Just as this February marks the fortieth anniversary of Edwards Big Newport, the month is also notable for a less celebratory anniversary, the closing of Orange’s Cinedome Theatres.
Opened in the Spring of 1969, as a twin-plex, Syufy’s (later to be known as Century Theatres) Cinedome was a highly popular county movie going hub for the better part of thirty years. Originally built as two, dome style, 863 seat auditoriums, the complex was regularly expanded to meet demands, eventually reaching eleven screens by 1992. Yet, even with the annual additions and upgrades, the Cinedome was always best known for it’s signature dome auditoriums.
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Featuring 70 mm capability, stadium seating, and the day’s cutting edge audio/visual technology, the Cinedome was a frequent site for special engagements and county exclusive premieres; existing as one of the county’s more popular destinations for blockbuster films. However, the theatre was also somewhat notorious for sub par customer service, day old popcorn, and poor housekeeping, throughout much of it’s run. This dichotomy served to form two extremes within county movie going circles; those who loved the Cinedome, for it’s “over the top” experience, and those who hated the venue, for it’s lackluster service.
Despite having established a large cult following over the years, the Cinedome eventually fell to “progress” and was one of the county’s early megaplex era casualties. Facing increasing local competition and a freeway construction project, the Cinedome finished out it’s final years showing second run faire, before closing in February of 1999. The complex was demolished a year later and replaced by a large condominium development, which now stands on the former theatre site, beside the I-5 and Chapman.
Perhaps, a theatre that has taken on more of a mythical quality with county cinephiles, through it’s absence, than what the venue truly offered in it’s heyday; but, a former county theatre that unquestionably holds a special place in the memories of countless movie goers.
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You must be an Edwards or AMC person. The Cinedome was an amazing theatre in many ways, not just presentation–although that was its most famous feature.
1) Customer service was comparable to other theatres. In some ways, better. The cafeteria-style snack bar, for example, moved patrons through much, much more quickly then the standard stations-format of other chains. The concessions per capita was double that of other chains. I know, I compared…
2) The Cinedome had greater variety refreshments: FRESH made to order pizza, a full-service cafe with gourmet coffee drinks, bottled drinks, nachos that were made with GRATED cheese rather than the canned sauces others use.
3) Popcorn was popped fresh on site
4) Credit card ticket sales long before others were doing it.
5) Ultra-plush loge seating.
Also, the Cinedome didn’t just have 70mm capability like you said. Many theatres then had a 70 house. The Cinedome, however, had FOUR 70 houses — a claim no other complex could make. And it RAN 70 in all 4 houses–sometimes even at the same time (many 70-equipped theatres then never got 70 prints).
They should’ve remodeled rather than demolish that place. It’s opening weekend gross for JURASSIC PARK was in the top 3 locations for the entire country.
Was just at Denny’s across the street last weekend missing the Cinedome. Loved that place. The complex adjacent to the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose has the exact same look and is still operating – anybody know the history?
I remember working at the dome goodtimes the main manager Ray L. and his wife ran the show he also ran the katella drive inn that place was cool. Today the theaters are about money i remeber paying to see a movie at the cinedome and paying like 4.00 and saw all the movies at the dome 2.00 bucks for a hot dog 1.75 for popconr crazey and remered that was high. Today they want 7.00 buck just a hotdog 15.00 bucks for soda and pocorn whats up with that noncent…i grew up the i mean literally grew up their my mom & dad worked 2 shifts and well droped me at flixs before they opened and pick me up when they closed. That was cool did that for years then when I was old enough got a job their. i loved that place alot of history for me as a kid what stood out the most for me was working the door people coming in taking their tickets telling them where to go sit.That was awesome for me i enjoyed it because i loved to talk and well i became an attraction you can say when people walked by they would stand to the side to hear tell them where there movie was. Well let say i talked very fast and well they enjoyed the I talked… also when Mr. Syufy had employee appreciation night good times we would close at the end of the night and we would have a special premiier night for just the employess. Watch like 2 blockbuster movies before they came out cater food for us (pizza) wow i missed this place now its gone just like me i no longer live in So Cal. and i also miss home as well but thats life just the dome was not making rhe money that it use to and became to expensive to run. Everyone was going to newer theater that they thought was nicer just because it was new to me just because it was new did not mean it waas better oh well at least i still have my memories.