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Opened in 1949, by Ted Mann (later of Mann Theatres fame) and operated by Pacific Theatres for some forty-five years, the Compton Drive-In was a community showpiece for decades. The 1,196 capacity lot and Viking ship screen tower mural set the stage for generations of moviegoing memories. However, today’s memory comes from the venue’s wanning […]

In honor of Hal Drewek, whom I discussed in an earlier post, I thought I would share one of his more humorous stories. Back in the 1980’s, Hal spent some time managing Jacksonville Florida’s Fox Drive-In. On one particular evening, there was an issue with a projector and the film cut out mid show. As […]

Pondering the exhibition industry’s sagging ticket sales, declining market value, and struggling public image, I was reminded of a person I encountered over a decade ago, in a setting which has long since passed from relevance.    I first crossed paths with Hal Drewek at a general management conference, circa 2005. By that time, he […]

New theatre openings have become somewhat scarce in recent years, with exhibitors tending to favor remodeling existing venues and acquiring competition, as a means for expanding their presence. In Turn, these facility upgrades and transfers in ownership rarely garner more than a “blink and you’ll miss it” public notice of the change. However, back when […]

In recognition of summer coming to a close, today’s picture captures a July evening at Anaheim’s Brookhurst Theatre (circa 2009).     Over the past few years, we’ve reported on the Brookhurst’s struggles extensively. A recent visit found the theatre with blacked out windows and a boarded over box office; looking very much like a property earmarked […]

Today’s photos are a departure from our usual Orange County centric content, but retain a personal link for this writer. The pictures, from the Library of Congress collection, depict Pittsfield, Massachusetts’s Capital Theatre (circa 1997), shortly before the venue’s demolition. .               .                  .       The Capital’s history is typical of countless grand single […]

Opened on April 5, 1961, Anaheim’s Brookhurst Theatre was the first Orange County cinema to feature 70mm films and was one of the county’s finer movie going destinations, well in to the 1970’s. At the time of the theatre’s opening, the design was termed “ultra modern” and the amenities were considered a step above other county movie going options. As a result, the […]

With the arrival of a new year, it’s time to look back on the year that was in Orange County cinema:  . . New Arrival   The Movie Experience at the Anaheim Garden Walk/Cinema Fusion – Veteran Southern California chain, Sanborn/SoCal/The Movie Experience, returned to the Orange County market with an equally branding challenged cinema, across from […]

There has long been a certain stigma attached to the “movie theatre hot dog”. For the most part, the jokes and urban legends are completely unwarranted, as there is truly no difference between the hot dogs served in movie theatres and those served by any other concessionaire. The meat sources, brands, preparation methods, and product ages are […]