Balboa Theatre, Historic theater in Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, United States
The Balboa Theatre is a theater building in the Gaslamp Quarter that displays classical architectural details throughout its structure. Its interior contains a main floor seating area and a balcony level with a combined capacity of around 1,300 seats.
The theater opened in 1924 and was later recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its design and role in the community. It has shaped the entertainment history of the neighborhood for nearly a century.
The Balboa hosted Spanish-language films as Teatro Balboa from 1934 and today stages touring Broadway productions, the Mainly Mozart Festival and the city's annual State of the City address. A 1929 Wonder Morton organ, one of four in the world, was rededicated here in 2009 after a five-year restoration.
The building is located on Fourth Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter and is reachable by multiple forms of transportation, including the local trolley system. Wheelchair access is available in the main floor seating area, making it accessible for visitors with different mobility needs.
The 1924 Robert Morton organ had 426 pipes and an echo organ above the balcony; organist Edward Swan called it the finest he had ever played, accompanying silent films for up to 12 hours a day. It was moved to the Fox Theatre in 1929, and a 1929 Wonder Morton organ, one of only four in the world, was later installed.
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