Historic theater to be leveled in Porterville after human-caused fire

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A historic theater in Porterville is coming down after a fire ravaged the building last February.

On Feb. 16, a man nearly died after allegedly starting a fire in the Porter Theatre. He was rescued, but by the time fire crews were able to extinguish the flames, the damage was irreparable.

Demolition began Tuesday.

The Porter Theatre originally opened in 1949 and began operating as a movie house in 1950. It served the community until its closure in 1997.

Before the fire, city officials say they had hoped to restore the theater to its original glory.

“There was hope that the building could be repurposed and continue serving future generations, honoring the heritage and memories it had instilled in the history of our community, but unfortunately, the fire damage was too severe to salvage the building,” Assistant City Manager Michael Knight said.

While the building is expected to be fully leveled by June 6, Knight says a part of its legacy will live on.

“In a gesture of respect for the community’s shared history, the property owner has announced plans to salvage the letters from the historic theater sign, thereby preserving a piece of the building’s nostalgic legacy,” Knight said.

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