Laguna South Coast Cinemas

This is a night view of the marquee.

Here is a day view of the Laguna Cinemas.

The projection booth and food storage room are accessed from the building's exterior, via a stairway in the courtyard (i.e. one has to go outside to access these areas). Perhaps, the most unique feature of this theatre is what could very well be the most expensive view of any theatre in existance; the theatre faces Laguna Beach's main beach. The box office, concession stand, and projection booth balcony all have clear views of the beach/ocean/historic life guard tower.

The theatre's interior is rather plain, but well maintained. Unfortunately, the twining of the theatre resulted in significant sound bleed through; especially from the left theatre, which is equiped with DTS.

This is another recent view of the Laguna Cinemas.

In regard to the stage: The original theatrical stage still exists, behind the screens, but is basically sealed off and only accessible via a constantly locked door. The area is covered with a few decades worth of dust/debris and in no condition for use (without major work).

At the Laemmle Theatres website, clicking on the "Laguna, Laguna Beach" link takes you to the Laguna South Coast Cinemas page at the website of Regency Theatres, apparently the current operators of this twin. There are a couple of small photos of the theatre's exterior on the page.

Another night view can be seen here.

This is a June 2008 photo.

The work on the Lynn Theatre in the 1930s appears not to have been a simple remodeling, but major reconstruction. According to a card in the Los Angeles Public Library's California Index, Southwest Builder and Contractor issue of September 26, 1930, announced that Los Angeles architects W.J. Saunders & Son were completing the working plans for the theatre for Fred Aufdenkamp. The estimated cost of the project was $50,000.

Another card in the Index cites a Los Angeles Times article of October 19, 1930, saying that Walter J. Saunders was preparing plans for the Lynn Theatre at Laguna Beach.

The only other reference in the California Index to Walter J. Saunders in connection with a theatre notes his 1912 plans for remodeling the 1882 San Bernardino Opera House.

Here is a 1948 photo from the LA Public Library:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics49/00074140.jpg

The Los Angeles Times said on September 30, 1934 that “Plans and specifications are being prepared for a $50,000 theater building to be erected on Coast Boulevard, Laguna Beach, for Fred L. Aufdenkamp, owner of the Lynn Theater in that city. The proposed structure will have a seating capacity of 800 and is to have ground dimensions of 60 by 150 feet.”
Another Times article from February 10, 1934, said that the construction contract had been awarded.
The Laguna Beach Historical Society says that it opened as the New Lynn in 1935 and replaced the first theatre. In 1936 or 1937 it was leased to the Vincent family, who renamed it the South Coast Theatre.
An earlier Los Angeles Times story from April 14, 1930, said that Fred Aufdenkamp had filed suit against the city in the amount of $3,073.25. This was because the city had inadequate storm drains which caused damage to the theater. A story in December said that he was awarded $1,300 because the theater was under 15 feet of water. It is interesting to note that by 1940, Aufdenkamp was a Laguna Beach city councilman.

My grandmother's brother, Amos (Al) Stricker was the contractor who built this theatre. His name used to be stamped in the sidewalks.

This is the Lynn circa 1929, from the LAPL:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014829.jpg

The Lynn and New Lynn Theaters were mentioned in the April 10, 1937, issue of Boxoffice Magazine. Apparently both theaters were in operation simultaneously for a time.

The Boxoffice item reads: "Ronald Vincent has changed the names of his two theatres at Laguna Beach, the Lynn being redubbed the Laguna and the New Lynn being called the Southcoast."

Here is how I understand the history of Laguna Beach theatres:

The first Lynn Theatre operated for several years at 255 Forest Ave (now a Boardriders Club clothing outlet) and closed in the early 1920's. In 1922, a second Lynn Theatre (still billed as the Lynn) opened on the current theatre's 162 South Coast Highway site. This theatre was heavily damaged by flooding, rebuilt, and reopened in 1935, as the New Lynn. At some point, likely during the New Lynn's construction, another Lynn theatre was opened at 250 Ocean Ave (billed as the Ocean Ave. Lynn). When the two theatre's were sold to the Vincent family, circa 1936, the New Lynn became the South Coast Cinemas and the Ocean Ave. Lynn became the Laguna Theatre. All of these Lynn theatres were named after a member of the original operator's family Lynn Aufdenkamp.

Here are some 1983 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/m59m8y
http://tinyurl.com/nvgn33