On May 23, 1941, the American Theater in Newhall officially opened, marking the first-ever theater in the Santa Clarita Valley. William S. Hart’s mansion hosted many movie nights in his living room, which had a built-in projection room.  In August of 1940, Hart invited two of his friends, Tom Frew and Fred W. Trueblood, who were also members of Newhall-Saugus ...

On December 5, 1934, Newhall-Saugus American Legion Post 507 received its official charter. The date marks the beginning of a partnership between the community and silent-film legend William S. Hart, a relationship that would eventually lead to Newhall’s very own movie house: the American Theater. By the late 1930s, Hart had become not just a celebrated actor but a dedicated ...

On this day in SCV History, May 23, 1941, Newhall legend William S. Hart opened Santa Clarita’s first movie theater! After one year of construction, and five years before Hart’s death, the American Theater opened its doors on the corner of Spruce and Eleventh Street.  Up to that point, guests in William S. Hart’s house could watch films in his ...