Plath & Company General Contractors of San Francisco, noted for its restoration of historic buildings and upscale residences, has completed the $1 million remodeling of downtown Mill Valley's historic Sequoia Theatre, home to the Mill Valley Film Festival.

The 650-seat twin theater is owned by Pacific Theatres Corp. of Los Angeles. Architect for the project is Lerner + Associates Architects of San Francisco, which specializes in historic preservation and accessibility projects.

The 70-year-old theater, which originally opened its doors in February 1929, will host the 22nd Annual Mill Valley Film Festival Oct. 7-17. Renovations to the theater included a new marquee and digital sound systems, new auditorium seating, improvements to the lobby and box office, and the addition of a wheelchair lift and other ADA amenities. New colors were selected for the exterior of the theater, which was repainted.

"The Sequoia Theatre has played an important role in the cultural and artistic life of Marin County," said Steve Plath, president of Plath Construction. "Renovation of historic buildings such as this one offers unique challenges that call for a special set of skills and sensitivity to historic architecture. We are proud to have participated in the theater's latest incarnation."

During the remodeling the existing marquee on the front of the building, which had replaced the 1929 original, was removed and a new 22-foot marquee consistent with the historic design was installed. It features column details on either end as well as a medallion in the center.

Improvements within the lobby include the relocation of the box office; the installation of a ‘gourmet’ snack bar; restoration of many of the original architectural finishes, including the barrel vault ceilings, plaster moldings, and grilled lighting; and improved bathroom access for people with disabilities. Other accessibility upgrades include a wheelchair lift, improved egress and ingress, two new bathrooms, and accessible seating.

In the auditoriums, there are new high-back seats with cupholders and retractable armrests, new draperies, and new Dolby and DTS digital sound systems.

Reid Brothers of San Francisco designed the 1929 building in the classic style as a theater palace on a small scale. The original construction cost was $100,000 plus $25,000 for the furnishings. The Sequoia was originally built by Blumenfeld Theaters, Inc. An official capacity crowd of 1,200 attended the opening on Feb. 21, 1929. The opening night feature was ‘The Kids Clever,’ accompanied by a newsreel.

A Mill Valley schoolboy named Ralph Kliewe, who won a contest to name the theater for a historic or other feature distinctly typical of Marin County, gave the theater the title ‘Sequoia.’ His prize was a year of free movie-watching at the theater. In its first several decades, the theater had three changes a week, and in addition to movies, travelogues, and cartoons, hosted the Marin Light Opera Company, live shows, beauty contests, and amateur theatricals.

Plath & Company is also rehabilitating the Gas Light Building in San Francisco’s Marina District. In addition to building custom luxury homes and remodeling commercial buildings, Plath restores vintage residences, including those by Bernard Maybeck, Albert Farr, Newsom and Newsom, and Charles Whittelsey. Steve Plath is a Member of the Board of San Francisco's Architectural Heritage.