Pittsburg Selects New Operator of the California Theatre

At its July 17 city council meeting, the Pittsburg City Council approved a three-year agreement for the operation of the California Theatre in a 3-0 vote.

The agreement is a $350k for Fiscal Year 2023-24 with Entertainment Lane Inc. and funded through the Pittsburg Power Company for the theatre located at 351 Railroad Avenue in the City of Pittsburg.

All operational revenues derived from the California Theatre will be retained by the City. Entertainment Lane Inc. is anticipating at least $400,000 in revenue per year.

COMPENSATION SCHEDULE

City shall compensate Consultant as follows:

• $50,000.00 upon signing and at the beginning of each year and
• $25,000.00 per month, billed at the end of each month totaling
• $350,000.00 per year.
• Reimbursement for costs of ONLY parts in order to perform repairs on any lighting, sound and audio visual equipment and/or theater repair.
• If gross income into the Theatre exceeds $650,000.00 including and not limited to any grants, donations, etc., Consultant shall be entitled to 20% profit sharing over said amount.

This award comes after a Sept. 30, 2022 RFQ was issued for an operator of the California Theatre—two responses were received by the City of Pittsburg–including Entertainment Lane and the Pittsburg Theatre Company.

According to the staff report, Entertainment Lane Inc. currently owns and operates the Fox Theatre in Salinas and has more than 30 years of experience in hospitality and entertainment.

Entertainment Lane Inc. will provide administration and management of the California Theatre, including hiring, training, and supervising all employees and directing the day-to-day operation of the facility. Operations will be run by a theatre management team, consisting of a Daily Sales Manager, Evening Operations Manager, Sales Manager Marketing Director & Coordinator, and box office personal. Entertainment Lane Inc. will design and manage the theater website and on-line communications and social media for marketing the theater and all events held at the venue.

Entertainment Lane Inc. will be responsible for talent buying and event production services, which may include national touring headliner artists, local artists and films. Entertainment Lane Inc. will coordinate management requirements with City staff, and will provide financial and operational reports, annual operating budgets and programming plans.

The scope of the management operation also includes janitorial, housekeeping, and providing technical theater support, including proper maintenance of theater equipment. The City, as the owner of the theater, will continue to perform maintenance activities to the building, and will pay utilities and maintenance contracts related to the fire and entry alarms, elevator and fire suppression.

On Monday, Councilmember Jelani Killings asked if they already had a cost to run the California Theatre.  Staff said the city would provide $75k to provide maintenance to the building.

During public comments, Dianna Schepers of Pittsburg Theatre Company not only were they one of the respondents to the RFP, but were pleased with the outcome.

“We have been discussing things with Anthony and I think we are going to be a good fit for him as well as the city to continue our efforts,” stated Schepers. “We want to thank the city and staff for allowing us to use the theater this past season. I think its helped promote the arts in the city and many of the patrons are excited to know things are going to continue at the theater. We look forward to working with Anthony in the future.

Wolfgang Croskey, Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce CEO, said he wanted to “elevate” the city’s decision to reach out to the private sector and look for an operator for the city owned theater.

“I think there’s a lot of wisdom to that. There’s the benefit of having somebody who has not only experience, but that has connections and that this is their sole focus, is this particular asset, the theater, and making sure that it runs efficiently, operates well and operates profitably. This is an investment for the city so this decision will hopefully extend to other avenues in the city.”

Croskey continued by stating the California Theater will help bring people and nightlife to the downtown and could even become an anchor to bring business.

“We definitely support Mr. Lane and his venture in bringing in new and exciting things to the theater. We definitely look forward to working with him as a chamber and also how we can coordinator other supplemental businesses to provide and support to the theater,” said Croskey.

The council then voted on two motions which passed in a 3-0 vote. Mayor Shanelle Scales Preston and Councilwoman Dionne Adams were both absent.

Back in August 2021, the City of Pittsburg received a $400k grant from the State to assist in the historic theatre renovation project which has been closed due to ongoing construction and to add balcony seating. The money was included in the state budget passed last week, at the request of state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Contra Costa).

The funds were slated be used to update the theatre marquee and provide dressing room facilities below stage. These features will expand the scope of the City’s current renovation project, which will add more than 100 seats to the theatre balcony.

The balcony project is financed with a $1 million donation from the John H. and Regina K. Scully Foundation to the Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation.

The historic California Theatre is a 330-seat theatre located at 351 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg’s downtown. The City’s $8 million renovation of the former vaudeville theater property was complete in 2013, and won a Preservation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation. The additional seating and other improvements will attract bigger acts and audiences once the theater resumes full operation.

The California Theatre has hosted summer drama camps for kids, films, as well as concerts and comedy shows by George Lopez, Sinbad and other top entertainers. The theater is also the home venue for Pittsburg Community Theatre drama troupe. The theatre first opened in May of 1920.

Staff Report: click here

Original story — click here