The Somerville Theatre, part of the Hobbs Building in the heart of Davis Square, was designed by the firm of Funk & Wilcox of Boston and built in 1914 by Joseph Hobbs. Designed for stage shows, vaudeville, opera, and that new fad – motion pictures – the theatre was only one of the Hobbs Building attractions, which also included a basement café; bowling alley and billiards hall; ten ground floor storefronts; and the Hobbs Crystal Ballroom on the second floor. The theatre opened its doors for the first time on May 11, 1914. In 1932, the theatre’s decor was “updated” with an art deco paint theme. Throughout the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, the Somerville remained a prime neighborhood movie house. Today, it hosts live concerts and live theater in addition to screening movies. The Somerville Theatre continues doing what it set out to do since 1914 – provide the community with quality entertainment on stage and screen.