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Also known as Cinema I & II

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Montclair Cinemas

Montclair, CA

9355 Monte Vista Avenue

, Montclair, CA 91763 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Multiplex (8 Screen)
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Gym
Seats:	1500
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Burke, Kober, Nicholais & Archuleta

This was once an eight-screen venue housed within two buildings of The Montclair Plaza on Monte Vista Avenue adjacent to the Freeway 10. The front building had three screens; the rear structure had five. Although two parts of the same venue, the front screens were of a different style than those in the rear--which strongly resembled the Woodland Hills GCC (possibly built around the same time).

As far back as 1983, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" had weekly screenings here. But with increased competition from newer, flashy megaplexes nearby (like AMC's Ontario Mills), this venue began to steadily lose business in the 1990s, its final decade of operation. In 1995, the front screens were closed and that building subsequently torn down. The rear screens continued operations through the late-1990's, but were eventually reduced to showing second-run films as its support from the General Cinemas chain got pulled.

As an independent venue, it remained open up until August 2000, which is when it ceased operations as a movie theater.

Contributed by Lavar Burkhart

YOUR COMMENTS

Pictures: http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2184

posted by Lavar on Jan 25, 2007 at 1:59pm

Address Correction: 9355 Monte Vista Ave.

posted by Lavar on Jan 25, 2007 at 2:00pm

Opened in 1969 as a Loews three screener. Sold to General Cinema in the 70s'.

The back five theatres opened in 1979.

Adjacent to the back building,there was a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store,a comedy club called "The Laugh Stop" and a Bally's Fitness.

posted by Rich Jr on Mar 15, 2007 at 5:12am

I managed the two complexes for 12 years. 1983 to 1995 before going over to Paramount Pictures. I even started up the midnight shows with The Rocky Horror Picture Show and a summer kid show series along with a monthly senior citizen show. It was sad to see these theatres go with the times but as we all know bigger and better theatres are always being built.

posted by Bill Saugez on Dec 17, 2007 at 9:04pm

I saw "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" here.

It also played there in late 1979 to early 1980.

posted by sexbeatle on May 14, 2008 at 4:09am

On June 15, 2008 I passed by this old haunt to see how it has been changed... It is now part of the *expanded* Bally's Fitness. The building which used to house multiple businesses is now a single gym large enough to have its own zip code.

posted by Lavar on Jun 17, 2008 at 2:35pm

Living in Montclair, this was one of the three theaters within walking distance of my house. I loved going to the Midnight Shows! They not only showed Rocky Horror, but things like Pink Floyd's The Wall, Heavy Metal, and various horror flicks. Saw Legend and My Deadly Friend at the midnight shows, lol!
Remember going to a packed house to see E.T. here when it was released.
Montclair went from having 3 walk in theaters and 1 drive in to only having the drive in. Sad, really sad.

posted by Sammie Girl on Jul 26, 2008 at 3:18pm

There were two other theaters in Montclair at one time, the UA 6 (now a church) and another one on Holt between Ramona and Indian Hill. Does anyone remember the name of that theater? I saw alot of movies at all three Montclair theaters.

posted by Sammie Girl on Jul 26, 2008 at 7:04pm

Opened as a twin on June 22, 1969, according to the LA Times. Here is part of an article on that date:

Southern California's first Cinema I & II, a $1 million dual theater complex designed to meet adult and general family entertainment needs, just opened at the Montclair Plaza shopping center. This is the forerunner of 40 proposed Southland Cinema I & II theaters, according to Arthur Silber, West Coast manager for General Cinema, Inc.

Burke, Kober, Nicolais & Archuleta, Los Angeles and San Francisco architectural firm, designed the 1,500 seat structure for owners Montclair Associates and lessee General Cinema.

posted by ken mc on Nov 16, 2008 at 5:54pm

Here is an April 1969 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/oemace

posted by ken mc on May 10, 2009 at 9:03pm

Sammie Girl, the theatre on Indian Hill was Pacific Montclair 5. It was obviously once a single-screen and looked pretty rundown even back in the 1980s.

posted by Zubi on Jun 10, 2009 at 11:59pm

Actually,Zubi,the SRO Montclair 3(later Pacific Montclair 3,they expanded it to a 5-plex shortly after the acquisition)was located on Holt Blvd.

The Indian Hill was near the Pomona/Montclair border on Indian Hill Blvd.

posted by Rich37 on Jun 23, 2009 at 1:25pm

When was the screen on the left side of the original building twinned?

posted by Rich37 on Jun 23, 2009 at 1:27pm

Rich37, you're correct and I'm incorrect. Montclair 5 was located on Holt; and I guess it never was a single. Only went there once... All of this should be on the Montclair Theatre page anyway, not this one...

Bill Saugesz, I believe you and I spoke in 1988. Gartley liked you alot (he did not care for me). Still pals here with some former GCC people...

posted by Zubi on Jun 29, 2009 at 1:02am

Bill was there when i was playing Dr. Scott at Rocky Horror in the late '80s-early '90s.

posted by Rich37 on Oct 20, 2009 at 11:08pm

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