cinelog.org

For the second year in a row, the Brea Plaza theatre will host a Halloween haunted attraction. Unfortunately, this also appears to be the long forgotten venue’s “last hurrah”. After surviving for thirty-two years, the aging Brea Plaza Center is promoting a redevelopment that will see existing structures razed for a new “big box” retail park. […]

This week marks the tenth anniversary of Regal’s Foothill Ranch 22. While the theatre has never quite lived up to business expectations, the site does have a rather colorful back story. Back in 1993, the Foothill Ranch Development Company announced plans to build a retail and entertainment center, on a fifteen acre parcel, beside the […]

After a near two month delay, the Brookhurst Theatre has finally set a re opening date of Friday, 8/28/09. This will mark the forty-eight year old theatre’s third reopening and fifth operator (possibly sixth). The Brookhurst had been sittng dormant for three and a half years, since the previous operator, Starplex Cinemas, closed the venue in January […]

This week’s random photo is of the, generically named, “Drive-In”, that once sat on the corner of Pico and Westwood Blvd., in Los Angeles (now the site of the Westside Pavilion shopping center). Opened as L.A.’s first drive in, on September 9, 1934, the Drive-In claimed to possess the world’s largest screen (40′ X 50′).  .   Of […]

In keeping with the recent announcement that Mann is selling off theatres, including Grauman’s Chinese, here is a picture from the last time the Chinese changed hands. .   The picture comes from a 1970-1971 souvenir brochure National General Theatres released; although the photo was likely taken a few years earlier. Then part of Gene […]

Thirty five years ago, Orange County braced itself for “the beginning of the most exciting development in entertainment since sound was introduced to motion pictures.” What was this groundbreaking event? The grand opening of United Artists’ Westminister Mall 4. .   In what might be the most exaggerated statement in county cinema history, United Artists actually introduced their Westminster […]

Fifty four years ago this week, Orange County welcomed it’s fifth ozoner with the grand opening of the Anaheim Drive-In. Once billed as “Orange County’s most luxurious super drive-in theatre”, the venue had a thirty-five year run, before closing in the spring of 1990. The Anaheim Drive-In also had a rather unique after life, being the site […]

While still no news to report on the Brookhurst’s long delayed reopening (a sign in the window states “soon”), I did manage to stop by and take a few pictures. Here are some before and after shots to gauge how much work is being done:    .    If nothing else, the concession stand appears […]

This month marks the sixtieth anniversary of Costa Mesa’s Paulo Drive-In. Opened on July, 8, 1949, with the features “Streets of Laredo” and “Across the River”, the venue was Orange County’s third drive-in. Originally an independent, the drive-in was picked up by Pacific Theatres in the Fall of 1952. The Paulo lasted until February of 1976, when the site was demolished […]

Back in the winter of 1925, the nation was captivated by the story of the “Serum Race to Nome”; in which antitoxin was rushed to the isolated town of Nenana, Alaska, via train and dog sled, to combat an outbreak of diphtheria. While involving 20 mushers and 150 dogs, fame ultimately fell on Gunnar Kaasen and […]