INDEPENDENT MOVIE THEATRES
Was craving Mexican food, so I went to a small Mexican restaurant in downtown CV and noticed that there was a for lease sign on the Vogue Theatre.
I don’t know how long the lease sign has been on the Vogue Theatre, but I’m noticing that more independent theatres are folding and this is also the case for Drive-In Theatres.
This takes me back to when Mann theatres were popular and started slowly folding. The Mann Theatres existed before Regal and were more popular than AMC, Pacific and United Artist. At the Mann Valley Circle, Cinema 21 & Loma Theatres was where I saw blockbuster films such as ET, Star Wars, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, Saturday Night Fever and others.
I remember other smaller independent theatres that I use to go to that no longer exist; they were the Fiesta Twin in downtown CV and Century Twin on 54th & El Cajon Blvd.
Many years ago I took my cousin to see a horror flick at the Palm 3 in IB, was it called Studio 3 or Palm Studio 3? Anyway, at that time the theatre was slowly going down hill and was already in the process of folding. I never forgot her exact words when we walked into the theatre and that was “Are we walking into Hell!” It was so dark, dingy and grimy in that theatre and the walls were painted a very dark color, I think black or red. That was my last visit there.
There were also the ones located in Downtown San Diego, the Balboa, Casino & Aztec where I saw all of the Bruce Lee films & some “B” Movies; before they became XXX movie theatres. To re-develop downtown and develop the Gaslamp District, these theatres have later turned into food and clothing stores or under construction for another project.
The Spreckles in downtown San Diego use to be a movie theatre then it closed years ago and re-opened as a playhouse. This was also the case for the California on 5th Avenue in downtown San Diego in which they closed years ago and is not in renovation at this time. I remember seeing the Exorcist and American Hot Wax along with other “B” movies at these theatres.
Then there were the others, the La Jolla Cove, the Park on Park Blvd and the Guild on 5th Ave in Hillcrest in which I saw the movie Hairspray.
I noticed that although some of these theatres have folded they don’t tear down their signs since some of them are historical landmarks.
There’s an artsy-fartsy side to me where I also enjoy Landmark Films. There are still some Landmark theatres left, but not many; the Ken, La Jolla Village, Hillcrest Cinemas and the private own one, Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills on Goldfinch.
With Drive-In’s you saved a bundle of money because admission was based upon a car-load of people; not per person and you got to bring in your own food. The last time I went to a Drive-In was in the 70’s with my family; it was the National City one where the swapmeet is now located. I think there are only 2 left, Santee and South Bay in IB.
You couldn’t beat the price deal of these theatres; although the movies were a bit older you still got to see 2-3 films for one low price. The food there wasn’t all that great but still cheaper than the regular theatres.
Why are these theatres folding? I read an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune years ago which said that most people now like the idea of multiplex theatres which they have more of a variety. In addition, people like the idea of having theaters in a mall; this way they have the flexibility of shopping, dining and seeing a movie.
I don’t know how long the lease sign has been on the Vogue Theatre, but I’m noticing that more independent theatres are folding and this is also the case for Drive-In Theatres.
This takes me back to when Mann theatres were popular and started slowly folding. The Mann Theatres existed before Regal and were more popular than AMC, Pacific and United Artist. At the Mann Valley Circle, Cinema 21 & Loma Theatres was where I saw blockbuster films such as ET, Star Wars, Close Encounter of the Third Kind, Saturday Night Fever and others.
I remember other smaller independent theatres that I use to go to that no longer exist; they were the Fiesta Twin in downtown CV and Century Twin on 54th & El Cajon Blvd.
Many years ago I took my cousin to see a horror flick at the Palm 3 in IB, was it called Studio 3 or Palm Studio 3? Anyway, at that time the theatre was slowly going down hill and was already in the process of folding. I never forgot her exact words when we walked into the theatre and that was “Are we walking into Hell!” It was so dark, dingy and grimy in that theatre and the walls were painted a very dark color, I think black or red. That was my last visit there.
There were also the ones located in Downtown San Diego, the Balboa, Casino & Aztec where I saw all of the Bruce Lee films & some “B” Movies; before they became XXX movie theatres. To re-develop downtown and develop the Gaslamp District, these theatres have later turned into food and clothing stores or under construction for another project.
The Spreckles in downtown San Diego use to be a movie theatre then it closed years ago and re-opened as a playhouse. This was also the case for the California on 5th Avenue in downtown San Diego in which they closed years ago and is not in renovation at this time. I remember seeing the Exorcist and American Hot Wax along with other “B” movies at these theatres.
Then there were the others, the La Jolla Cove, the Park on Park Blvd and the Guild on 5th Ave in Hillcrest in which I saw the movie Hairspray.
I noticed that although some of these theatres have folded they don’t tear down their signs since some of them are historical landmarks.
