Built in the 1930’s, the building was designed by architect Paul Revere Williams and built for the First Church of Christ, Scientist. The building was used to hold church services from its completion on October 22, 1939, until the congregation built a new church and moved its services to that location in 1998.

For fear of losing such a valuable piece of history, Moya Lear, widow of aviation developer Bill Lear, purchased the building and donated it to the nonprofit Reno-Sparks Theater Coalition in 1998. She hoped that the coalition would preserve the history and integrity of the building while promoting arts and education within the community.

In Lear’s honor, the building was renamed the Lear Theater. It closed in 2002. In 2011, Lear Theater Inc., the non-profit corporation that owned the building, gave the Lear Theater and two other nearby properties to Artown, a non-profit organization that hosts Reno’s month-long arts and events celebration each July.

It has since stood empty in a decaying state. What’s next for this historic building? Rumor has it that there are plans to tear it down to make way for more high priced apartments.