The old movie theater, above, and the Winbigler home in Los Altos Hills will provide popular subjects.

A new installment in the successful “Paint the Town” series is scheduled for April 16 in downtown Los Altos. Once again professional artists from the greater Los Altos area will set up their easels and create images on canvas.

This time their assignment is to “paint the town history,” in other words paint “what was, not what is.” Most artists will work from black and white historic photos from the archives of the Los Altos History Museum and the Los Altos Town Crier.

Twenty-five artists have already signed on to participate. The public is invited to observe them in action on the streets of downtown Los Altos 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 16.

A popular choice is the re-creation of the art deco facade of the Altos Theater that was on Main Street from 1938 to 1974. Other artists have accepted the challenge to paint their memory of the Winbigler house on Fremont Avenue in Los Altos Hills that was demolished under controversy two years ago.

The “Paint the Town” series, sponsored by the Los Altos Cultural Association, began in 1999 when artists captured what “Los Altos looked like the last year of the 20th century.” A book of the same title showcased about 90 of their paintings.

Now out of the print, the book was presented to non-profit organizations to sell as a fund-raiser and became a popular gift item for coffee tables.

Community organizations raised more than $70,000 through book sales.

A 2005 all color calendar published last year under the banner of “Los Altos Lifestyles” also served as a fund-raiser for non-profits.

The Los Altos Cultural Association expects to create a 2006 community calendar featuring the new “history” paintings. The fresh new paintings will be available for public viewing in late May and early June.

Interested artists can participate by calling 948-9000, ext. 311.