Los Gatos Theater's Makeover Mixes Art Deco with High Tech

Renovations of Los Gatos Theater continue at the nearly 100-year-old downtown landmark, mixing its Art Deco past with modern conveniences of cinema and sound.

"I am not an architect but I have come to appreciate elements of the 'new-old' design over the last few weeks, that were simply not obvious when I studied the architectural plans," writes Los Gatos High School student Melanie Goetz on her Los Gatos Theater blog.

Historical attributes, Melanie writes, include a plaza and marquis in traditional Art Deco-styling, plus a single theater in the rear with a live stage and an external ticket booth mirroring the original on North Santa Cruz Avenue.

"Yet, each of these elements have received a modern twist," she notes. "For example, the live stage of the original theater is now twice the original depth and includes a proper green room."

Melanie, who has established herself as the town's go-to source for theater updates, said the renovation team tapped the "new-old" concept pioneered by architectural guru Russell Versaci.  

"The team has been able to preserve the existing tree cover throughout the design, and most of the new scale is hidden by the mature landscaping and its original Art Deco marquis," Melanie writes, noting that "when the 'GATOS' blade arrives in a couple of months, the Theater’s neon will once again be prominent up and down the avenue."

As for the actual opening date, Patch will keep you posted.

Meanwhile, local Ed Bellezza snapped some photos in June 2013 of the construction progress that can be viewed here.