This was an awesome venue for celebrating the new year, part of the First Night Monterey event this past Wednesday. On this day filled with live performances featuring a variety of music genres, Wrockinfoose ended the night with great rock tunes to keep the crowd engaged and in good spirits. Some kept it moving on the dance floor, with others relaxing in their seats simply enjoying the sounds of the band on stage while spending time with loved ones. The balcony level was not open on this special occasion. But the first floor's comfy theater folding seats, with velvety cushions, were of decent quality. And the ornate details and artwork on the auditorium walls and ceiling made the place look like a castle from the inside. It was a lovely setting for an exciting countdown to the new year, and altogether we had a delightful experience. read more

See all

Venue is beautiful. Staff at the bar are nice. We went to a show and there were 2 super talkative audience members during a comedy show. The bouncer to the left told them to be quiet but they didn't listen. They had been distracting for most of the show but I wish the workers took it more seriously. There were many of us that kept gesturing for them to keep quiet and nothing changed. If they didn't listen to the bouncer and it kept happening, they should have just kicked them out. This kind of dampened my experience since there is no management for the experience so if I'm going to go to a show and people can just do whatever, then I'd rather not go. I'll pass on this venue. read more

Beautiful venue, so beautiful. Great bartenders Great sound. Damp toilet paper in 3 of the bathroom stalls (?) And apparently I cannot move to the last row against the back wall in a row of empty seats to sit down and watch the rest of the show when my feet hurt (3 songs from the end) while everyone else is standing up so I can't see. I HAVE to go back to my assigned seat (literally 6 seats to my right). Seriously hope you enjoyed your little power trip dude. Seriously put a shitty damper on the end of a pretty great Monday night show otherwise - thanks dude. read more

Lousiest sound system on the West Coast Even Bruce Hornsby complained on stage I walked out of Ambrosia... that bad read more

Came here to see The Phil Collins Story. Upon entering, they scan your ticket and you go to your seat. That's about the extent of anyone else helping you to your seat as there were no ushers. I was upstairs on the mezzanine level and found my seats easily. I saw other people having trouble locating their seats, etc. This was the first time I've been to a theater and there was no assistance at all. For a beautiful city like Monterey and a nice nostalgic theater, it just seemed odd and unimpressive. I hope this isn't always the case. The show itself was awesome though! read more

Golden State Theatre - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

This was a great venue to see a comedy show. It's small enough to feel intimate but still large enough that it could easily host a concert too. First off, the venue is older in the best way. It's beautiful, full of charm, and has a uniqueness you just don't get in newer places. I'm personally a big fan of small to mid sized theaters with personality rather than giant venues built purely for mass audiences. This one definitely delivers on that. The theater feels like a mix of different historical influences coming together. I had a few guesses about its origins while I was there, and after a little Googling later I can say with confidence it's a restored movie palace/vaudeville theater that still hosts a variety of events today. It opened in 1926, and some of the original design features are still there. That honestly made me really excited because the place absolutely has those vibes. Inside, the architecture is really unique. It's kind of a courtyard meets castle theme. The ceiling was one of my favorite parts. It has a painted sky, with most of it covered by a canopy effect. Ceilings are such an underrated part of décor, but I always notice them, and this one was especially cool. There are also little decorative flower gardens under the windows that add to the courtyard atmosphere. Looking toward the stage really leans into the castle feeling, like you've somehow been transported back in time to watch a performance. Since we saw a comedy show the orchestra pit wasn't being used, but there were people sitting up in the balcony as well. The overhead lighting throughout the theater was beautiful too, very Tiffany lamp esque. Picture included. Outside the main theater area there's a bar and stairways leading up to the upper levels. I wish I had taken a picture but I completely forgot. The bathrooms are on opposite ends of the theater, and wow, talk about another little time travel moment. They're definitely old, but they work just fine. The stalls are shorter with smaller doors, which I assume matches the original partition style design. It reminded me of a saloon style restroom I once saw in an old historic town somewhere. For a moment it even made me feel taller than usual, which was unexpected. The theater is right downtown and within easy walking distance of a bunch of other businesses, which makes it a great place to see a show and then wander around afterward. read more

