Construction began in 1940 and the 1,060-seat Fremont Theatre opened May 29, 1942 with Tyrone Power & Joan Fontaine in “This Above All”. Appearing ‘In Person’ were Max Baer, Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, Constance Bennett & Jackie Cooper. It has the large original main theatre that is painted inside with murals of flowers, charging steeds & women in gowns by the Heinsbergen Decorating Company of Los Angeles. By 1997 three more screens known as Mission Cinemas were added by Edwards Cinemas in an adjacent building (which have their own page on Cinema Treasures).
The Fremont Theatre was also used for the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and has been operated at different times by Fox, National General, Mann, and then Edwards Cinemas.
Last operated as a movie theatre by the independent ‘The Movie Experience’ chain and was closed by 2016.
Since 2017 it has operated as a concert venue.
Date: 29/05/2013
Photographer: Ned Clark
