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DAVIS HISTORY

The history of the Varsity Theatre

The Varsity opened in 1950 as a modern Streamline Moderne movie palace and later became a designated Davis City Landmark.

When the Varsity opened in 1950, it was billed as one of the Sacramento Valley’s most modern theaters. Its Streamline Moderne design came from William Bernard Davis, who had apprenticed with prominent movie-palace architect S. Charles Lee. Davis later remodeled the building for performance and conference use, designated it a City Landmark in 1998, and it reopened under private movie-theater management in 2006.

1950The Varsity opens as a modern movie palace.
1998Davis designates the building a City Landmark.
2006The Varsity reopens as a movie theater under private management.
Period1950–2006
EvidenceDocumented
Location616 2nd St
Last checked2026-08-18
SourceCity of Davis — Historic Pedestrian and Bike Tour
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