Opened as a vaudeville venue in 1922, it has only been in the last three decades when the Golden Gate Theatre has hosted theatre and arts shows. It was a huge movie theater and was host to one of the few Cinerama screens in the 1960s before a decline in the 70's.

The Golden Gate underwent an extensive programme of restoration and upon opening again the the late seventies hosted many major national touring shows. Some major touring productions to have visited the Golden Gate include Sweeney Todd, Stomp, Hairspray and the preview production of Legally Blonde, before it moved to Broadway.