Can you imagine Mill Valley without the memorable Throckmorton Theatre? What if it wasn’t bought by Lucy Mercer in the early 2000s? Would is still remain in disrepair? What would happen to the Mill Valley Film Festival and all the art and acting programs? This life sounds quite dreary in our opinion. Whoever has done something or participated in something within the Throckmorton Theatre knows how instantaneously you become enamored with the intricately painted walls, the nostalgic wood furnishing and the welcoming foyer, but it’s not just that, there is this magical feeling in the air that seems almost tangible around you. The laughter, joy and tears that sprinkle out on warm summer nights, or windy fall evenings.
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| The Throckmorton Theater |
The Throckmorton Theatre as we know it now used to be The Hub, which was famed for hosting Charlie Chaplin and regular vaudeville programming in 1914. Which was when the also darling Sequoia Theater opened in the 1920s, the Hub faded away and closed. After the 1920s the Hub became became a series of different venues, a bowling alley, a roller skating rink etc. When the Oddfellows bought it in the 1970s they turned it into a private venue called the Odd Fellows Lodge which hosted the Saturday Nite Movies a noted forerunner to the Mill Valley Film Festival, but it too fell into disrepair. The founder of the Throckmorton Theatre found this jewel and purchased it with a nonprofit organization to preserve art organizations. Mercer even sold her house to restore the theatre. In 2003 the doors opened again becoming the much loved Throckmorton Theatre.
From stand up comedy to teen a cappella the Throckmorton Theatre hosts it all. Artist of all kinds gather there. When researching for this article we found news that the theatre had come dangerously close to closing in 2009. As a nonprofit organization they rely on our contribution as a community. It is our responsibility that the Throckmorton Theatre be a long lasting name in our community. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this incredible institution in Mill Valley.