Nevertheless, Rothschild and his stage show producer, Jack Partington,
had a keen business sense, and turned the California into a thriving
movie house - San Francisco's first real movie "palace."
Partington apparently saw the marketing possibilities in Jewett
Bubar's work when he offered Bubar his breakthrough job with the
California.
Almost four years to the day after the California opened, Rothschild
unveiled his newest palace, The Granada Theatre, 3 blocks up Market,
across the street. Both Partington and Bubar accompanied him to
the new building.
Whereas Bubar's "offices" in the California had been
pretty much an afterthought - sort of a street level, undefined
work area, his new offices at the Granada reflected his professional
status in the movie exhibition industry.
In addition to movies, the theatre also offered Sunday morning
concerts of classical music. The theatre was also equipped with
a large Wurlitzer organ (4 manual, 32-rank).
At the advent of World War II, the California changed its name
to The State. As revenues declined in the early years of television
competition - and as most theatre venues were much further up
Market Street - the venerable old theatre had to close its doors
in 1954.
This first of San Francisco's movie palaces was finally
demolished in 1962, just a year before the City's last
great movie palace, The Fox,
also fell victim to the wrecker's ball.
