Orange Theatre

The Orange Theatre is now a church. It appears virtually the same as in the photograph today except that the vertical sign has been replaced by a large neon-lit plastic cross. The marquee shown in the photo is still on the building, but painted a single dark color and there are illuminated "dove of peace" symbols where the name ORANGE used to be. All ornamental neon is gone. Other than these changes, the exterior remains as it was.

I saw several movies at the Orange around 1970, but by far the most memorable experience was when I went there to see the 1970 reissue of MGM's BEN-HUR, in wide screen and Stereo sound, in its original premiere roadshow form with the overture music on the soundtrack.

A nice setting for a classic film.

I was in the second floor balcony and recall looking out the windows shown in the photograph on a sunny Sunday afternoon matinee. The theater looked the same in 1970 as it does in the photo above.

The Orange Theatre is located at 172 N. Glasell Street.

A complete history including photos and newspaper archives can be found on the Son Light Christian Center web site (http://www.sonlightoforange.com). My most memorable experience was watching Tom Hanks direct "That Thing You Do!" at the Orange circle in November of 1995. Fox took over the whole downtown for about two weeks and the Orange Theatre became The Regent. After Hanks finished one scene which had stunt people (not the actual actors) leaping over parking meters, the hundreds of onlookers clapped and Hanks turned around and took a very gracious bow for the crowd. The Orange Theatre also appears in the upcoming film "First Daughter." I will send in a cameo news story on these.

According to the history of the theatre on the church's website http://www.sonlightoforange.com
the architect of the Orange Theatre was Harry J. Simons of Los Angeles.

Not stated on the website is that work commenced on building in around 1926 but was brought to a halt for some reason and the contract was completed by architect John Paxton Perine.

It opened on 22nd May 1929 with the movie "Molly and Me" starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown plus a vaudville show and Wurlitzer organ music. It had a seating capacity of 1,300 and was operated by Fox West Coast-Langley Theatres.

It closed in the early 1970's and briefly went over to being a live theatre which closed in 1975. The current church use commenced in 1978.

Located one block north of the famous "circle" formed by the intersection of Glassell and Chapman in "Old Towne" Orange, the former Orange theater is still looking fine, and is being used as a church.

1934, courtesy of the UCLA Digital Archive:

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cor/kt5k4020tm/hi-res/10511569.jpg

Then history of the theatre is located at: http://www.sonlightoforange.org/history/history.htm

Son Light christian Center purchased the building in 1976 and remains there after 30 years. Their first service in the building was March 28, 1976 (not 1978).

If anyone has additional information or pictures, please contact me at criswell@earthlink.net and I will update our history website. I am always looking for early newspaper articles and early pictures.

Diamond Jubilee parade, 1963:

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cor/kt5k4020tm/hi-res/10511548.jpg

These two photos from 1949 show the Plaza Theater on South Glassell in 1949. The building is clearly not the Orange. There is no listing for the Plaza on this website, as far as I can tell.

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cor/kt5k4020tm/hi-res/10511382.jpg

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cor/kt5k4020tm/hi-res/10511374.jpg

Orange Theater in 1934. Tickets were 15 cents:

http://www.oac.cdlib.org/affiliates/images/cor/kt5k4020tm/hi-res/10511570.jpg

Here are a couple of my pictures of the Orange, taken September 2007:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenery/2125221065/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/achangeinscenery/2125995946/in/set-72157594514575526/

Here is a recent photo.

This is a then (1963) and now (2009) photo of the Orange Theater.

1931 movie ticket and turkey drawing:
http://www.sonlightoforange.org/history/1930-39/1931.jpg

Was there more than one Orange Theatre in Orange, CA? The Son Of Light website declares a "Wurlitzer Organ" having been installed there. But on page 710 of Junchens book, its said (with interior pictures) that Wicks opus 879,a 2/8 (and the last new Wicks threatre organ installed in a theatre) was installed in the Orange in 1929. Cost $17,500, less $10,075 for used organ traded in. Wonder where they got the trade in from!

Nevermind, answered my own question. Found the interior shots on the Son Of Light website. Same theatre as in the Junchen book, and the console is most defintely a Wicks and not a Wurlitzer!