Park Theatre

3812 Park Boulevard,
San Diego, CA 92103

Unfavorite 8 people favorited this theater

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres, Landmark Theatres (USA)

Architects: Frank Gruys, Frank Walter Stevenson

Firms: Faxon & Gruys

Styles: Egyptian

Previous Names: Bush Egyptian Theatre, Fox Egyptian Theatre, Capri Theatre

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News About This Theater

Park Theatre

Opened in 1923, and designed by architect Frank W. Stevenson as the Bush Egyptian Theatre. It was also known as the Fox Egyptian Theatre.

In 1954, the theatre was given an extensive ‘modern’ remodel to the plans of architect Frank Gruys of Faxton & Gruys, Architcts, and was renamed the Capri Theatre. This removed all trace of the original Egyptian style decorations, both externally and internally.

Later renamed the Park Theatre, after over seven decades, the Park Theatre, last operated by the Landmark Theatres chain, finally closed in 1997 and rapidly fell into decay.

In September 2003, the Park Theatre was torn down and a condominium constructed on the site, retaining part of the theatres' facade.

Contributed by Steve Covault

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

scottfavareille
scottfavareille on July 25, 2006 at 5:35 am

In the 1970’s (starting around 1975), the Mitchell Brothers (of Behind the Green Door fame) operated this as a porn theater.

neeb
neeb on March 5, 2007 at 12:26 am

Ad for Darby O'Gill and the Little People

San Diego Union, E-7. Sunday, 02 August 1959

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 31, 2008 at 1:34 pm

Take a look at the view on Google if you want to see how they incorporated the facade into the condos.

neeb
neeb on December 1, 2009 at 2:53 am

According to this:
View link

The architect was Frank W. Stevenson.

kagemusha98
kagemusha98 on June 20, 2011 at 7:51 pm

The Capri featured many first run “roadshow” films. Around the World in 80 Days….Gigi….Ben Hur…..West Side Story…… Spartacus…..Mutiny on the Bounty……Cleopatra……Thoroughly Modern Millie.

neeb
neeb on November 28, 2011 at 10:42 pm

Here’s a pretty great write-up on the Capri:

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/feb/02/capri-theater/

rivest266
rivest266 on April 12, 2012 at 5:00 pm

July 27 1954 grand reopening ad as Capri is in the photo section for this theatre.

CharmaineZoe
CharmaineZoe on March 1, 2013 at 3:55 am

Opened as the Egyptian on July 1, 1926.

LomaUsher
LomaUsher on March 14, 2014 at 1:18 am

I saw the first theatrical re-release of “The Manchurian Candidate” at the Park, which at the time featured both an external and internal rectangularist decoration scheme in the mode of the modern artist Piet Mondrian. Very ‘50’s modern.

neeb
neeb on January 20, 2017 at 8:13 pm

CAPRI THEATRE: THE BURTON JONES YEARS
3812 Park Blvd
San Diego, CA 92103

RE = Re-Issue/ Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of engagement from another theater)
RSE = Reserved-Seat Engagement

Listings include regular engagements only. Dates represent the first day of release and, where known, the presentation format has been provided. Test screenings, sneak-preview screenings, midnight screenings, premieres and other private events are not included. Unless noted, presentations are all 35mm – mono sound presentation. All listing from San Diego Union, San Diego Tribune and “70mm in San Diego” “70mm in San Diego” by Michael Coate and William Kallay.