Golden State Theatre - Inside the theater. Looks like a courtyard. - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Golden State Theatre is a old classic theatre where you can enjoy whatever movie is playing. As in, one screen only. However on this particular night, 2-15-25, we came here to watch a music concert featuring Amy Grant! The theatre looks like they used to have a organ player come out before the show to play music for the crowds before a stage play or movie started. The lobby had snacks and drinks to purchase. The restrooms were also in the lobby with the women's on the left side and men's on the right side. The concert was a nice intimate setting and Amy was awesome! read more

See all

This was my first visit to the Golden State Theatre. Lovely older venue. I went with my wife and 16 year old kid to see Cheap Trick. It's one of my kid's favorite bands. The venue is very intimate, clean, and the staff was super friendly. They had two bars, one downstairs and one upstairs. Plenty of parking within walking distance and plenty of restaurants to eat at before you go in. We'll definitely be back. read more

Golden State Theatre - The view of the stage from our seats. Row O. - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

Located in downtown Monterey, the Golden State Theatre in Monterey is a must-visit! We saw Allen Stone here in concert, and it was a phenomenal performance and overall great location. The theater itself is stunning. The interior is beautifully restored, keeping that vintage charm alive so it feels like you are stepping back in time. The seating is comfy, and the view of the screen is great from pretty much anywhere in the theater. They have an open bar and classic movie snack bar while the concert is going on so you can pick up some snacks and drinks in between artists. The staff here were all super friendly and helpful. The Theatre hosts a variety of events, from classic films and new movies to live performances and special events. They also do some cool community events and film series as well! Overall, the Golden State Theatre is a fantastic spot that combines historical charm with top-notch entertainment. We were so stoked to see Allen Stone in concert in such an welcoming and intimate atmosphere. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in Monterey! read more

See all

This venue is intimate and has historical significance. With that said, it could use an upgrade and refresher. My friend and I came here for an Amy Grant concert in Feb 2025. They were doing some work in the area I'm front of the bathrooms. The seats are old and not very comfortable. The sound and accoustics are good, lighting a bit dark. The merch area and concessions area is cool. Would come back here again for other events and concerts. read more

Recently attended a Todd Rundgren concert at this beautiful venue. I wouldn't be surprised if it is a historical site. It is a converted old movie theater that the current owners have maintained its charm. It is such a pleasure to attend well-known musical talent at smaller venues. I first heard my favorite song from TR over 50 years ago. He has such a huge repertoire of music that I was finally able to hear his beautiful rendition. It was a gorgeous concert with lots of new music and a little medley of his more well-known songs. He did sing the entire song of "A Dream Goes on Forever." I was in heaven. read more

The sound system is terrible. I could only understand half of what the comedian said.

I have been to 7 shows at the Golden State Theater over the last year and a half. It's a beautiful venue, the seats are very comfortable, and there are great restaurants within walking distance. I am 71 years old and have been to hundreds of concerts at many different venues over the years. I would say that the sound system, mixing, and acoustics in the GST are the absolute worst that I have ever encountered. I have sat in several different sections of the theater, trying to find a place where the sound isn't overmodulated and the vocals aren't garbled. I have yet to find that place. Some are worse than others, but wherever I've sat, the sound has been absolutely horrible. Unfortunately, I can no longer justify paying top dollar to see great musicians at the GST because of the sound system, mixing, and acoustics. Hopefully, the owners of the GST will use some of their profits to eliminate the problem. If they do so, I hope they announce the improvement publicly so that people, including me, who have stopped going to concerts at the GST can enjoy great music in this beautiful venue. read more

i went to an event last night. the emails that were sent to me said that we MUST arrive at 3 or we would not be allowed to participate in the meet and greet with the star. we arrived at 3 and waited until 430 before they even opened the doors! during the 1.5 hour wait no one from the theater (and we could see several people inside) came out to inform us that there was a delay or give any explanation for the delay in opening. the theater management is terrible! the event however was wonderful. read more

