Mesa Theatre

Costa Mesa, CA

1890 Newport Boulevard

, Costa Mesa, CA, United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Moderne

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	925
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	A. Dwight Gibbs
Firm:	Unknown

In the years following World War II, repeated efforts were made in Costa Mesa to build a movie theater.

According to articles from that era in the Costa Mesa Globe Herald, post war building controls were the impediment. Congressmen and even the President of the United States were lobbied and in a town-wide ballot, the citizens voted for a theater. When the controls were lifted, the Mesa Theater was built and opened on November 4, 1948.

Its builder was Mason Siler, who also operated the now historic Lido and Balboa theaters in Newport Beach. It was designed in Streamline style by A. Dwight Gibbs, the architect of the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. Features in the $175,000 building included 925 luxury seats, a crying room and smoking room.

It was operated as an independent theater until Edwards Theatres took it over in 1981 making it their sixteenth Orange County location. By 1997 it was a second-run house that had become economically unfeasible to maintain without a major restoration so Edwards closed it.

In the last years, admission price was $1.00 for a double feature, not much more than its 1948 admission of 60 cents. The Mesa was demolished in 1998 and a Borders Books was built on the site.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

YOUR COMMENTS

A very nice large theater...very clean and always fun. We saw lots of wonderful films there. I went from 1961 until well into the 70's. I sat behind some very lovely girl in there in 8th grade... Sandy Kahre.. I even recall the film... "None But The Brave"
Later on from my junior year up until I was married and moved away I took dates there often when I wasn't at the Paulo or some other theater.

posted by Barry Kazmer on Mar 15, 2005 at 10:07pm

I have never actually visited the sites of the Lido, Balboa, and Mesa Theaters, but I have seen the Lido Theater in pictures shown to me by my parents. A very historical moment for this Siler family.

posted by Melon on Apr 5, 2005 at 12:33pm

I am Mason Siler's granddaughter and the lido theater was my grandfather's pride and joy. He and his father designed their theaters with the idea that going to the movies would be a unique and memorable experience. My grandfather absolutely loved the theater and it is wonderful to see people enjoying his work today.
Rianne Siler

posted by Rianne on Sep 25, 2005 at 7:11am

This is a photo of the former Mesa theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 12, 2006 at 1:56pm

Lived a few block away (early 60s), used to ride my bike there for cheap Saturday matinees. Saw some bizarre double-bills (Annie Hall/Gator) and premiers as well (It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World). Our junior-high PE teacher took tickets at the door when we were in high school- that was strange. It was a big theater- I don't recall anything very remarkable about it architecturally. It was our neighborhood hangout and I was sorry to see it go.

posted by NickSantangelo on Apr 6, 2007 at 3:27pm

I worked in the box office at the Mesa not long before it was closed. It was a lovely theater with period details, and it broke my heart they let it get so run down. The upholstery was ratty and the AC didn't work - in between shows they'd have us walk up and down the aisle spraying tons of air freshener to cover the mold smell.

I loved that the box office had a speaker hooked into the theater sound system, so I knew exactly when the movie started.

Edwards encouraged mediocrity in its employees by treating them terribly. Worst company I ever worked for.

posted by blackapple on Aug 9, 2008 at 11:46am

There is a 1983 photo on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/dnmree

posted by ken mc on Apr 4, 2009 at 12:17pm

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