HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
Petaluma's 1904 Hill Opera House, reborn
201 Washington Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Public concerts, all-ages youth programs, and community events. Show tickets vary; exterior viewing is free.
Access
Limited Access
Historic theater with stairs
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1904 · 1904 Hill Opera House · Historic Petaluma music venue · All-ages punk and alternative scene anchor
The building at 201 Washington Street in Petaluma was opened in 1904 as the Hill Opera House, the vision of Josie Hill, widow of Petaluma banker William Hill. It hosted operas, vaudeville and touring acts in the early twentieth century, and local press counts Harry Houdini among its performers.
In the early 1920s a fire forced the theater to close, and by 1925 it had been restored and reopened as a movie house. The California Movie Theater chain purchased the property around 1935 and renamed it the California Theater. On August 5, 1957 a second fire took the roof of the building, and it was remodeled. In 1968 the Tocchini family bought the theater and renamed it the Showcase Theater, and a Petaluma native booked the first live concert at the venue. In 1983 the building was renamed the Phoenix in recognition of its repeated rebirth from fire.
For more than four decades the Phoenix has operated as an all-ages music venue and youth community center. The roster of performers who have played the Phoenix on their way up includes the Ramones, Green Day, Metallica, Primus, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, and Pennywise.
Sources
Phoenix Theater staff and regulars have reported a range of phenomena across decades. The balcony, which is normally kept locked except during major shows, is the most frequently cited location, with witnesses describing white figures or shadow forms seen in peripheral vision. Backstage and bathroom areas are sources of unexplained sounds. The basement is consistently described as the most oppressive part of the building.
The theater's longtime manager has described stories of blue lights, a little boy seen walking the building and footsteps near the stage, and paranormal investigators report audio responses in the projection booth and basement.
The Phoenix Theater operates as an all-ages music venue and youth community center. Past performers include the Ramones, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and Sublime. Catch a show or stop in during open hours to see the historic balcony and stage areas.
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