describes an employee seeing a man's face glaring over a toilet stall partition, only to find the stall empty upon investigation. Another visitor reported the uncanny feeling of being followed into the restroom, with the sensation of a presence despite complete solitude. These reports cluster in the second-floor facilities, suggesting a localized concentration of activity.
The nature of these phenomena spans both residual and potentially intelligent manifestations. The lingering presence in Rogers' dressing room appears residual—tied to a specific moment and location—while the second-floor dressing room and restroom reports suggest more active, responsive spirits capable of deliberate action. Theater staff continue to report these experiences, and visitors occasionally mention unexplained atmospheric shifts or sensations while navigating backstage and public spaces.
Notable Entities
Will Rogers