This is an amazing historic theatre. We are blessed to have it. Yes, the acoustics suck. But you know what doesn't? Everything else! They have a great line up of nationally known acts. Lindsey Buckingham Chris Isaak Hall & Oates Bryan Adams Art Garfunkel You get the point.... The theatre holds 2k? Very intimate Most of the seats are original except the front 3 rows. They have a bar set up before shows Cocktails, beer, wine and soda. I always have a great time here. Being so close to the music, people stand in the aisles and dance, isn't that fun? Anyways if you are in town and there's a show here check it out! read more

Golden State Theatre - Row K Orchestra right - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

I've seen quite a few shows at the Golden State Theatre. It's clean and friendly and you can dance up in the front. I went to see Michael Franti and ended up on stage dancing with him in the front. I haven't had a bad experience there and the inside is really gorgeous. read more

See all

I have patronized this business for more than 25 years. The quality of the sound system has improved significantly. The accessibility to staff and communications with the public is worse than it has ever been-almost non-existent. The interior staff (esp. the "ushers") conduct themselves more like bouncers at a seedy strip bar than customer service employees. The quality, pricing, and diversity of food and drink offerings is embarrassing compared to many comparably sized older theaters. We attended the Marty Stuart concert last night, which was an excellent show from start to finish. Fifteen minutes before the show began, one of the usher/bouncers stood in his corner to the right side of the stage and shouted out some sort of direction/ restrictions AT the audience about using their cell phones. He delivered whatever he was saying in a lecturing manner, talking down to a paying audience. I'd suggest that management walk up on stage and announce any special house rules to the audience in a courteous, professional manner. Later on in the concert we witnessed a bouncer/usher's questionable behavior on the far left aisle mid orchestra depth. He was a tall Caucasian fellow who was trying to stop a couple who were dancing in the aisle. He seemed to lack any tact or sense of decorum and at one point physically put his hands on the young woman as he attempted to shut down their dancing and physically force them to exit up the aisle. Last I knew, physically placing hands on customers in such a manner was illegal. One special feature of the theater is the lack of privacy for the men's bathroom. Directly across the hall from the men's bathroom entrance is a unisex bathroom. Exiting from that single patron restroom affords a direct line of sight into the row of urinals that male patrons step up to. The entry door is wedged open and the "bar room style door is broken...sooo, ladies (and some gentlemen)...if you'd like to assess the endowments of the various gentlemen in the audience, the viewing area is open. One last riddle about the facility pertains to the two exits on either side of the stage. I have been told by various patrons that neither of those exit pathways are safe for emergency egress use. If that is true (unknown), that fact should be announced to audiences for each show or they should not be posted as exits. As they stand, I doubt that the lumens for each exit sign meet minimum brightness levels. I noticed a month ago that a headliner artist had the wrong date for his performance posted in the Monterey Coast for more than a month. I called the Golden State listed number multiple times. It never worked. I emailed them as well. No reply and the ad continued to run for weeks with the month of June instead of July advertising this concert. I finally emailed the Weekly. No reply. I then called their advertising dept. An employee informed me that the dates came from a company the Golden State employed but seemed to explain that she could provide no resolution. I have rarely been as unimpressed with a pair of organizations as this scenario revealed. It reminded me of a least favorite phrase (which could lead to an employee seeking other employment): "But it's not my job"! Finally after a month the date of the concert was corrected and posted in the Weekly. I am hopeful that this FUBAR has not impacted ticket sales for the artist. Unsure who finally acted and secured the correction, but the amount of time and effort I extended without reciprocal communications made me wonder if a bunch of party animals with no business plan or mission statement are managing the Golden State., Overall, the Golden State brings some wonderful performers to downtown Monterey. I hope that continues, as there is a local population that will support quality entertainment. But ownership/management needs to professionalize and step up their game. Using the age of a building as an excuse for not properly training staff and conducting themselves in a customer supportive manner? That's absurd. . A brief look around at facilities like Sunset Center, Mountain Winery, and multiple others reflect a far more welcoming and customer centric environment towards patrons. Ushers are trained and easily identifiable to customers. Security staff who are trained to interact with challenging customers should be present. Alcohol consumption should be properly managed by the "bartending" staff. I encountered more than a few patrons at recent shows who were obviously inebriated. In closing, I feel that GS Theatre ownership is flirting with disaster. Improperly trained "ushers" acting as security bouncers, bartenders over serving patrons, breaching customer privacy, etc. A few impactful lawsuits can threaten the survival of any business. I hope it does not happen to the Golden State. read more

