HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 21-063 Point of interest marker - VitaphoneRESOLUTION NO: 21-063
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SARATOGA AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF A POINT OF
INTEREST MARKER FOR "SARATOGA VITAPHONE"
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2017, the City Council of the City of Saratoga adopted
Resolution No. 17- 007 which authorized a process for establishing Point of Interest Markers to
increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the City's past by commemorating events
and places that are identified with the region that are no longer in existence, and
WHEREAS, the City Council determined on February 1, 2017, that a site marked as a Point
of Interest does not signify the site as a cultural or historical resource, is not identifying a heritage
site nor is it to be associated with the Saratoga's Heritage Resources Inventory, and
WHEREAS, Mason Shaw brought the first theater to Saratoga in 1948. The auditorium was
constructed out of a Quonset but and could seat 485 people, and
WHEREAS, Pat and Vi Moore took over management in the 1970s. Renamed the
Vitaphone, the theater was known for showing classic films. They started the first commercial family
film club and had over 10,000 members including John Wayne, Irene Dunn, Olivia DeHavilland and
Charleston Heston, and
WHEREAS, the Heritage Preservation Commission has recommended that a Point of
Interest Marker be installed on the exterior of the building at 14500 Big Basin Way to identify the
site of the Vitaphone, and
WHEREAS, the text for the proposed marker was drafted, reviewed and edited by the
Heritage Preservation Commission and the Director of Community Development, and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works reviewed and recommended the marker location,
in consultation with the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Director of Community
Development, and
WHEREAS, placement of the marker on building at 14500 Big Basin Way has been
approved by the property owner,
WHEREAS, this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act because
there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment
(CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)).
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
hereby: 1) Authorizes the final text shown in Exhibit F to the staff report for this resolution and
marker design described in the staff report for this resolution; 2) Authorizes the location to install
the Point of Interest Marker shown in Attachment H to the staff report for this resolution; and
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3)Authorizes the Director of Community Development and the Director of Public Works to proceed
with contracting for the manufacturing and installation of the marker in cooperation with the property
owner.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Saratoga on this 215, day of July
2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Mary -Lynne Bernald,
Kookie Fitzsimmons, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Yan Z o, Mayor
Attest:
Debbie retschneider, City Clerk Date: ` / z-�/�-o Z j
I
SARATOGA VITAPHONE
1948-1985
MASON SHAW BROUGHT THE FIRST MOVIE THEATER TO SARATOGA IN 1948. THE
AUDITORIUM WAS CONSTRUCTED OUT OF A QUONSET HUT AND COULD SEAT 485 PEOPLE.
AFTER WORLD WAR II QUONSET HUTS WERE PART OF A NATIONWIDE TREND FOR
BUILDING INEXPENSIVE THEATERS. IN FRONT OF THE QUONSET AUDITORIUM STOOD THE
BOXY TICKET LOBBY. IT WAS FLANKED BY TWO SMALL STORES. ABOVE THAT WAS A
SECOND FLOOR USED AS APARTMENT SPACE.
IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE THEATER, MASON SHAW AND PAT BEAUDRY EXPERIMENTED
WITH ONE -ACT PLAYS ALONG WITH REGULAR FILM FARE.
PAT AND VI MOORE TOOK OVER MANAGEMENT IN THE 1970S. RENAMED THE VITAPHONE,
THE THEATER WAS KNOWN FOR SHOWING CLASSIC FILMS. THEY STARTED THE FIRST
COMMERCIAL FAMILY FILM CLUB AND HAD OVER 10,000 MEMBERS INCLUDING JOHN
WAYNE, IRENE DUNN, OLIVIA DEHAVILLAND AND CHARLTON HESTON. MEMBERSHIP
WAS $10 PER YEAR. FOR $3.00, MEMBERS COULD ENJOY TWO FEATURE FILMS, A
CARTOON, NEWSREEL AND FREE COFFEE AND COOKIES.
THE MOORES CREATED A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE WITH THEIR 3 CATS ROAMING THE
THEATER AND ANECDOTAL MATERIAL ABOUT THE FILMS DURING INTERMISSION.
ROMANTIC FILMS OF THE 1940S AND 1950S WERE VERY POPULAR. THE THEATER
REMAINS A FAVORITE MEMORY OF MANY.