El Rey Theater

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El Rey Theater: 3520 San Pablo Avenue,; Oakland, CA 94608

The Plaza Theatre was opened in 1927. In 1937 it was renamed El Rey Theatre, and in 1939, it was renamed World Theatre. In 1941 it went back to the El Rey Theatre name and operated as a burlesque theatre, with movies as part of the program. The El Rey Theatre was closed in July 1957.

El Rey Theatre, Oakland, Californnia
El Rey with Tempest Storm Marquee^{[Source 1]}
El Rey at night

The owner of the El Rey, also operated the Gayety Theatre on Turk Street in San Francisco. Behind the Gayety snack bar were pictures of the El Rey on the back wall tons of photos of the El Rey, with pictures of all the strippers. My dad said that even though the T&D, Moulin Rouge, 16th Street Follies continued on after, the El Rey was the king theater of burlesque! cool!

Prior to The El Rey Theater operating on a burlesque format, it was a movie theater featuring films that were less than new releases. As an enticement to patrons, they gave away one piece of chinaware to all women patrons on Monday Nights. You could collect a whole set if you frequent the theater during the promotion period

I danced at the El Rey beginning in the fall of 1949 as Colette the Beaucoup Girl. I also worked in skits with the two comics, Bruce & forgot the other chaps name. His wife was Bonnie. I couldn’t sew (I was on the college track @ El Cerrito High & not yet 18) so I became the 1st stripper (other than Lily St. Cyr) to strip out of street clothes. I became Jackie the Coed. I don’t recall your dad but I sure remember the ugly “butcher" Charlie who sold the french photos & crackerjacks! And of course, Pete D. & his lovely blonde wife, Yvonne. The Follies brought me to LA & Temptest was sent to the El Rey, a much smaller venue. Before she left LA, I did watch her being taught to walk the T-Bar by Miss Lillian Hunt. A few years back I ran into Tempest @ Neiman Marcus in Newport Beach. Now she works for the retirement communities but has severe sight problems. Still red-heads and busty!