Historical Preservation: The Mothership
The first movie I saw at the Century Theaters was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, followed by many other big blockbuster films. The last movie I saw at the complex was This Is The End in 2013. The theaters permanently closed shortly after.
San Jose's Century Theaters, designed by Vincent G. Raney, stand as a testament to the innovative spirit of space-age architecture. Googie architecture, popular from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, was heavily influenced by the futuristic concepts of the Space Age, jet travel, and the Atomic Age. Notable among them is Century 21, located at 3161 Olsen Drive, which has preserved the unique architectural movement of the past. Its counterparts, Century 22 and Century 23 have been demolished.
Vincent G. Raney's design for Century 21 in San Jose, CA is often referred to as the "Mothership" of Cinerama theaters; it opened in 1964 as the first of 47 theaters Raney designed. The theater debuted with the screening of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," utilizing innovative projection technology that captivated audiences and set the theater apart.
The theater is currently closed and will undergo a major renovation, promising to preserve and enhance this enduring symbol of mid-20th-century American architecture and cinema.
Explore San Jose•David C. Hill Photography
Originally shared on Explore San Jose · June 4, 2024