Crest Theatre

Love the theater. They have done some renovations and now has stadium seating. It is beautiful inside and there is a bar downstairs. If there is an event going on there you are interested in then you should def go. Great date night spot!

Still a great venue for films with the best sightlines! And I love their retro film picks. I mostly attend film festivals here. The owners need to be nicer, though — I attended a film fest here today and the female half of the ownership was very cold and snotty to me when I approached the theatre to buy tickets. Learn some customer service skills!

Saw Bad Ass Bitchin’ Blues concert with Tommy Castro and Elvin Bishop, on Saturday, March 5, 2016. The crest theater never disappoints good seats, a little tight, (smaller people in 1920’s?) in seating but everyplace has a good view of the stage wonderful show looking forward to coming back to see more concerts.

Watched a comedy show here and hated it. I had no room to move since the seats are so close to each other. My knees touch the person’s in front of me head and i had to keep my arms in so i wouldnt hit the person next to me .The seats are very uncomfortable on top of it. My bf and I had to leave in the middle of the show we couldn’t sit there anymore being so uncomfortable.

We came here for Valentine’s day to watch «16 Candles». Nice that the theater plays some good old films. I may have been there a couple of years ago to watch a documentary. However, parking is not the easier. Compounded that it was Vday evening, it was horrible. Arrived at 630pm, so an hour early and i already saw 2 metered slots but i figured it was too early to be standing outside the theater, so we cruised around for 20 minutes or so. WHAT A MISTAKE. I return and i literally circled around (and there are so MANY one-​way streets in this area so if you’re an out of towner, it’s not fuN!!) for more than 30 minutes. I was debating whether to just head home b/​c by this time, it was really not worth it. But good theater, just horrible parking situation.

The Crest Theatre is absolutely beautiful. The interior is stunning, although I do agree the vintage seating arrangement is a little tight. My family and I have had so many wonderful memories created at the Crest. From a screening of «It’s A Wonderful Life» before Christmas to more recent viewings of «Jaws» and «Ferris Bueller’s Day Day Off,» it’s always been a memorable experience. This year, we also had the good fortune to catch The Zombies, the Anderson Ponty Band, and Jackie Greene in concert at the Crest. These concerts were amazing, and seeing these bands in such a gorgeous venue made it even more memorable. The staff are great, very kind and helpful — that’s everyone from the ticket booth to folks working concessions or helping you locate your seats. If you are visiting Sacramento and looking for something worthy to do during your stay, pen a stop at the Crest Theatre into your calendar.

This place is always a treat. I love watching old movies on 35 mm. They play the classics like Gone With the Wind and Leave Her to Heaven.
Don’t expect any movies in digital but watching 35 mm adds to the charm.

Ah, the other neon-​signed theater along K Street, three minutes’ walk away from the IMAX. Have been to the Crest twice, both for special events. First time was for a show benefitting My Sister’s House, an organization providing shelter and support to Asian Pacific Islander victims of domestic violence. That was fun, in the style of Broadway, with impersonators performing on stage as Cher, the Temptations, Tom Jones, the Spice Girls, the Village People, Mario Lanza, and the Monkees.
More recently, attended the KVIE Season 6 Downton Abbey Screening Party at the Crest, which was setup well with merchandise, step-​and-​repeats photo opportunities, and a costume contest onstage/​trivia before the one-​hour episode sneak-​peek, raffle prizes at the end. Proceeds from concessions also went to KVIE.
The theater is already ornate on normal days, but is also decked out for the season, which adds a nice touch. Comfortable seating, easy to walk to from the parking garage on 10^th and L (they do validate). Empress Tavern restaurant is also open downstairs at basement level. Some upcoming concerts include Postmodern Jukebox, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and holiday movies like Elf, Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Muppet Christmas Carol, Die Hard, etc. Some concerts that I wanted to see here but missed out on included ukelele player Jake Shimabukuro and a capella group Straight No Chaser.
The Varsity Theater in Davis also has this old-​timey feel, and Tower Theater has local roots too, but the best old theater I’ve been to so far is the historic Grand Lake Theater (designated as one of the top ten vintage theaters in the nation!) in Oakland.
Sacramentans, visit The Kay and see what it has to offer! The Crest and Esquire theaters, Mother for vegetarians, or Pizza Rock, Ella, Oishii and more!

