Plaza Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

1200 Sunflower Ave

, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	Unknown
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Plaza is located behind the South Coast Plaza Theatre in a separate building but was marketed by Edwards as the third screen of the larger theater.

It has a tiered seating format, a variation of stadium seating with two rows on each level. The lobby and all facilities are neatly tucked under the risers.

National General Theatres built it in 1970 and then it was taken over by Mann Theatres in 1973. Edwards operated it from 1981 until it closed in 2000 because of its bankruptcy.

In 2002 plans were announced to build a high-rise building on the site.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

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More information and pictures can be found here:

http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/70mm_in_orange_county_south_coast_plaza.htm

posted by Bill Kallay on Apr 1, 2006 at 6:59pm

I saw many, many films at this theater, which was an extremely popular theater during the 1980s. All three Star Wars films and all three Indiana Jones films were shown in Theater III in 70mm, as were Superman and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a re-release of Disney's Sleeping Beauty in 70mm, Gone With The Wind in 70mm, Poltergeist in 70mm (I sat in the third row on opening night, first show, and still clearly recall literally jumping out of my seat at the clown doll scene), Braveheart (not sure if it was 70mm), Aliens, and many others. It's really a shame that it's now closed. It was one of the better theaters in all of Orange County.

posted by papibear on Apr 2, 2006 at 12:21am

By the way, Bill Kallay, you totally ROCK man!!!!! Your site is awesome and I am blown away that you were able to snag all those great photos of the theater! Just amazing!

posted by papibear on Apr 2, 2006 at 12:26am

I was the manager briefly at South Coast Plaza II (a.k.a. Theatre III) between 1982 - 1983.

The most successful film I screened there was the regional premiere of "Ghandi" in 70 mm.

We revived the concept of sending 'candy sellers' into the auditorium during the intermission (another forgotten relic) and would quickly sell out tubs of popcorn and large drinks.

I also found some cool Indian music that we played between screenings and during the intermission. People were always asking what the album was called (now I wish I would remember).

The rerelease of Empite Strikes Back also did well.

And Bill Kallay - ditto - nice photos and site!

posted by StuartBerman on Feb 17, 2007 at 7:59pm

posted by Chuck1231 on Feb 12, 2010 at 10:20pm

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