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This month marked the forty fifth anniversary of a south county theatre which barely managed to leave a discernible mark on local cinema history during it’s brief fifteen year run.   The Niguel Theatre opened on June 9, 1965, as an anchor for the Monarch Bay Plaza commercial development, in the, then new, planned community of Laguna Niguel. Standing between the borders of […]

This past week saw time catch up with a new generation of cinemas, as two forebearers of the megaplex era reached their proverbial end credits. First, AMC announced that they won’t be renewing their lease on the Grand 24, in Dallas, Texas. Then, Los Angeles’ Beverly Center 13 closed it’s doors to make way for […]

This past week marked the fortieth anniversary of the Buena Park Drive-In. Opened by Pacific Theatres, on April 24, 1970, the Buena Park was located adjacent to the smaller and older Lincoln Drive-In (formerly known as the Cina-Car Drive-In), but the two drive-ins were operated separately until the mid 80’s. Around 1985, the Lincoln was […]

OC History Roundup (an excellent Orange County history blog), posted some pictures of the Crystal Cathedral’s Orange Drive-In artifact collection. Among the items on display are a pair of Koropp window speakers and a piece of the snack bar rooftop.    .   For those wondering why the Crystal Cathedral would hold on to drive-in memorabilia; the church’s […]

Today’s picture is a bit of a mystery theatre. This architectural rendering comes from the 1920 Los Angeles  Times, announcing a “picture playhouse” to be erected in Anaheim. The only other information provided was the builder, Head & Ingram, and the architect, E.J. Borgmeyer.    .   . Edward J. Borgmeyer was a prominent architect in the Los […]

When a cinema closes, there is rarely an official effort made to preserve anything that doesn’t have a resale value. In recent decades, departing operators have even made a habit of damaging facilities and fixtures, to hinder any future use by competition. However, the former Edwards Huntington Cinema stands as a rare example of an operator […]

On this week, ten years ago, six national theatre chains announced their plans to form a joint venture that would “begin a new era for the industry”. The chains involved included Lowes Cineplex Entertainment, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark Theatres, General Cinema Theatres, Edwards Theatres, and Century Theatres. The “new” concept would be selling movie tickets online, via Fandango.com. […]

This past Saturday, Irvine’s Woodbridge Theatre held a celebration in recognition of the venue’s 30th anniversary. Roughly 2,400 people turned out for a day of giveaways, contests, and festivities. .                .           .   In addition to being Irvine’s first theatre, the Woodbridge currently stands as Orange County’s seventh oldest operating cinema; an […]

Back on February 8, 1960, E.M. Stuart’s ploy to attract visitors to a struggling commercial district of Los Angeles was launched. Fifty years and 2,400 stars later, the two and a half mile Hollywood Walk of Fame stands as one of southern California’s biggest tourist attractions. .   Thirty years ago today, Mann Theatres prepared to open […]

As we enjoy this year’s holiday blockbuster season, with titles like “Avatar” and “Sherlock Holmes”, here is a quick glimpse of some holiday cinema past. .   Were you to be a theatre goer seventy five years ago, you might be heading to Grauman’s Chinese to catch Shirley Temple in “Bright Eyes”. Those seeking more mature […]