The Crest is THE BEST venue for live music and comedy shows in Sacramento, PERIOD!!! Yes, me likes the Crest, CAPS & wayyyyy to much punctuation!
Seriously though, been seeing shows at the Crest since I was a child in the 1960’s. The venue is even better now. Cleaned up and with a newer sound system, it is by far the best small venue in town. I have been to every concert (oldies, not that new fangled stuff) and comedy show in the past two years. I ALWAYS get front row seating for $ 45 or less, what the ??? Can’t get nosebleed seats for twice that at most venues.
The ambiance is wonderful, reminds me of the all day Disney shows they did when I was a kid, but it’s updated just enough to be a cool adult venue now. The K street mall is all the better for the Crest being located smack dab in it’s midst. You can shop a bit, get a drink or dinner, parking is always available within a few hundred feet and then you can see a good show up close and personal.
Join their mailing list if you like. I get first crack at tickets, thus the front row availability, if you jump on it at first notice. They usually notify me well in advance of tickets going on sale, so I wait & watch and get great seats at reasonable prices.
I have rambled long enough. If you like a cool venue at reasonable prices, GO TO THE CREST!!! Love you Crest!

Beautiful Theatre!!! Been here twice so. The best thing is there is not really a bad seat in the house. It’s small enough that even when seated to the back you get a great view.

How freaking cute is this theatre?
I went there last week to see Bianca del Rio in her «Rolodex of Hate» Tour. We did the Meet-​and-​Greet prior to showtime. They had it super organized and the bars and concession stand were open and taking orders.
I love, love, love the huge circa-1970’s lamps on the walls and the beautiful blue lighting in the recessed ceiling. We said it reminded us of an Esther Williams movie and we wish ladies were swimming in the ceiling.
We may have had a few cocktails before this idea occurred to us.
The acoustics were amazing and parking (next to the State Capitol) was inexpensive and it was super easy to find parking!

We need to support local businesses as much as possible. The Crest is/​was a landmark in Sacramento but has fallen on tough times as of recently. My mother in law told me that people one attended shows there and people dressed up in suit and tie/​formal dresses to go to the show. The show included an opening act, maybe a vaudville or comedian, prior to watching the film.
When I walk into the theatre, I try to visualize the times past and how it must have been. Contrast that to all of the bog box theaters sprouting up on every corner nowadays. The charm, gorgeous gold wall interiors, and simple layout will never again be replicated in new theaters.
I’m not going to review the concert that I saw, that was great too.
Support local business. Local businesses are the heart and soul of the US economy.

80s MOVIES BOOYAH!
Do you have a full size theatre inside of your house? If you do, then you are probably not reading reviews on Unilocal.If you don’t, then LET’S REVIEW!
QUALITY/​SELCTION: ⁵⁄₅
Seriously, where else are you going to watch Alien, Total Recall and other old, awesome movies? They always have different ones throughout the month. No new movies, not that anybody really cares about films made after 1995. I almost gave this a ⁴⁄₅ due to the fact that they do not have Icees??? Step yo game up Crest!
AMBIENCE: ³⁄₅
Eh, not the nicest theatre. I know that this is an old building, but it is just not very relaxing. There is an actual stage in front of the screen that is a bit distracting. The location is also not the best. K street can get pretty gritty sometimes.
PRICE: ⁴⁄₅
10 bucks for a movie isn’t bad. The snacks are where they get you. I guess they are also normally priced for a theatre, but that 6 dollar pretzel and 3 dollar candy bar leave my very happy. Eat before you come!
SERVICE: ⁵⁄₅
There are not very many employees here, but they get their jobs done. The place is always pretty clean and they serve the food and tickets with a smile. Not too much else to ask for.
Overall, I probably wouldn’t come here if I wanted to see a more recent movie or if I had a gigantic tv to watch my Arnold flicks on, but I don’t. That leaves Crest Theatre to fulfill my desires.

Beautiful historic theater reminds you of how it must have been in the 1950s/​1960s. Such character! Seats were a bit small for a 6 footer but they added to the character. Watching the Japanese movie ‘Unforgiven’ part of the Japanese film festival in sac. I can already sense a great evening

The Crest is reborn! The best holdover theater in Sacramento has always been an art deco beauty and a moviehouse gem worthy of our state capitol. It’s fate was up in the air for a while when it changed owners, but the best possible outcome has happened. The main beautiful theater has now become a haven for wonderful throwback movie nights, complete with costume contests, dance contests, and great prizes! For only $ 10, you can watch one of your favorite classic movies with fellow mega-​fans. They also support live acts and film festivals. It was a genius move, and it’s obvious by the attendance at the screenings I attended of Back to the Future and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade that this kind of immersive experience with great movies we love is damn good business. There’s great things ahead, like their Sci-​Fi in July theme, featuring Aliens, Total Recall and the absolutely mindblowing double feature of Labyrinth and Dark Crystal!
Thank you Crest for being a movie lover’s absolute dream come true, I can’t wait to see the next fabulous movie with great people! Always a fun night out, guaranteed! :D

It is tough to review the Crest Theatre. I have seen many unique films and performances here, but the building is tough to love. The new owners have done a good job of cleaning up the place, but it is still an old theatre with cramped seating and less than state-​of-​the art picture and sound.
That said, the ornate decorations and fun atmosphere of the building are worth a trip. The classic neon lights outside are a true landmark, and they offer all sorts of classic and art-​house films. I keep returning year after year, so they are still offering a good experience!