Attended a performance for the first time on a cool Friday night. The theatre was cold - flirting with being uncomfortable. Our seats were in the second row on the right side section. The actual seats were folding chairs rather than fixed theatre seats. There were about a dozen rows of folding chairs. A bit uncomfortable. There was not any notification about the seat type when we purchased the tickets. its a grand old venue but its showing its age. read more

I was very disappointed with the sound last night at the Samantha Fish concert, to the point of wanting to walk out. I know how good she is, but whoever is the sound engineer needs to sit in the middle of the mezzanine during setup. It the second time I have been there for a music performance in 30 days. The show was Post Modern Jukebox, and I sat again middle of mezzanine. When there was more than one artist singing with band, the voices became muddled to the point of unrecognizable and awful. It appears current the installed sound system needs adjusting when it comes to loud music? That will be that last band performance I will attend. Such a shame for the venue as it seems this is a new sound system, and the artists who have no idea how their music is coming across. read more

Golden State Theatre - If she only knew how bad the sounds system was, bummer! - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

Stand-up comic, Tom Segura, played to a 9:30pm sold out audience on December 4, 2022 and it was a fun, safe and memorable experience. The wife and I bought the tickets online and paid $20 extra for the "Skip the Line/Early Seating" tickets that let us just walk by 300-400 people that were literally lined up around the block on a cold night. The "Skip the Line/Early Seating" which allowed entry 30 minutes before the show did not have starting point posted so my wife had to ask a worker at the door "whats up?"and he said she can be first. The bar is located in the lobby and they do serve alcohol. I ordered 2 cans of soda for $3.00. The seats are comfortable and rock a little but there are no cup holders. Parking for a Sunday night show was not too bad. We parked about 300+/- yards away or 2 blocks away. There is no smoking allowed in the building. I did see a medium sized dog that appeared to be a Service Animal attend the show but I don't know if regular dogs are allowed to come too. The Men's Bathroom is very clean and you can still here the show if you have to go. If my review is read by management I would like to say "I like how you run the place, but if you serve cold drinks, in a plastic cup, with ice there should be a cup holder located somewhere on the seat and the "skip the line/early seating" start point should be marked so we know where to go." read more

Golden State Theatre - View of the Golden State Theater from across the street. - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

This was at Y &T concert ! This place has gone down hill . Why in their right minds would you remove all the seating in the front of the auditorium. I have included pictures of how bad the bathroom was the day of the performance. Do you not have anyone who takes care of the bathrooms ? My friend upgraded our seats to the balcony and the sound was absolutely terrible. read more

Golden State Theatre - This is disgusting - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Have been going to concerts at Golden State theatre for at least 6 years to see a variety of top notch entertainment. Went to see Samantha Fish. She is great and really looked forward to seeing her again. After two opening acts of terrible sound, and not so good music for two hours We finally get to see Samantha Fish but the sound quality was so bad we left. The theatre needs a new sound tech or sound system. It was worst sounding concert ever. read more

Attended a concert at the theatre. Beautiful venue but as others have already stated, the sound mix was terrible. Could barely hear the lead singer over the instruments, what we could hear was muddy. Very disappointing. May be good for a standup or pure instrumental, but not for band with vocalist. Would not recommend. read more

Saw Y&T here from the front row balcony. There is a metal railing and the about a 3 foot are in front on the railing, but view was good. Bar setup upstairs and downstairs with restrooms on both floors. This is a nice converted theater. Good lighting and sound. read more

Golden State Theatre - Y&T from the front row balcony - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