There’s an artsy-fartsy side to me where I also enjoy Landmark Films. There are still some Landmark theatres left, but not many; the Ken, La Jolla Village, Hillcrest Cinemas and the private own one, Cinema Under the Stars in Mission Hills on Goldfinch.
With Drive-In’s you saved a bundle of money because admission was based upon a car-load of people; not per person and you got to bring in your own food. The last time I went to a Drive-In was in the 70’s with my family; it was the National City one where the swapmeet is now located. I think there are only 2 left, Santee and South Bay in IB.
You couldn’t beat the price deal of these theatres; although the movies were a bit older you still got to see 2-3 films for one low price. The food there wasn’t all that great but still cheaper than the regular theatres.
Why are these theatres folding? I read an article in the San Diego Union-Tribune years ago which said that most people now like the idea of multiplex theatres which they have more of a variety. In addition, people like the idea of having theaters in a mall; this way they have the flexibility of shopping, dining and seeing a movie.
posted by HotFudge | 12:39 AM
9 Comments:
Yes, the Vogue just went out of business. I just read an article about it's closing. That is where we saw "Star Wars" in 1977. The line wrapped around the theatre! We also saw "Psycho II" there along with "House of Wax in 3-D" (the original with Vincent Price).
The old Point Loma theatre on Rosecrans (turned into a Bookstar but I think it's closed now?) was where I saw my first movie, "Pinocchio".
The theatre on Palm was Studio 3. That was a ratty shithole. I also watched "The Corsican Brothers" (awful Cheech & Chong flick) at the now defunct Chula Vista twin theatres (near Rollerskateland--gosh I forgot the name).
The one time Bert & I tried watching a drive-iin movie was back in '93 in IB. We tried to watch "Wayne's World II" but we had crappy sound in the speakers/car/whatever, so we got our money back and left.
The line was the same way with Stars Wars when we saw it at the Mann Valley Circle.
Did the Bookstar that use to be the Loma Theatre went out of business too? Bookstar is owned by Barnes & Noble.
I can't remember the name of the horror flick that my cousin and I saw years ago at the Studio 3. I also can't remember the last movie my family saw at the Drive-In.
The theatre near Rollerskateland was called The Fiesta Twin.
i noticed the vogue is closing the other day.
kind of a bummer since i live so close to it.
at least i got to take the kids there before it closed last month...
ok. now i feel old...
I've been going to some of these theatres since the 1970's, so imagine how old I feel my dear.
FYI, the Bookstar on Rosecrans is NOT closed. I was just there a couple weeks ago. However, The Pannikin that used to be next door is no longer there. I guess Starbucks crushed them.
What can I say? The drive-in and "individual"/"stand-alone" theatres are a thing of the past. Evolution must run its course. I do like that some independent theatres survive, but I'm a creature of technology. The sound system for these theatres is usually subpar to what I'm used to... and the seats do not take into account the possibility of someone taller than you sitting in front of you...
Was "D.E.B.S." the last movie HotFudge and I saw at an independent/Landmark theatre?
Those smallish theatres missed a huge opportunity, or at least some of them did because a lot of them are in ratty places or areas that no-one would really dig on going to a movie for... anyways, with nicer newer theaters with stadium seating, digital sound, and the like, there is just no possible way for them to compete with multiplexes.i wouldn't want to see even an indy flick in one of those theatres, dispite the nostalgia factor.
anyhow, landmark theaters were (mostly able) to survive by providing movies outside the mainstream. and there-in lies the key: what they should have done if they wanted to stay open (aside from making the floors not sticky) is to do something different from the multiplexes, provide something that they can't. what I have in mind is that they remove all of the seats, level the floor and turn it into a cinema cafe. i remember there being a place downtown i saw a couple shows at, it was basically a cafe, round tables and all with decent mocha's but they had a smallish room with a projector where you could chat, watch the movie, then chat some more. scregman knows of what I speak. i remember going to a similar one in germany.
the other shoe would be for them to turn into lounge area with sofa's and matching decor and such and serve alcohol. they'd still have to up the sound/screen quality a knotch but i think even second run movies would enjoy a slight resurgence if the atmosphere were something more comfortable than a multiplex
no sure-fire cure though. the UC theater in berkeley, which was the equivalent to the Ken, enjoyed a loyal following and still closed down. i found that troubling.
Thane,
My cousin tells me they have a theatre in Alaska called "The Bear Tooth." This theatre has the concept of what you described; cafe style, circular tables and lounge areas in which they serve coffee, alcohol and food. The only problem I would have with this is the chatting. I like complete silence during the movie.
HF, yes. if it was the type of place where people chatted during the movie, i'd be irritated. but the ambiance of which i speak is one where people are considerate enough to not do such thing but save the chat for before the movie and the discussion for after. =)
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