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Originally established as a non profit, that standing was challenged in 1962. However, Fred Bollinger took on the system and thanks to his efforts, in in 1967, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of SCT in Stockton Civic Theatre v. Board of Supervisors. This set a precedent that has gone on to benefit community theaters countrywide to this day.

History
Stockton Civic Theatre came into being in 1951, the brainchild of Frank Wilbur and Clyde Nielsen. The businessmen were also committed theatre enthusiasts. They felt that the region was rich with talent and offered an adult education in acting. Their first production, Our Town, met with success. Stockton Unified had offered them the use of the Madison School Auditorium.. However, the group was permitted only one full week prior to opening week, so all the rehearsing and building had to take place on other sites and then transported to the auditorium.

In 1962, the group was doing well enough that they were able to purchase the old Zion Lutheran Church at Madison and Willow streets. It was converted into a 197-seat theatre and Stockton Civic Theatre had its first permanent home. Stockton Civic Theatre, aka SCT would remain in this location until 1980 when it opened at its current location on Rose Marie Lane.

Originally established as a non profit, that standing was challenged in 1962. However, Fred Bollinger took on the system and thanks to his efforts, in in 1967, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of SCT in Stockton Civic Theatre v. Board of Supervisors. This set a precedent that has gone on to benefit community theaters countrywide to this day.

The decision to move the theatre from the Willow and Monroe location was partially need and partially foresight. The theatre was continuing to grow and the building was quickly falling into disrepair. Other venues were sought, but it was decided that better than renting a space, it was time for SCT to have a permanent home.

John Falls, the board president at the time, appointed Donald Lamond as the chief planner and the process of creating a new theatre began. Their big break happened in 1974 when a local developer offered free land with construction at cost in the new Venetian Bridges development. The new location was on Rose Marie Lane, just off March Lane.