While the end was seemingly inevitable, we start the new year off with the sad news that Mann Theatres has officially gone dark. The once mighty Mann chain came to an end on December 27, 2011, as the Westlake Village 8 closed it’s doors; making way for conversion to a Cinepolis luxury boutique cinema.
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In what could easy be viewed as one of the more surprising of survival stories, the Santa Ana/South Coast Metro area’s Village Theatre turned forty last week. Opened on December 22, 1971, this modest triplex has managed to outlast all of its area peers and currently stands as Orange County’s fifth oldest theatre, in continuous operation. An achievement of particular note, when one stops to consider the Village reached such a milestone without the benefit of historical significance, unique architecture, or even additions/modernization. A forty year old three screen, running art/reparatory programming for well over twenty of those years, located adjacent to tony South Coast Plaza; the figurative oxymoron success story of Orange County cinema.
While the interior decor has been changed out several times over the past four decades, there remain a few hints of the theatre’s roots, hidden from public view. The Village’s projection/office stairwell is still lined with United Artists logo carpeting; a remnant from the venue’s original operator.
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We here at OC Cinema and Cinelog would like to wish you a Happy Holiday.
As we enjoy the holiday season and look forward to the new year ahead, let us remember, to not only celebrate our cinema past, but to take part in cinema present. Support your local cinemas; go out and watch a movie as it was meant to be seen. Keep the magic of movie going and theatres alive.
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Forty years ago this week, the Fullerton area was host to a “star studded” grand opening for the Yorba Linda Cinema (aka Yorba Linda Jerry Lewis Mini Cinema). In addition to mingling with area VIPs and cutting the customary opening ribbon, the celebrities in attendance, Debbie Reynolds and Glen Ford, also left their hand prints in a commemorative tile outside the theatre.
While surely eventful for the local crowd, Reynolds and Ford were almost making a second career out of grand opening appearances at the time. During the early 70’s, the twosome had become the go to celebrities for grand openings, of all kinds, and were virtual contract players for most Jerry Lewis Mini Cinema openings of the day.
The Yorba Linda Cinema had a relatively short run after its big night. As with most of the Jerry Lewis Mini Cinemas (a subject covered in an earlier post), the theatre soon fell on hard times and never quite managed to establish a steady business level. By mid decade the site was closed and converted to retail. Today, there is no sign of the former cinema left, with even the “for all eternity” concrete hand prints having vanished from existence.
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The former Edwards Island 7 is set to reopen on 12/16/11, as the Island Cinema. According to the Irvine Company, the remodeled theatre will now offer a premium experience; including reserved seating, leather chairs, 21+ auditoriums, enhanced menu items, and alcohol service. In a unique move, they are also promoting a theatre concierge, which will assist in dinner reservations at Fashion Island restaurants, in addition to in house services. The theatre will continue to be operated by REG, but no mention has been made if Edwards branding will be utilized for the revamped cinema.
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The sad ending to the once powerful Mann chain looks to have reached its final act. This past week, Regency Theatres took over the Janss Marketplace 9, leaving Mann with one operating theatre.
With a lineage that stretches back to the Fox theatre chain of the late 1920’s, Mann’s decline, over the past two decades, has been stunning, to say the least. Having formerly operated industry cornerstones, like Grauman’s Chinese and the fabled Westwood cinemas; expanded to some 510 screens, at the chain’s peak; Mann now faces the inevitable curtain call with only the Westlake Village 8 on its cast list.
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In the spirit of the Halloween season, here is a picture from the reputed “haunted” projection booth at the Movies 6, up in Bakersfield. A former United Artist location, which was opened in 1979, the theatre is currently operated as a discount venue by Starplex Cinemas.
Current and former employees have passed on tales of unusual noises and strange goings on in the booth for a number of years. One projectionist is even alleged to have captured a voice from beyond on a tape recorder that was left running in the haunted chamber.
Departing somewhat disappointed, after my visit to the theatre a couple of months ago, I only encountered the spirits of cast off 35mm equipment; most notably, this old Goldberg reel rewinder.
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Today’s oddity comes from a 1938 edition of “Popular Mechanics”. This unique idea involved converting a fifty-five foot commercial truck trailer in to a traveling theatre, as a way to bring movies to rural communities.
The “World’s First Traveling Theatre” sat sixty people, had a fully functional projection booth, and even featured a small stage for “vaudeville or lectures”. Leaving nothing to chance, there was an on-board generator available for areas lacking accessible power supplies.
While the concept never caught on as a true movie going option, similar mobile theatres still pop up from time to time; usually serving to promote a new technology, service, or product.
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