07/27/54 … ABOUT MRS. LESLIE (3 weeks)
08/20/54 … HOBSON’S CHOICE (3 weeks)
09/07/54 … FANFAN THE TULIP (2 weeks)
09/22/54 … ROME, 11 O’CLOCK
10/01/54 … THE PICKWICK PAPERS
10/08/54 … REAR WINDOW (7 weeks)
11/28/54 … HIGH AND DRY (3 weeks)
12/22/54 … YOUNG AT HEART (3 weeks)

01/12/55 … THE DETECTIVE (2 weeks)
01/28/55 … THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI (7 weeks)
03/18/55 … ROMEO AND JULIET (2 weeks)
03/31/55 … ON THE WATERFRONT (5 weeks)
05/03/55 … THE END OF THE AFFAIR (2 weeks)
05/14/55 … TO PARIS WITH LOVE (2 weeks)
05/29/55 … GATE OF HELL (3 weeks)
06/19/55 … AIDA (2 weeks)
07/01/55 … MARTY (4 weeks)
07/26/55 … THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS (4 weeks)
08/23/55 … TO CATCH A THIEF (7 weeks)
10/09/55 … BREAD, LOVE AND DREAMS
10/19/55 … ULYSSES (3 weeks)
11/09/55 … THE AFRICAN LION (6 weeks)
12/23/55 … GUYS AND DOLLS (8 weeks, Stereo)

02/20/56 … THE ROSE TATTOO (5 weeks)
03/26/56 … THE LITTLEST OUTLAW (3 weeks)
04/17/56 … ANYTHING GOES (3 weeks)
05/08/56 … THE LADYKILLERS (2 weeks)
05/23/56 … THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (5 weeks)
06/26/56 … UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (3 weeks)
07/17/56 … 23 PACES TO BAKER STREET (2 weeks)
07/31/56 … FANTASIA (RE, 4 weeks, Stereo)
08/28/56 … THE VAGABOND KING (4 weeks)
09/25/56 … LUST FOR LIFE (4 weeks)
10/23/56 … MAGIC FIRE
11/02/56 … TEA AND SYMPATHY (3 weeks)
11/25/56 … THE MOUNTAIN (3 weeks)
12/18/56 … MUSIC LAND / TOM AND JERRY CARTOON FESTIVAL
12/25/56 … THE LOVES AND DEATH OF A SCOUNDREL (2 weeks)

01/08/57 … SECRETS OF LIFE (2 weeks)
01/24/57 … LA STRADA (2 weeks)
02/06/57 … RICHARD III (2 weeks)
02/21/56 … THE RAINMAKER (3 weeks)
03/15/57 … THE BARRETS OF WIMPOLE STREET (2 weeks)
03/29/57 … FRIENDLY PERSUASION (2 weeks)
04/12/57 … INVITATION TO THE DANCE (2 weeks)
04/26/57 … WEE GEORDI (3 weeks)
05/17/57 … THE BELLS OF ST. MARY’S (RE, 2 weeks)
05/28/57 … THE LITTLE HUT (4 weeks)
06/26/57 … LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON (4 weeks)
07/22/57 … CLOSED
08/01/57 … AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS (RSE, 44 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

06/08/58 … DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS (2 weeks)
06/22/58 … THE BOLSHOI BALLET
07/01/58 … SOUTH PACIFIC (RSE, 21 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
11/25/58 … GIGI (RSE, 16 weeks)

03/20/59 … SLEEPING BEAUTY (8 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
05/12/59 … THE HORSE’S MOUTH (4 weeks)
06/10/59 … ROOM AT THE TOP (6 weeks)
07/22/59 … DARBY O’GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE (7 weeks)
09/09/59 … THE SCAPEGOAT (6 weeks)
10/22/59 … THE BIG FISHERMAN (RSE, 10 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
12/31/59 … PORGY AND BESS (RSE, 11 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

03/17/60 … WILD STRAWBERRIES (3 weeks)
04/08/60 … SWAN LAKE (4 weeks)
05/04/60 … THE SEVENTH SEAL / SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT
05/13/60 … THE MAGICIAN
05/23/60 … THE MAGICIAN / WILD STRAWBERRIES
06/01/60 … CARRY ON NURSE / ROOM AT THE TOP (2 weeks)
06/13/60 … CLOSED
06/16/60 … BEN-HUR (RSE, 49 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

05/22/61 … CLOSED
05/24/61 … EXODUS (RSE, 11 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
08/07/61 … CLOSED
08/09/61 … SPARTACUS (RSE, 20 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
12/25/61 … ONE, TWO, THREE (6 weeks)

