The Modesto Theatre

William R. Mensinger (1866 – 1954) moved his family from Iowa to Modesto in 1901.  As a successful and progressive businessman, his interests were in investment property and farming.  As early as 1911 he was considering how a first-class, dramatic and operatic theatre might be both a good investment and an attractive addition to downtown Modesto where he already owned property.  In 1912, Mensinger had Stockton architect Ralph P. Morrell design a three-story, brick, 900-seat theatre and office building for his Tenth Street property.

The Modesto Theatre was dedicated February 6, 1913, and gave Modesto a fully- equipped opera house complete with box seating, dress circle, loge, and a balcony.  It also hosted graduations, operettas, puppet shows, musicals, and big-name vaudeville.

When the “Mensinger Block” was built, there was no Hughson Hotel (1914), Beaty Building (1925), Covell Hotel (1924), or Strand Theatre (1920), so the three-story “Mensinger Block”, the Modesto Bank, and the Tynan Hotel were the impressive buildings on Tenth Street.

On Monday, December 13, 1913, a fire started in the heating system in the basement of the theatre, rapidly spread, and gutted the entire interior of the theatre.  Within a month Mensinger had San Francisco architect J. J. Foley working on plans for the reconstruction of the theatre.  The theatre was rebuilt, lavishly redecorated, and reopened July 9, 1914.

Even today the tallest part of the old Modesto Theatre near the alley, the scenery loft, remains and can be seen from a distance on 9th Street, I Street, or from any elevated building in downtown Modesto.  It seems a bit ironic that it was actually the scenery loft that acted like a chimney when the fire broke out and was the major contributor to the rapid spread of the disastrous fire.