Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1433015
10 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | DECEMBER 2021 By Brad Hyman, Resident On Thanksgiving Day in 1921, the Historic Hemet Theatre opened at its current location on the north side of Florida Avenue in downtown Hemet. When it closed in the mid-1980s, it was thought to be the oldest continuously operating single screen movie theater in the country. Over the decades, thousands of Hemet residents saw newsreels and first-run movies there, went on dates, got their first jobs, and gathered with friends and neighbors in the center of town. Fast forward to 2013 when the Historic Hemet Theatre reopened as a non-profit foundation. The grand old building once again became the cultural focal point of the San Jacinto Valley by hosting live concerts that have brought over 60,000 people and over 100 bands to the community. In addition, the Theatre hosts community events, private parties, youth recitals, civic meetings, and lectures on the history of the area. The theater lobby has been renovated to bring it back to the Art Deco beauty of the 1930s, most of the auditorium's seats have been replaced by comfortable modern ones that were donated by the Academy of Television Arts Theatre in North Hollywood, the lighting and sound system have been upgraded, and the speakers are currently being replaced. The HHT is completely volunteer run and funding relies heavily on donations. The City of Hemet has approved over $1 million of additional future renovations, with an eye towards showing first-run movies again and facilitating this beautiful old building to become the centerpiece of an economic and cultural revitalization downtown. My wife Ellen and I have enjoyed and supported the Historic Hemet Theatre since we moved here in 2015. If you want to be a part of this excitement, as we and many Solera Diamond Valley residents already have, you can support it by attending their concerts and other events, making a tax-deductible donation and volunteering. It is an investment in the future of our city. There is fun in Hemet! Historic Hemet Theatre is located at 216 East Florida Avenue. You can reach them at (951) 658-5950. Historic Hemet Theatre