02/05/62 … ONE, TWO, THREE / BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (2 weeks)
02/14/62 … WEST SIDE STORY (RSE, 36 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
10/26/62 … THE CHAPMAN REPORT (3 weeks)
11/16/62 … THE CHAPMAN REPORT / A TASTE OF HONEY (3 weeks)
12/07/62 … GONE WITH THE WIND (RE, 3 weeks)
12/25/62 … JUMBO (4 weeks)

01/23/63 … TWO FOR THE SEE SAW (5 weeks)
03/01/63 … MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (RSE, 17 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
06/26/63 … CLEOPATRA (RSE, 42 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

04/29/64 … SOUTH PACIFIC (RE, 6 weeks)
06/11/64 … THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE (RSE, 10 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
08/12/64 … BECKET (MO, 6 weeks)
09/23/64 … HAMLET (2 days, Electrovision)
09/25/64 … BECKET
09/30/64 … MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY
10/07/64 … HOW THE WEST WAS WON (RE, 4 weeks)
11/06/64 … CARRY ON SPYING (3 weeks)
11/25/64 … LILI (2 weeks)
12/09/64 … CLOSED FOR REMODLEING (2 weeks)
12/25/64 … THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY (8 weeks)

02/19/65 … MY FAIR LADY (RSE, 44 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
12/23/65 … THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY (RSE, 13 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

03/27/66 … AN EVENING WITH THE ROYAL BALLET (3 days)
03/30/66 … A PATCH OF BLUE (7 weeks)
05/18/66 … A PATCH OF BLUE / A THOUSAND CLOWNS (6 weeks)
06/29/66 … THE BLUE MAX (RSE, 17 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
10/26/66 … THE BIBLE (RSE, 38 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

07/20/67 … THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (RSE, 31 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

02/21/68 … IN COLD BLOOD (5 weeks)
03/27/68 … IN COLD BLOOD / THE PRESIDENT’S ANALYST (3 weeks)
04/19/68 … POOR COW
04/26/68 … POOR COW / LIVE FOR LIFE
05/03/68 … FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD (7 weeks)
06/21/68 … THE FOX (10 weeks)
08/28/68 … GONE WITH THE WIND (RE, 6 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
10/11/68 … RACHEL, RACHEL (10 weeks)
12/19/68 … FUNNY GIRL (RSE, 39 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

09/19/69 … LAST SUMMER (2 weeks)
10/03/69 … LAST SUMMER / JOANNA
10/08/69 … LAST SUMMER / THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES (2 weeks)
10/24/69 … THE RAIN PEOPLE (3 weeks)
11/14/69 … THE ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN (2 weeks)
11/26/69 … TROIKA / DANDELION
12/03/69 … DOWNHILL RACER / THE APRIL FOOLS (2 weeks)
12/17/69 … JOHN AND MARY (7 weeks)

02/04/70 … JOHN AND MARY / STAIRCASE (3 weeks)
02/25/70 … JOHN AND MARY / ME, NATALIE (2 weeks)
03/13/70 … A DREAM OF KINGS (3 weeks)
04/03/70 … closed (2 weeks)
04/15/70 … EASY RIDER / LAST SUMMER
04/22/70 … TRUE GRIT / THE STERILE CUCKOO (3 weeks)
05/13/70 … closed
05/20/70 … JENNY / THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON’T THEY?
05/27/70 … THE MAGIC GARDEN OF STANLEY SWEETHEART (2 weeks)
06/10/70 … 2001: A SPACE ODYESSY (RE, Stereo)
06/19/70 … THE BOYS IN THE BAND (4 weeks)
07/17/70 … THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT (3 weeks)
08/05/70 … ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS / GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS (2 weeks)
08/19/70 … BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID / THE PRIDE OF MISS JEAN BRODIE
08/28/70 … SOLDIER BLUE (6 weeks)
10/09/70 … THE VIRGIN AND THE GYPSY (2 weeks)
10/21/70 … THE VIRGIN AND THE GYPSY / RIDER ON THE RAIN ( 2 weeks)
11/04/70 … WUSA (3 weeks)
11/25/70 … BORSALINO
12/02/70 … BORSALINO / GOODBYE, COLUMBUS
12/09/70 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (RE, 2 weeks)
12/20/70 … CLOSED
12/25/70 … SONG OF NORWAY (RSE, 22 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

