Arlington Theatre Directions:
Coming from North of Santa Barbara:
101 South, Exit West Mission St ., go left Right on State St.
The Arlington Theatre will be on your left.
Coming from South of Santa Barbara:
101 North, Exit W. Arrellaga St. , merge onto W. Arrellaga St . Right on State St.
The Arlington Theater will be on your left.
Feel free to call us regarding any questions you have about Arlington Theater directions
Arlington Theater Parking:
Arlington Theatre parking is available in the city lot between West Anapamu St. and West Victoria St . Street parking is also available throughout surrounding areas.
Feel free to call us regarding any questions you have pertaining to Arlington Theatre parking.
View Larger Map
The Arlington Theatre was part of a massive undertaking to restore downtown Santa Barbara after a 6.3 earthquake destroyed its previous occupant, the Arlington Hotel, and many other buildings. The Arlington Hotel was built in 1876, and marked the beginning of commercial tourism in Santa Barbara . In 1930, the Arlington Theater opened as a movie house for Fox West Coast Theaters. It remained that way for forty years, until the Metropolitan Theaters Corporation expanded the Arlington Theater and restored it to its original colonial Mission style.
As the largest performing arts venue in Santa Barbara , the Arlington Theater seats 2,000 people between the balcony and the main theatre floor. If you've never been to a show, the auditorium was designed to make you feel like you are sitting in an outdoor plaza of a colonial-era Spanish town, with three dimensional structures coming out of the walls. High ceilings transport the audience to an evening under a star-filled sky, and on Sundays, an organ opens the acts that during non-usage is hidden away.
The Arlington Theatre has been a staple in Santa Barbara 's historic roots. Visitors to the theatre can imagine what the living conditions and habits of the Spaniards who discovered the Santa Barbara area were like. There is a marble fountain in the theatre as well, that mirrors history books and the actual missions that still populate Santa Barbara today.
Visit the Arlington Theatre for your chance to absorb the beauty and historical insight. The theatre puts on live shows and also functions as a movie theatre. No matter what time of year, or what your theatrical interests may be, the Arlington Theatre caters to the entertainment needs of every audience. |