I enjoyed the experience and the show. The seats were too close together and leg room in the balcony (MM) was a challenge. Also, if you are reliving the 80s, as I am, please be careful and don't drink too much. People are falling down. read more

They said there was a presale with a code to use. Except the code wouldn't work. I tried and tried but no good. So I tried to contact them but no answer. Leave a phone number and no response. read more

Got to Golden State to watch Nutcracker. Show said on ticket show started at 8:00PM. We got to the parking garage a block away . Taking our time, me and bestie are disabled, so we gave ourselves enough time. About 7:10 my Granddaughter said it's starting Grandma. (Ticket information was wrong) We were trying to hurry I was out of breath 3 times getting to theater , then to my balcony seat, no elevator unbeknownst to us! We got up the steps but I barely made it. NOT ONE person would give me a hand . My Granddaughter came running to help me thank God! MONTEREY Peninsula people, ty for watching me almost faint and ignoring the fact I was weak and struggling! SMHI had to hang on to every seat going up the steps!! People must think ‍when your almost fainting and weak, that your drunk or on drugs and ignore you. Very sad society !!! NOW Golden State Theater YOU DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS NUTCRACKER SHOW!!!! We gave ourselves an hour to get there by 8 pm. Why did the tickets say 8pm if it started at 7pm. We tried flour best to get there early, but no, we interrupted the show! We missed 40 minutes of the show. And It took me a bit to recover from rushing!! What I saw of the Nutcracker was good. But all in all ! I'm disappointed that all that happened! I do hope they compensate my DIL for the tickets because the tickets had wrong time and our arrival was a sh*t show. read more

Went to see oingo boingo a few weeks ago, I've seen a lot of people complain about the noise and ambiance and although I do agree... it wasn't TOO bad of an issue for me since I was too busy enjoying the concert. My main concern is that there was NO SECURITY BAG CHECK? I saw a lady walk in with a full on backpack and my partner also brought a bag and it wasn't checked. I could've brought in a bomb, knife, even alcohol or something..the staff was nice though! read more

Such a beautiful theater! The lobby is really stunning, and I'm amazed they've been able to retain so much of the original decor. Even the bathrooms are original; you're quickly reminded of how much taller the population is today. While the ambiance transports you back to 1920, check-in is like 2010. A simple security check and you're in. I was even able to bring in outside food. (That actually concerns me a little because someone is bound to drip bbq sauce on the carpet and upholstery. I would hope they don't allow eating in the theater, but at least you can bring in your packaged leftovers from dinner.) There's not a bad seat in the house... if everyone is seated. I love the casual management, but I do feel badly for people who paid for front tickets whose view is then blocked by those who get out of their seats and stand up front. That relaxed atmosphere is great if everyone is on board, but that's probably not always the case. I don't recall any issues with the sound quality-- perhaps not the best, but not terrible either. read more

Attended a concert here last week to see Lukas Nelson and it was an overall bad experience. I would give it fewer than one star if I could! Seating: For the past 2 concerts we have attended there, they have removed about the first 10 rows of seats. As a result, people stand to watch from this front area. That results in those of us behind them, about the front half of the seats in the theater, being unable to see a thing unless we too stand. We did not stand, because that would mean the people behind us would not be able to see unless they too stood up and people behind them wouldn't be able to see and so forth. As a result, we saw nothing but the backs of the rows of people in front of us and occasional glimpse of a band member. We have been to many concerts here over the past 15+ years that we have thoroughly enjoyed, and only recently has front seating been removed. No one was dancing for this concert, so that's not the reason. Sound: We are seniors, but a 20-something couple who was with us began stuffing their ears with tissue since it was so painfully loud and distorted, and we followed suit. But that filters out some of the frequencies and you don't get the true sound, so it's no solution. Halfway through the show, our friends left. We might have become Lukas Nelson fans, but the sound ruined it for us, and therefore for him. Even our Apple watches alerted us that we were in a harmfully loud environment. Bottom line, if you really can't resist going to see a concert there, sit at least halfway or farther back. As we left, we could see well from the back, and it was not quite as loud either. Of course, it's always ideal to sit close so you can see the artist. It's a small theater, but the artists are still very small from the back. It's sad that our most local concert venue does not have acceptable accommodation for concerts now. Besides view and sound in a concert, what else do you go for? Abysmal. read more

