Lear Theater

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Lear Theater/First Church of Christ, Scientist – 501 Riverside Drive

The City of Reno is excited to begin exploring the future of the Lear Theater (First Church of Christ, Scientist) at 501 Riverside Drive. You may remember that during the 1990s and early 2000s, various local nonprofits worked toward adapting this building into a performing arts theater. Though this work was never completed, this beloved and iconic landmark building in the heart of Reno on the river walk is special to many in the Truckee Meadows and especially to the arts community. Front of Lear Theater Image: Tom Perkins, courtesy of Paulrwilliamsproject[dot]org

The City of Reno finalized the purchase of the building in 2023 and will be conducting some improvements to stabilize the building and protect it from deterioration while more information is gathered about the building’s current condition. These are the steps the City is taking to preserve the building in 2024:

Clean and inspect the interior of the building to identify any urgent issues that threaten damage to the building (for example, broken windows, evidence of pest infestation, or water damage).
Restore the historic landscaping to include a new lawn and border plantings, irrigation repair, and installation of outdoor electrical power.
Improve building security by installing an attractive perimeter fence, repair existing exterior lighting, and install wireless security cameras.
Engage a consultant to perform a Historic Structure Report to evaluate the building’s current condition and recommend new uses that are compatible with the building’s historic fabric.
Repair deteriorated concrete walks and stairs in the building’s exterior grounds.

Current Condition

The City of Reno engaged the architectural conservation firm Architectural Resources Group (ARG) to create a Historic Structure Report for the Lear Theater during 2024. The final report will be presented to City Council at the end of the year. ARG prepared a virtual tour of the interior of the Lear Theater in May 2024.

History of the Lear Theater

During the 1930s, two prominent women from Reno’s history, Luella Garvey and Anna Frandsen Loomis, spearheaded a project for the First Church of Christ, Scientist, to construct a new and larger church building. A site was selected at the corner of Ralston Street and Riverside Drive, just across from the banks of the Truckee River. Luella Garvey suggested the church building be designed by a California architect who had designed Garvey’s own residence just a few years prior. The church was constructed and held its first service in October of 1939 and served the congregation for nearly 60 years.

In the late 1990s, the congregation realized a need for a larger venue and began working on finding a group to take over the church and renovate the building as a performing arts theater. In 1998, Moya Lear, a member of the church, advocate for the arts, and local philanthropist, donated over a million dollars toward the purchase of the building by the Reno-Sparks Theater Community Coalition (RSTCC). The RSTCC and later the Lear Theater, Inc and Artown have all worked toward rehabilitating the building into a theater but this work was never completed. The building has been vacant for over a decade and needs substantial investment to ready the building for a new use and make it safe for the public.

Significance of the Lear Theater

The Lear Theater is listed on the National, State, and Local Registers of Historic Places. It is recognized for its distinctive architecture as well as for being the work of a master, the renowned architect Paul Revere Williams.

The building is in the Neoclassical Revival architectural style. Some of the significant architectural features include the twin curving balustrades leading to the entrance patio on the south façade, the four two-story columns in front of the entry portico, the sunburst fanlight, and the ornate oversized windows with diamond-patterned grills that fill the building interior with natural light.

Paul Revere Williams is a nationally recognized architect who was based in Los Angeles, CA. He became known for designing homes for some of Hollywood’s most recognizable celebrities including Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra. He was a prolific and award-winning architect and the first African American to become a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) where he was elected to the AIA College of Fellows. More information about the history of Lear Theater and its architect, Paul Revere Williams, can be found by selecting the image below.