1) For sure either 1979 or 1980, I am unsure the exact years as I was too young to even realize what the movie really was about and only found out later after we moved.
2) Sorry, I moved out of the area around 1988 so it would have been after that.
3) Sorry, not something I’d remember, but definitely on the west side of town, not quite as far as the drive-in. Based on the newspaper ad linked above by “ken mc”, it would be here: View link
I also seem to recall this shopping center held a Montgomery Wards department store if that helps track it down. :–)
Larwin theater was located at the Larwin Shopping Center which was an outdoor mall
Started with two screens… Everybody called it the “Larwin Twin”. There was a two walking aisles width large screen, and a narrower single walking aisle screen.
Had awesome movie collage wallpaper with scenes from all the big 60s/70s blockbusters (Jaws, Star Wars, James Bond, etc)
They added a stage at the front below the bigger screen for special events, in particular Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings.
I remember getting to see free films there for taking part in marketing survey movies for kids where we had to fill out detailed questionairres. (but hey, free movie and sneak peek at future toys!)
In the mid 80s, somebody decided to expand the theatre to four screens… without remodeling! This meant they emptied out two storage rooms (one of them held perhaps twenty people at most!), and installed surplus seats and equipment, but still charged full price. I’ll never forget my first trip to screen #4. You went past screen number 2, and then thorough a very darkly lit twisting hallway to #3 and then through an unfinished hallway to screen #4 and without fail people died laughing once they opened the door and saw how small it was. If you have seen the 80s film Bachelor Party (was filmed at the not-yet-opened Mann 6 theater in Simi Valley), they made some jokes about this remodeling, with one scene of a single person in a broom closet watching a movie on a TV. Classic!
Sometime after this they remodeled the interior, and scrapped the vintage wallpaper. I think this was the same time as they decided to put a roof on the Larwin Shopping Center and make it a “mall”.
Sometime after that (late 80s?), the theater was gutted and they put in 6 actual screens, but greatly sacrificed the size of the main screen to do it.
1) For sure either 1979 or 1980, I am unsure the exact years as I was too young to even realize what the movie really was about and only found out later after we moved.
2) Sorry, I moved out of the area around 1988 so it would have been after that.
3) Sorry, not something I’d remember, but definitely on the west side of town, not quite as far as the drive-in. Based on the newspaper ad linked above by “ken mc”, it would be here: View link
I also seem to recall this shopping center held a Montgomery Wards department store if that helps track it down. :–)
Great pictures… too bad the link with the demolition pictures was dead.
I added my memories about the Larwin in its section if anyone is curious: /theaters/21845/
As for Simi Drive in… some memories:
Sitting in line waiting for each car to find a spot and park.
Try to mount the heavy steel monotone speaker on the side of the window glass without breaking it.
The scary rusty playground right below the screen.
The walk between the cars in the dark to the snack bar while watching the movie playing on the other screen.
Spending too many quarters in the junk toy vending machine. Such as a toy guillotine that looked like it would cut off your finger, but didn’t.
Snacks were ready to go, you just grabbed what you wanted and paid.
The walk back to the car, not wanting to miss the movie yet trying not to be distracted by the movie and fall dropping all the snacks you just bought.
Intermission cartoons… don’t see those much any more.
Some facts from my first-hand knowledge:
Larwin theater was located at the Larwin Shopping Center which was an outdoor mall
Started with two screens… Everybody called it the “Larwin Twin”. There was a two walking aisles width large screen, and a narrower single walking aisle screen.
Had awesome movie collage wallpaper with scenes from all the big 60s/70s blockbusters (Jaws, Star Wars, James Bond, etc)
They added a stage at the front below the bigger screen for special events, in particular Rocky Horror Picture Show screenings.
I remember getting to see free films there for taking part in marketing survey movies for kids where we had to fill out detailed questionairres. (but hey, free movie and sneak peek at future toys!)
In the mid 80s, somebody decided to expand the theatre to four screens… without remodeling! This meant they emptied out two storage rooms (one of them held perhaps twenty people at most!), and installed surplus seats and equipment, but still charged full price. I’ll never forget my first trip to screen #4. You went past screen number 2, and then thorough a very darkly lit twisting hallway to #3 and then through an unfinished hallway to screen #4 and without fail people died laughing once they opened the door and saw how small it was. If you have seen the 80s film Bachelor Party (was filmed at the not-yet-opened Mann 6 theater in Simi Valley), they made some jokes about this remodeling, with one scene of a single person in a broom closet watching a movie on a TV. Classic!
Sometime after this they remodeled the interior, and scrapped the vintage wallpaper. I think this was the same time as they decided to put a roof on the Larwin Shopping Center and make it a “mall”.
Sometime after that (late 80s?), the theater was gutted and they put in 6 actual screens, but greatly sacrificed the size of the main screen to do it.