Circle Star Theater

The Circle Star Theater was a performing arts venue in San Carlos, San Mateo County, California). Its name is based on it being a theater in the round, featuring a rotating circular stage with none of its 3,743 seats further than 50 feet (15 m) from the stage. Unlike similar venues across the US, the Circle Star Theater Stage had the unique ability to rotate in either direction without limit thanks to the collector ring & brush system for infinite rotation. The theater's address was 2 Circle Star Way, San Carlos, CA 94070.

Its original concept when it opened in the early 60s was a dinner theatre similar to the Hyatt House Theatre in Burlingame. Lewis & Dare productions hosted many Broadway touring shows such as The Odd Couple with Ernest Borgnine and Don Rickles.

In 1971, the theatre was purchased by Marquee Entertainment run by Don Jo Medlevine of the famed Chicago nightclub Chez Paree. Booking Vegas acts such as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Wayne Newton among many others. In the mid 70's, the theatre kept alive by booking Motown acts to increase its diversity. Barry Gordy was no stranger to this facility.^[1]

Performers

The following musicians, actors, and comedians are among those who have appeared at the Circle Star:

Johnny Cash Chet Atkins The Beach Boys Jack Benny George Benson Chuck Berry Sonny & Cher Victor Borge Bread James Brown Cameo George Carlin Johnny Carson The Carpenters Judy Collins Bill Cosby Sammy Davis, Jr. DeBarge Chris LeDoux New Edition Miami Sound Machine

Don Ellis The 5th Dimension Neil Diamond Kenny G Marvin Gaye Engelbert Humperdink Bob Hope The Jackson 5 Jan & Dean George Jones Chaka Khan with Rufus B. B. King Leo Kottke Liberace Gordon Lightfoot Little Richard Barry Manilow Richard Marx Willie Nelson The Ohio Players Con Funk Shun Tony Orlando & Dawn Ricky Nelson Tommy James & the Shondells

Buck Owens Lydia Pense with Cold Blood Richard Pryor Kenny Rogers & the First Edition Kenny Rogers Diana Ross Shalamar Frank Sinatra The Three Stooges Tower of Power Donna Summer Ike Turner Roger Troutman Conway Twitty Luther Vandross Dionne Warwick Grover Washington, Jr. Andy Williams Wolfe Tones Frank Zappa Holly Dunn Tim Allen

Jerry Seinfeld Bob Goldthwait Tom Kenny Marsha Warfield Hiroshima Jerry Lee Lewis Andy Kaufman KC and the Sunshine Band The Lennon Sisters Tom Jones Rick James Benny Goodman The Oakridge Boys Kenny Rogers Crystal Gayle Dan Seals Martina McBride Restless Heart Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons The Dave Clark Five Red Foxx Harry Chapin

Demise

After several tough financial runs after Don Jo Medlevine sold the theatre, the Circle Star ultimately failed under new ownership and was closed in December 1993.^[2] The derelict building caught fire on April 18, 1997, damaging much of the backstage area, though by this time plans had already been made for its demolition.^[3] The theater was ultimately demolished to make way for the Circle Star Center, a complex containing two four-story office buildings and a small hotel.

Upon closing, the theatre refused to give its seats to local Sequoia High School in nearby Redwood City, instead having them destroyed with the rest of the building.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ "Matters Historical: A brief time in the spotlight". San Mateo Daily News. 2006-09-30. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. http://web.archive.org/web/20071012023003/http://www.sanmateodailynews.com/article/2006-9-30-matters-historical. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
2. ^ John Wildermouth (1995-01-06). "Bank Buys Circle Star Theater". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/01/06/mn19944.dtl&sn=002&sc=736. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 
3. ^ Wilson, Marshall (1997-04-19). "Fire Damages Closed Theater: Cause unknown in smoky blaze at Circle Star Center". San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/04/19/MN14350.DTL&sn=010&sc=382. Retrieved 2008-02-27. 

Coordinates: 37°29′52″N 122°14′26″W / 37.49778°N 122.24056°W / 37.49778; -122.24056