Lights Out - History of Movie Theaters in Lodi, California

For over a century, movie theaters have been woven into the fabric of Lodi’s identity—from a humble storefront nickelodeon on School Street in 1908 to the gleaming Streamline Moderne marquee that lit up West Lodi Avenue for 76 years. In January 2026, wrecking equipment arrived at the Sunset Theatre, closing the final chapter on one of Lodi’s most beloved landmarks. This is the full story of how movies came to Lodi, how downtown lost its picture palaces, and why the Sunset’s demolition matters.