A look back in time at Auburn's DeWitt Theater

Editor's Note: With renovation plans on its horizon, Placer County resident and historian Christina Richter gave readers a look back in time at the DeWitt Theatre in our January edition of the Auburn View Magazine. Readers can view the entire magazine and even more photos HERE. Plaques and photos are certainly welcome when commemorating an historic site, but they are not nearly as powerful as compared to standing in the presence of a historic building. This is especially true when that building represents an era remembered and revered. The 1943 DeWitt theater is one of those buildings and it is still standing in what remains of the DeWitt military complex in North Auburn. It was built as part of the military hospital to offer entertainment and a temporary escape for our war-torn soldiers Its walls saw performers such as Rhonda Fleming, Lon Chaney Jr., Eddie Cantor, Dorothy Lamour, Robert Alda, and Joe E. Brown. This was an era of little 'real time' visibility as news of the war primarily came through radio broadcasts and newspaper headlines. In these dreary days the theater was a beacon offering much needed solace to our soldiers. Once the war was over and the hospital was turned into a facility to take care of the mentally disabled, the theater continued in use by local citizens as well as patients and staff at the hospital. Many still recall both the theater and nearby swimming pool as an integral and fun part of their childhood. After the state mental hospital closed, the building continued in service for locals as a place to see movies, live performances, and presentations. But that all changed a few years ago when the theater was set for demolition to make way for development. At that time the seats were removed and repurposed, and the interior fairly stripped of anything remotely useful. Thankfully the demolition did not occur and today there is a new possibility. Through the efforts of a local non-profit group called "The DeWitt Community Complex" the building has a chance to be saved. The group's mission is "to preserve and adaptively reuse the historic DeWitt Theater for community uses…" Its goal is to develop a community destination and activity hub for the North Auburn area, while supporting the county's master plan for a mix of residential and commercial development at the DeWitt Center. Board member Wes Woodland explains. "As much as we want to embrace the gold country and its history, we cannot lose sight of our WWII history." "This is the last WWII movie theater in existence built specifically for the troops." Wes further emphasizes "we can only grow from what we learn from." Going forward the project to save the theater is gaining momentum. Its many supporters include the Native Sons of the Golden West as well as prior Mayor of Auburn and council member, Mike Holmes. Mike says, "As a combat veteran and as a supporter of maintaining and preserving historic buildings in the Auburn area, I am hoping you will join me in supporting the DeWitt complex center." Some say that DeWitt is a storied place. Standing among the remaining buildings one feels a sense of history and community that evokes an era that continues to teach us so much. The DeWitt Theater brings forth those images and has the innate ability to take our community into the next era while respecting and representing our past. Check out the vision this passionate nonprofit group has for this project at www.dccnorthauburn.org. Better yet, get involved in saving our historic buildings, they are true treasures in our community. See more photos of The Dewitt Theater and more articles in the monthly Auburn View Magazine here.