Winema Theatre - Scotia, California
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 40° 29.050 W 124° 06.148
10T E 406560 N 4482080
The historic Winema Theatre in Scotia, California.
Waymark Code: WMJX24
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 01/09/2014
Views: 5
This unique Tyrolean Swiss chalet style movie house was built in 1919 and originally had seating for 600. The structure is built of Redwood lumber which the Scotia lumber mill produced. The theater survived the April 1992 earthquake which caused the fire which destroyed the adjacent commercial mall. In 2002 a renovation to a performing arts center was completed with new seating, lights, sound system, full size movie house screen, and 2000 square foot dance floor.
Link to 1920 photos (
visit link)
Text of history sign at theater: WI’NE’MA THEATRE
“Women of the Braveheart”
The Wi’ne’ma Theatre was built in 1919 and named for a young Indian girl who devoted her life to establishing friendly relations between her people, the Modoc Indians, and the white men. The first performance was on November 20, 1920 and tells the story of Wi’ne’ma, the theaters namesake.
Designed by Architect, Alfred Henry Jacobs, it was to be a place of friendly assemblage, blended with its magnificent surroundings, not to be commercial in nature, in essence to be more than just a theatre to the community.
A redwood architectural marvel, originally had seating for 600 patrons. It is 128 feet long, 58 feet wide and 45 feet high.
Spared from fire in 1992 and renovated in 2000-2002 with new seating, lights, sound system and 2000 square foot dance floor. The Wi’ne’ma Theatre has constantly been used as a place of friendly assemblage and pride of the Scotia Community.
Dedicated June 14, 2007
by the Grand parlor
Native Sons of the Golden West
Clark Brandt, Grand President