Guide to the Patrick Melarkey Save Alhambra Theatre campaign records
April Farnham
Center for Sacramento History
© 2020
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Phone: (916) 808-7072
Fax: (916) 264-7582
Email: csh@cityofsacramento.org
URL: http://www.centerforsacramentohistory.org/
Center for Sacramento History. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Patrick Melarkey Save Alhambra Theatre campaign records
Collection number: MS0085
Center for Sacramento HistorySacramento, CA
- Processed by:
- April Farnham
- Date Completed:
- 2005
- Encoded by:
- Kim Hayden
© 2020 Center for Sacramento History. All rights reserved.
Title: Patrick Melarkey Save Alhambra Theatre campaign records
Dates: 1927-1988
Bulk Dates: 1972-1973
Collection number: MS0085
Creator:
Melarkey, Patrick (1931-2020)
Collection Size:
1 linear foot (1 half manuscript box, oversize material, photographs)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: The collection consists of personal notes, letters, official correspondence, newspaper clippings, ephemera, fliers, artwork,
press releases, and photographs pertaining to Dr. Patrick Melarkey’s efforts to save the former historic Alhambra Theatre
of Sacramento through the Save Alhambra Theatre campaign. Information from the collection dates from 1927 through 1988, with
the majority of the material dating from 1972 and 1973.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection is open for research use.
All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to csh@cityofsacramento.org. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron.
No permission is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Patrick Melarkey Save Alhambra Theatre campaign records,
MS0085, Center for Sacramento History.
Donated by Patrick Melarkey and Jay Correia in 2004 (accession number 2004/067)
Processing and finding aid by April Farnham, 2005. Finding aid edited by Kim Hayden, 2020.
Biography / Administrative History
Dr. Patrick Melarkey (1931-2020) helped organize the “Save Alhambra Theatre” League (also known as the Committee to Save the
Alhambra), coordinating a two-year campaign to preserve and restore Sacramento’s historic Alhambra Theatre. A native Sacramentan,
Melarkey worked as a dentist, owned the restaurant and nightclub Melarkey’s Place, and served on the Sacramento County Board
of Supervisors from 1971 to 1979.
The Alhambra was a Sacramento classic movie house constructed in the Moorish style in 1927 by renowned architects Starks and
Flanders. It was a registered historic landmark of Sacramento, but in 1973 the theater was demolished following a defeat of
Measure A, a county revenue bond that would have financed the restoration of the theater had it passed. A major part of the
Save Alhambra Theatre campaign involved encouraging the public to vote “Yes” on the bond in the April 17, 1973, election.
Despite the committee’s failure to save the theater, the campaign garnered a considerable amount of political support from
public and private agencies, local government, and local citizens. Melarkey’s efforts along with the loss of the Alhambra
Theatre sparked a new historic preservation movement in the Sacramento region.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of personal notes, letters, fliers, brochures, artwork, official correspondence, newspaper clippings,
press releases, ephemera, and photographs pertaining to the Alhambra Theatre and the Save Alhambra Theatre campaign. The collection
encompasses one box of archival materials, three oversized newspaper ads, and 60 negatives and photographs. Material dates
from 1927 through 1988, with the bulk dating from 1972 and 1973. Among the archival materials are documents signed by local
civic and political leaders of the Sacramento community, such as Patrick Melarkey, Harry Newstone, Phil Isenberg, and other
local and state government officials. Photographs include unique views of both the interior and exterior of the historic Alhambra
Theatre.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Historic buildings--Sacramento (Calif.)
Alhambra Theatre
City planning--Sacramento (Calif.)
Box 1, Folder 1
Box 1, Folder 2
Box 1, Folder 3
Box 1, Folder 4
Box 1, Folder 5
Box 1, Folder 6
Box 1, Folder 7
Box 1, Folder 8
Letters and resolutions of endorsement 1972-1973
Box 1, Folder 9
Agency and corporate correspondence 1972-1973; 1988-08-23
Agency and business correspondence regarding use, demolition, and redevelopment of the Alhambra Theatre property, including
letters from the County of Sacramento, Safeway Stores Inc., United Artists Theatre Circuit Inc., and the Spink Corporation;
one letter from Roger Lathe requesting information from Pat Melarkey.
Box 1, Folder 10
Box 1, Folder 11
Mapcase 15:02, Folder 1
Save Alhambra Theatre full-page newspaper ads 1973-03-08; 1973-04-15
Full-page ad from the Sacramento Bee titled "The Argument for the Alhambra" (April 1973); two copies of full-page ad from
the Sacramento Union titled "Save the Alhambra… who cares?” (March 1973). One copy includes a handwritten note from a Mrs.
D. E. Cooney and a completed coupon for donation to the campaign.
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
2004/067/043-048 Interior photographs of Alhambra Theatre undated
Six 2.5” x 2.5” negatives providing interior views of the Alhambra Theatre, featuring balcony decoration/details, light fixtures,
and ground floor seating with a large mural in the background. Mural appears to depict a large Norse ship vessel sailing along
the CA coastline with birds and a rainbow.
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
Shelf 4:G:1:J
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2004/067/61-68 Views of interior of theater from upper floor balcony undated