Partners Jim Zuur and Jack Nyblom purchased the Camera One on South First Street in the 1970s. They opened the Camera 3 in 1984. The Cameras have been Downtown's only theaters since United Artists closed its eight-screen Pavilion Theater, which was built with a $4 million Redevelopment Agency subsidy in January 2000.

"The Cameras are vital to what our downtown offers for culture and entertainment,'' says San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales."We have had a long and productive partnership with the theaters, and I look forward to them building on their success and having an expanded role serving the people of San Jose.''

As part of the deal, the Redevelopment Agency has agreed to purchase the Camera One. The purchase price will be determined by an appraisal. Because of the expansion of the Camera 3, the Kinko's copy shop located next to the theater will not have its lease renewed after September 2003.