05/28/71 … FANTASIA (RE, 2 weeks)
06/16/71 … PATTON / MAS*H
06/25/71 … THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT / WHERE’S POPPA?
07/02/71 … WHO IS HARRY KELLERMAN (2 weeks)
07/14/71 … WHO IS HARRY KELLERMAN / ROSEMARY’S BABY (2 weeks)
07/30/71 … THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE (6 weeks)
09/08/71 … THE HELLSTROM CHRONICLE / A GUNFIGHT (2 weeks)
09/24/71 … DEATH IN VENICE (2 weeks)
10/06/71 … AIRPORT / A NEW LEAF (2 weeks)
10/20/71 … THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT / BIG JAKE (2 weeks)
11/03/71 … PLAZA SUITE / OMEGA MAN
11/10/71 … THE LOVE MACHINE / DOCTORS’ WIVES (2 weeks)
11/24/71 … PETER RABBIT AND TALES OF BEATRIX POTTER (2 weeks)
12/08/71 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO / PAINT YOUR WAGON (2 weeks)
12/24/71 … THE GANG THAT COULDN’T SHOOT STRAIGHT / ZIG-ZAG (3 weeks)

01/12/72 … SUMMER OF ’42 / JOHN AND MARY (2 weeks)
01/28/72 … THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (17 weeks)
05/12/72 … MADE FOR EACH OTHER (4 weeks)
06/07/72 … TO FIND A MAN / WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH HELEN?
06/14/72 … ARRUZA / THEY CALL ME TRINITY (2 weeks)
06/28/72 … THE OTHER / THE HOT ROCK (4 weeks)
07/26/72 … THE BURGLARS / BANANAS
08/02/72 … X-rated Feature / CHASTITY
08/09/72 … MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS / ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
08/16/72 … THE PUBLIC EYE / SILENT RUNNING
08/23/72 … THE GARDEN OF FINZI CONTINIS (4 weeks)
09/20/72 … GONE WITH THE WIND (MGM’s Fabulous Four, Stereo)
09/27/72 … 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (MGM’s Fabulous Four, Stereo)
10/04/72 … RYAN’S DAUGHTER (MGM’s Fabulous Four, Stereo)
10/11/72 … DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (MGM’s Fabulous Four, Stereo)
10/18/72 … THE GARDEN OF FINZI CONTINIS / BLESS THE BEASTS AND LITTLE CHILDREN (2 weeks)
11/01/72 … AIRPORT / THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN (2 weeks)
11/15/72 … THE RULING CLASS (3 weeks)
12/06/72 … BUTERFLIES ARE FREE / BUCK AND THE PREACHER
12/13/72 … EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW… / MONEY TALKS
12/20/72 … YOU’LL LIKE MY MOTHER / HAROLD AND MAUDE (2 weeks)

01/05/73 … PLAY IT AS IT LAYS
01/12/73 … PLAY IT AS IT LAYS / A SEPARATE PEACE (3 weeks)
01/31/73 … TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT (3 weeks)
02/28/73 … THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISE (2 weeks)
03/14/73 … THE THIEF WHO CAME TO DINNER / LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (2 weeks)
03/28/73 … THE EFFECTS OF GAMMA RAYS ON MAN-IN-THE-MOON / THE BOY FRIEND (2 weeks)
04/13/73 … THE NELSON AFFAIR
04/18/73 … THE NELSON AFFAIR / WOMEN IN LIMBO
04/27/73 … TWO PEOPLE / PLAY MISTY FOR ME

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