The Endowment Fund: For the Next 70 Years

Seventy years ago, when there were no venues for live performance on the island of Alameda, a non-professional actors’ company performed Riddle Me This in the Ballroom of the Alameda Hotel, and the Alameda Little Theatre was born–now the oldest continuously-operating theater in the Bay Area and the second-oldest in the state.

The actors soon found a home in a modified facility at Neptune Beach they called the "Hide Away Theatre" because it was so hard to find. The company began productions in earnest and formed a not-for-profit corporation.

In 1956 the Hagstrom’s Grocery store at 1409 High Street closed their doors; the property was purchased by ALT and converted into the arena-style theatre you enjoy today–hence the "ALTarena" Playhouse. Within thirteen years, the mortgage was paid off, and the theater thrived.

Cementing the Future Success of a Precious Community Resource

Today, despite an uncertain arts funding climate and rising production costs, Altarena has kept high quality live theater an affordable entertainment experience for the whole community. To keep Altarena thriving for the next 70 years, we have made a major step forward in 2007 by establishing the Endowment Fund , whose assets will be held for the sole purpose of generating interest income to supplement the theater’s revenue.

As Altarena is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. And our most generous Endowment Fund members will be permanently commemorated in the theatre’s lobby.

To learn more about how you can play a key role in the continued success of this valuable and prestigious community asset, please email Bill E. Clarkson , Chair of the Endowment Fund, or phone him at (510)-523-1553, extension 5.

We invite you to pick up an Endowment Fund Brochure from the theater, to request one from Bill Clarkson, or to download it (Windows users must have Adobe Reader installed in order to view it).