Beate Brühl (center) is pictured with Pittsburg Mayor Pete Longmire (holding the award) and others honored for their part in the restoration of the California Theatre in Pittsburg. (Photo courtesy of California State Parks)

Benicia artist Beate Brühl was honored recently for her part in the historic renovation of the California Theatre in Pittsburg. Brühl was responsible for the historic paint study and the implementation of decorative painting throughout the building.
The California Theatre was among 12 recipients of the 2016 Governor’s Historic Preservation Awards at a ceremony at the McKinley Park Community Center in Sacramento in November. Area artist Paula Boghosian of Sacramento was also honored with an award for her ongoing work as an architectural historian, author, environmental planner and educator.
Established in 1986, the Governor’s Historic Preservation Awards are presented annually under the sponsorship of the California Office of Historic Preservation and California State Parks to projects, individuals and organizations whose contributions help preserve the heritage of California. Since 1986, more than 200 awards have been presented.
The California Theatre, located in Pittsburg’s New York Landing Historic District, was designed by noted architect A.W. Cornelius in a classic revival style and constructed
by Sylvester and Salvatore Enea in 1920. The theater became a landmark for the city,
showing films– both silent and sound– and vaudeville acts and setting the stage for similarily designed theaters such as Oakland’s Fox, and San Francisco’s Orpheum and Curran theaters. The California was later restored to incorporate many of the Art Deco features that are currently present at the site.
The California Theatre showed its last film in February, 1954. Decades of neglect led to deteriorating conditions. In 1994, the city conducted a clean-up and stabilization project. However, due to the high cost of renovation, no additional improvements were made until 2006. Funding assistance was received from the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Pittsburg as part of a city improvement plan. Work was scheduled to begin in 2007, but the theater’s degraded condition and limited available resources delayed the start of work until 2010. The building was then seismically retrofitted with upgrades to its mechanical, electrical and plumbing conditions.
Through community outreach, city staff received important information about the theater’s historic interior design and artwork. Light fixtures, handrails and a tiled drinking fountain in the lobby were faithfully restored. Brühl recovered and recreated artwork in the entryway, balcony and auditorium.
Using input from the community about additional desired amenities, the Pittsburg City Council approved more funds for completion of the stage, installation of seating in the main theater and other operational improvements. Through the efforts of prioritizing projects, allocating funding, building partnerships between agencies, and gaining community support, the theater reopened in January 2013. Now owned by the city, the California Theatre is now host to the Pittsburg Community Theatre troupe, comedy shows, dance performances, films and other community events.
For additional information and photos regarding the restoration project, find Beate Bruhl Design on Facebook, or visit the Office of Historic Preservation online at ohp.parks.ca.gov.

Interior of the California Theatre during restoration. (Photo courtesy of California State Parks)

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