Arcata Theatre

[2] The theatre was a success and was soon offering up to six films a week along with added attractions, cartoons like Popeye and Betty Boop, news, and sports.

Acoustical plaster resurfaced the entire ceiling and a significant portion of the walls, thereby covering the Art Deco border designs and mural.

All permanent theater-style seating was removed and replaced with platforms that allowed for mixed-used of the space, including comedy shows, concerts, and other entertainment in addition to the regular theater operations.

In 1945 it became a watch repair business that was replaced by a jewelry store in 1948, the Clarke Employment Agency in 1954, and around 1979 became Our Gangs Ice Cream Shop.

Terry's Bluegrass Barbershop continued to occupy the space as a barber until April 2020 when the COVID-19 outbreak forced the business to shut its doors permanently.

Alongside movie showings, the venue has seen diverse music acts, including Riff Raff, Odesza, Troyboi, and GRiZ.

“Best advertising for the town is George Mann’s new sign on the G Street Theater which emblazons to the world at large that south-bound tourists are now entering Arcata”.

(Arcata Union, Jan. 28, 1938) The auditorium of the theater was originally decorated in a simplified Art Deco tradition with geometric light fixtures, and a wondrous mural design of mermaids surfacing from the sea as legendary Selkies who had transformed themselves into voluptuous human form.