Saw a show here last night. It was general admission so a huge crowd stood in front of the stage blocking the view for patrons in the front rows. They also blocked fire exits and no security to stop people from smoking. And as typical of the venue, the sound was way tool loud. Maybe the sound techs don't realize the amplifying effects of the many hard walls. When GeorgeThorogood played here you couldn't hear his voice or guitar over the blasting guitar bass and kick bass. Not a good place for music unless the bands have better sound people. read more

Beautiful classic theatre. Seats are comfortable. No elevator, no A/C, so know that going in. Street parking is limited but free after 6 pm. Parking structures are a short walk away and reasonably priced. read more

Went to see Nate Bargatze here and even though it was a hilarious show that we all enjoyed, we had a lot of complaints about the venue. First of all, there was no warning when we bought tickets or any email before the show stating that they'd be checking vaccination cards at the door (which is pointless anyway). Obviously they didn't care about people spreading germs because there was no soap in the women's bathroom. Gross. There was no warning that the show was starting so after they cut the lights about 50 people in the balcony were milling around in the dark trying to find their seats. The ushers were not helpful. I couldn't see the lower level, but I'm sure it was happening there too because the opening comedians couldn't focus. Later in the show a verbal dispute broke out and the headliner, Nate Bargatze, had to stop twice and ask if everything was ok. Not very classy, Monterey. read more

Great venue for live music. Not a bad seat in the house, bar tenders were fast and friendly.Bathrooms were small and lines were long because of it. I would recommend this theatre read more

Love this place! Great local theatre for music & shows. I wish they had some more snacks to offer but overall a great local spot to try if your in the area. read more

This venue was perfect for the performer that we were able to see on a beautiful Fall November evening. Being inside the restored theatre felt a little like time traveling back to the 1930's. The Old World grand lobby and mezzanine, the wall decor, the furniture, and carpeting all felt original for the period. Inside the theatre, the red velvet seats still felt roomy and comfortable. Even though our seats were balcony level, I felt like I could see the stage with ease. The sound of our concert was perfect, the clarity of the singers' voices came through loud and clear as did each instrument. The concert that we went to did not sell out the 1,000 seat capacity so bathroom wait times were not long.... But I can imagine that if it was full, the wait would be long for women because there were only 2 stalls upstairs. Overall, it was a truly magical place that we will return to time and time again should talent we want to see perform there. read more

Golden State Theatre - Upper balcony lobby - Cinema Near Me - Monterey, California

Beautifully restored theater in downtown Monterey. Loved all the old pieces and the special features like the drinking fountain. Acoustics were good ( the show not as much) but at least the theater experience was fun. Even the restrooms are something out of the past - everything so low it felt like I was in an elementary school! Will look for other shows here in the future. read more

See all

Shame on you and your unconstitutional COVID protocols. Would rather spend my money elsewhere than recommend this dump to anyone. Bought tickets to a concert here BEFORE they had protocols in place. Since changed their protocols and would not refund ticket prices or respond to emails. read more

Saw George Clinton last night, the sound is just horrible. People walked out. I know it's custom to play loud music at concerts, but, what's the point if all you hear is Xtra loud distortion. Many people couldn't take it and walked out. This is not the first time either, two other concerts I attended had horrible sound, but I thought it was the fault of the individual bands sound guy. The manager of this place really needs to step up his game and do something. read more

Noted in many of the reviews, but I was still stunned how bad the sound system was. Saw the comedian Nate Bargatze here and thankfully he speaks very clearly. :) His opening acts seemed frustrated with the crowd but we couldn't hear many of the punchlines. Very nice old building, decent amount of room between the seats, and nice that you can get to the bar an hour ahead of time for drinks. (But don't get the wine as it is absolutely abysmal.) read more