Padua Hills Theatre
- Historic theater
- In Claremont, California
- 3.0 mi from Route 66
- National Register of Historic Places
Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont, CA, is a Spanish Colonial Revival theater building in the foothills, about 3 miles off the old road. From 1931 to 1974 it staged Mexican-theme musicals, the longest such run of any theater in the United States. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it adds a chapter of Southern California cultural history to a Route 66 drive through the Claremont area.
What is Padua Hills Theatre?
The theater was designed by the architecture firm Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, a look built on smooth plaster walls, red tile roofs and arched openings. Its setting in the hills above Claremont gives it a quieter feel than the busy valley below, and the approach up from Foothill Boulevard feels a world away from the suburban traffic.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized for both its design and the unusual story of the productions it hosted.
History of Padua Hills Theatre
The Padua Hills Theatre opened in 1931 and ran until 1974. Across those decades it became known for musicals with Mexican themes, and no other theater in the country kept such a program going as long.
It was run as a nonprofit with a clear purpose: to build understanding between European Americans and people of Mexican descent. That mission, carried out on stage over more than forty years, is a big part of why the building is remembered today. For travelers interested in how Southern California's cultures met and mixed, it is a meaningful place to stand for a few minutes.
Visiting Padua Hills Theatre: tips
Plan a short stop to see the building and its hillside setting. Check ahead for any events if you hope to see more than the exterior. The drive fits easily with nature stops nearby: Potato Mountain is about 1.1 miles away, and the California Botanic Garden and the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology are each about 2.9 miles away.
Practical info
- Address
- 4467 Padua Ave, Claremont, CA 91711
- Phone
- +1 909-624-8628
- Website
- paduaweddings.com
- Hours
- Tue–Sun 9–5
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
Where to eat near Padua Hills Theatre
All diners on Route 66 →.jpg/250px-Magic_Lamp_Inn_(NBY_432829).jpg)
On the map
Full mapPadua Hills Theatre with the 6 closest stops and places to eat (fork and knife). Tap a marker for details.
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Stops near Padua Hills Theatre
All of California.jpeg/500px-Potato_Mountain_(197314141).jpeg)
1.1 mi from Padua Hills Theatre
2.9 mi from Padua Hills Theatre
2.9 mi from Padua Hills Theatre
3.0 mi from Padua Hills Theatre
3.2 mi from Padua Hills Theatre
3.3 mi from Padua Hills Theatre
Questions about Padua Hills Theatre
What was the Padua Hills Theatre known for?
From 1931 to 1974 it presented Mexican-theme musicals, the longest-running program of its kind at any theater in the United States.
Who designed the Padua Hills Theatre?
The architecture firm Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.
Own or run Padua Hills Theatre? Send us a photo or a correction.