cinelog.org

On this evening, seventy five years ago, Santa Ana’s West Coast Theatre held their gala reopening, following a month long remodeling. .   Thankfully, the West Coast still stands today, in remarkably good shape. While currently home to a church, there have long been rumors that the congregation is looking to move on to a larger facility, [...]

Twenty five years ago, Edwards opened a trio of theatres on the Southern California market, just in time for the holiday season of 1985. All three venues offered the latest in multiplex amenities and met with instant success, but each experienced differing fates, following Edwards’ millennium implosion. .   Exemplifying the mid/late 80′s multiplex movement, the Charter Centre 5, Foothill Center 6, and Village [...]

Today’s picture is a bit of a cinema documentation rarity, capturing one of the Fountain Valley Drive-In’s restrooms (circa late 1960′s). Hardly surprising, restrooms were/are seldom documented for posterity. This particular photo comes from a 1969 “Motion Picture and Theatre Presentation Manual” discussion on proper sanitation facilities. .

In recognition of Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre (currently run by the American Cinematheque) turning eighty-eight this Monday, I thought I would share a few pages from the opening night souvenir album. While never having achieved the noteriety of Sid Grauman’s later endeavor (the world famous Grauman’s Chinese), the Egyptian was a groundbreaking masterpiece in it’s own right, ushering in an [...]

We received the following correction for Orange’s Plaza Theatre  from Brian Parrott: I just thought I would like to pass on a small correction to your entry on the Plaza Theatre In Orange at 138 S. Glassell.  I’m happy to say that it’s listed status as “demolished” and turned into a parking lot is, in fact, [...]

Today’s photo captured a rare moment in the Star Vu Drive-In’s history; a night when the ill-fated venture was actually open for business. .   Lasting only one summer, Costa Mesa’s Star Vu was a well intended attempt to bring the magic of drive-in movie going back to Orange County. Utilizing an inflatable screen and temporary set up, the [...]

On October 1, 1919, the Garden Theatre opened in La Habra, originally operating as both a vaudeville and motion picture venue. The theatre was later renamed the “La Habra” and managed to last until the mid 1950′s, when Lippert Theatres announced that they would be opening their own “La Habra Theatre” in town. The former Garden [...]

Walking past Costa Mesa’s bustling Orange County Performing Arts Center this evening, I took a shortcut which unintentionally brought me to a site of cinema loss and waste.   This grass covered clearing was once a movie going Mecca for Orange County, the South Coast Plaza Theatre. Some two decades removed from the “Westwood of [...]

Anaheim’s identity challenged Garden Walk theatre has been re branded the “Garden Walk 14″ by  new operator, Ultra Star Cinemas. However, holding true to the venue’s somewhat confusing branding past, the location is also being labeled as an “UltraLuxe” theatre. While the extra name is likely nothing more than an acknowledgement of the higher end amenities available at the theatre [...]

Today’s picture captures the Orange Drive-In’s snack bar and staff (circa late 1940′s?). As with most drive-ins, the Orange operated a cafeteria style snack bar, with patrons passing along a stationed service line, before checking out at the register; another, larger, stand was built when the venue added a second screen in the late 60′s. A [...]