My Goddaughter and I enjoyed watching the emmy nominated cartoon festival. Never been there before, and the actual theatre reminds one of the scene from Phantom of the Opera. I also like how, before the show, a person came on stage to talk, rather then sit through crappy previews.
Typical theatre snacks, although Andi did enjoy her Italian soda. Don’t know how many of their other shows may appeal to me, but definitely will be watching the ads to see, as this theatre is very nice in its own right.

Really cool old school theater in downtown. Saw the short documentary Academy Award nominee films here this past weekend and really enjoyed the ambience of this theater. Great vibes here, though tickets are definitely over priced. Seats are a bit uncomfortable and there are no cup holders unfortunately. Worth seeing a show or movie here.

The Crest is back, baby! After an extended closure, I feared the worst: this beautiful old theatre would become yet another shuttered and forgotten remnant of a bygone era along a historic street in desperate need of revitalization.
But fear not. New management stepped in and has done some extensive renovations in the main theater. Even better, they are now operating more as a special venue with one-​night-​only showings of classic films, concerts and film festivals. This adds to the excitement of going here as opposed to a mostly empty theater for a regular film run.
It looks like they have either renovated or completely closed the downstairs theaters and focused their energies on the centerpiece theater upstairs. It’s a wonderful timepiece that takes you back to the era when going to the movies or a show was a much more sacred and anticipated experience.
I love the Crest. Hopefully, it and Sacramento have a long, bright future together.

Wow, Crest Theatre is gorgeous. Last night was my first visit here, and it’s definitely not going to be the last.
Acoustics here were really great. We attended a screening of The Big Lebowski last night and the the screen was perfect and we could enjoy being part of a crowd without having to hear too much of the crowd. The movie’s audio projected perfectly.
They do validate parking. I’m assuming this changes but on Monday nights you can have your parking validated at the snack counter if you park in the garage between K & L on 10^th. It was a $ 5.00 validation. I would call to confirm with Crest just to be sure.
I won’t give away how awesome it feels to walk into the historic lobby, or what a fun time traveling experience it is to wander in the theatre.
Run, don’t walk, to the next movie screening, stand up comedy or musical performance here. New owners are really sweet and they really love this place. So do I!

Festejos was a beautiful Christmas performance put on by CaliDanza. Although this is a late post I still felt that it was necessary to share my experience at the Crest Theatre with my Unilocal community and all who read our reviews. First of all I must mention the importance of getting to this venue early as parking can be tricky. This show started at 6:30 and I arrived at 6 pm and it took me 15 minutes to find parking. Although there are parking garages they are expensive, and in downtown street/​metered parking opens up at 6 pm. So if you time it right you should be able to park for free on the street at exactly 6pm. If you find a spot at say 5:55 pm take it and wait in your car until 6pm but be ready to drop a quarter in the meter if a meter maid pulls up.
The Crest theatre is an old movie theatre that was renovated to a stage some time ago. I actually learned this from one of my friends who has lived in Sacramento since she was a little girl. My friend also told me that the the big movie screen was on the first floor, which is now the main stage, and that there were two smaller screens down stairs in the basement, which are auxiliary stages. Evidently all three theaters had been renovated to stages for live shows and theatre performances. But I have only been in the main theater (1^st floor.)
An interesting factoid for those of you who enjoy live performances is that the main stage has very little wings space or back stage area for crew and cast when off stage. Thus, for stage left entrances they are lined up like sardines in the 5“X 20″ space and wait until their cue. And the stage right entrance/​exits often times are completely visible by the audience.
When I walked into the Crest Theater I felt as though I had entered a time capsule. The décor and ambiance was reminiscent of an antiquated 1990’s movie theater. The groovy indoor/​outdoor carpet with a «paisley» like design had a dizzying effect on me. On the other hand, the soft lighting from the enormous chandelier provided the classy ambience that all theaters should have. The gold painted accents offer an architectural interest to the eye with a classy Gregorian feel.
I didn’t get any concessions at the concession counter, however there are popcorn and sodas available for purchase. The Crest theater would be a fun place to see a show with your friends as it is located on K street and there are plenty of restaurants and bars within walking distance.

