The Jose, built in 1904, is the oldest theater in San
Jose, located on Second Street near San Fernando Street. Construction of the
Jose was started in 1903 under the ownership of David Jacks, a Monterey
landowner who was the namesake of Monterrey Jack cheese. At that time, the
theater was a popular showcase for stock companies and vaudeville acts. Its
history includes an appearance by magician Harry Houdini and a stint as a
vaudeville house. Within a 10-year period the theatre ownership changed from
Jacks to Chicago speculator William Warren. Then in the 1920's, James Battey
bought the Jose as an addition to his local chain of theaters. Under Battey's
tenure, the entertainment was changed to include silent motion pictures with
the customary live musical accompaniment. In the 1930's the Jose began its
history of showing second-run films. In 1933 Battey invested $35, 000 for
remodeling. In 1949, James B. Lima's General Theatrical Company purchased the
Jose. Subsequently, ownership of the Jose was assumed by Barry Swenson and Jim
Fox, who closed the theater after the Loma Prieta earthquake. Swenson and Fox
said it was not economically feasible to perform the retrofit to keep the
theater open. The Jose Theater was declared a historical landmark on April 16,
1990.