This theater is so beautiful. We were there for the gay festival, and we really enjoyed admiring the architecture of this beautiful theater. I really like when I walk into a place and feel that it has had a past, a story to tell. I wish this place could talk, for I feel many stories about the more glorified old traditions and customs pour from its walls!

Not since I was a little girl had I been to a theater in Down Town Sacramento. Thank goodness the CREST has managed to survive, be restored to it’s former glory, and provide Sacramento with movies, live concerts, and other events in a wonderful setting. It is a true gem with it’s rococo meets deco design.

After so many years of coming here for punk shows, animation festivals and independent films, I still marvel at the Crest’s architecture and décor. Everything seems so well preserved. It feels very special to enter the glass doors of the theater to what awaits beyond.
Although I love the Crest, I have to be honest about a few things. First, the seats are hard, and uncomfortable. I am assuming they are still straw-​stuffed rather than foam-​stuffed, but that’s vintage for you! No, you won’t find cup holders at these seats either. Second, the vending counter has the usual overpriced snacks and drinks that chain theaters carry.
Other theaters don’t have a wine and beer lounge though (located across and downstairs from the counter). Of course there are plenty of eateries and drinkeries in walking distance too for before or after the show if you don’t want to partake. And, you can get really dolled up in the women’s bathroom with the vanity room which is separate from the toilets. I had the whole 20 foot long mirror to myself!

The Cinematic Screenplay For My «Memory Lane»
SITREP
The Crest Theatre was the very first theater I ever ventured into when I came to Sacramento back in 1986. The better part of these last three (3) decades, the Crest has been an icon for me of all the cool stuff that I’ve done on K Street Mall.
THE SETUP
What «cool stuff», you may ask? EVERYTHING! Ranging from Film Festivals & Concerts to Circus Performances & Zombie Apocalypse Walks, etc. etc. If it was something cutting-​edge, alternative & fun, you could always count on the Crest to be a venue up for the task!
FILM
The category that makes the most sense to start with since The Crest Theater is a «theater», after all would be to mention the fun film festivals that I’ve enjoyed here. If there is an Independent Film Festival, a Foreign Film Festival, or even a Science Film Festival, then this would be the place to come!
— Trash Film Orgy (TFO) — the brain-​child of madman Mr. Lobo, this has been a lot of fun for me and my friends over the years. Very eclectic and dynamic films would be premiered here in all their bloody gory… I mean, «glory», and we would LAUGH and WINCE and SCREAM in hysterics because of the fun madness coming at us from the screen.
— SciFi — One of my most memorable moments here was meeting the late Irvin Kerschner, Director of the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Since 1980, I had kept preserved in class — as perfectly as possible — my original EMPIRE STRIKES BOX movie poster that I absconded with from the FOX MOVIE THEATER in Washington, D.C. flash forward almost two decades later, I was getting a chance to meet the man who directed the film itself!
When I met him, he was very bemused that I had an original movie poster, and he was even more jovial when I told him that my screenwriting instructor at that time was Jeremy Bullock, the actor who played Boba Fett in EMPIRE and RETURN. He graciously offered to sign my poster in the white part of Darth Vader’s helmet on the poster. I STILL am elated to this day that I have met two such incredible icons from what is to me the BEST movie in the entire Star Wars franchise. [Props to the Late Irwin Kershner who was such a wonderful movie director in the Star Wars, Robocop and James Bond film franchises.]
MUSIC
— VIXEN — I had such a hard on for this flash-​in-​the-​pan heavy-​metal all-​girl band. And I got to meet all the girls here at the Crest. Great concert energy. AND THEN go dancing with them afterwards. Such a memorable night. [Oh my GOD. Such a memorable night. I’ll …I’ll just leave it at that.] ;)
— SIOUXSIE! When she was taking a break from the Banshees, she and Budgee toured and I got to see them perform here at the Crest Theater. It was such a great show, in probably one of the most intimate environments I’ve gotten to see here ever in. It was beautiful.
SWING DANCE COMPETITIONS!
The dancing contests & demonstrations for swing-​dance have been held here on occasion and they have been so much fun. As an avid swing-​dancer, I love when this venue is used since it heralds the original vibe from the 30s and 40s with it’s amazing décor and artistry.
The Crest Theatre is in a class all by itself when it comes to being a venue that hosts the best in performance art.
THE LOWDOWN
The Crest Theatre remains to this day one of Sacramento’s most iconic movie and concert venues.