Loma Theatre
3150 Rosecrans Boulevard,
San Diego,
CA
92110
3150 Rosecrans Boulevard,
San Diego,
CA
92110
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 44 comments found
Modernization described in this 1960 trade article: Boxoffice
This opened on May 25th, 1945. Grand opening ad in photo section for this theatre.
March 29, 1965, is not the correct date for the world premiere (in New York) or the opening in San Diego. (March 29th is when the film premiered in London.) The world premiere of “The Sound of Music” was actually held on March 2nd. The San Diego premiere was held four weeks later on March 31st.
The IMDB…sigh… Great for actors and which films they starred in, but not very reliable for things like release dates or technical data. For more insight on “Sound of Music” release dates and its exhibition history, please see my article, Happy 45th, The Sound of Music
@TArbiter: Your recollection is most likely correct, Sound of Music began there in 1965 and—since it ran 2 ½ years—must have lasted until at least late 1967. I remember seeing “Rosemary’s Baby” at the Loma during sixth grade (1967-68), after Sound of Music concluded its run, so it must have been sometime in winter or spring of 1968. Internet Movie Database gives a March 1965 world premiere date of 29 March 1965 for Sound of Music (but it may not have opened immediately in San Diego), and a June 1968 USA premiere date for Rosemary’s Baby. So I must have seen the latter film shortly after eseen the latter film about the time school let out in June 1968.
By the way, the “Gateway Village” military housing along Barnett St was torn down several years ago and replaced by condominiums. St. Charles Catholic Church is still there. MCRD is still there as you knew it, but NCTD was torn down and today hosts homes and shopping areas, called “Liberty Station”. If you lived in Gateway Village, then you would have attended Dewey Elementary, Collier Junior High, or Point Loma High, depending on your school grade at the time.
“The Sound of Music” was playing at this theatre when my family moved to San Diego in April 1966, and it was still playing there when we moved away in November 1967. We saw most of our movies at the MCRD theatre and at the Aero Drive-In. The Aero was on El Cajon Blvd, if I remember correctly.
In the early to mid 1960s, the Loma ran Saturday morning matinees during the summer months. It may have been going on during the 40s and 50s but I was too young to have remembered. Usually a Disney flick, some cartoons, and a drawing for a free trip to Disneyland. At one point, if you presented I think a dozen Mountain Dew bottle caps, admission was free. Otherwise you paid 25 cents. It wasn’t a Saturday morning habit with me, but I recall going maybe half a dozen times as a kid.
The Loma held a “second anniversary party” for Sound Of Music when it hit the two year mark. They rounded up some of the child cast members and had a huge cake prepared. I remember seeing a photo in the Union of one of the two boys in the cast cutting the cake with Angela Cartwright (who by that time was appearing in “Lost In Space”). I don’t recall if the public was invited to the party or if it was just a PR stunt for the papers.
Check the map — the theater is between Rosecrans Street and Rosecrans Place. There is no Blvd.
But you’re right that Bookstar is using Place in their address, but Street is more correct for the theater.
“Rosecrans Place” may be just the address for the bookstore that now occupies this former theatre building, since the bookstore’s entrance is in the rear of that building. However, the box office and entrance for the movie theatre was in the front and faced the boulevard.
The correct street address is Rosecrans Place, not Blvd.
“SOUND OF MUSIC” played 133 weeks. I can’t even comment on that,but i shouldn’t ever complain about having to play it for a couple of weeks back in the 70’s, I pity the poor ushers dealing with the old ladies.
Very nice looking theatre,the Belle Meade Theatre in Nashville,Tenneessee is also a bookstore now,but they still have the sign board and vertical signs still there.
This looks similar to the Clyde, aka Quimby, Theater in Fort Wayne, In.
Here is a newspaper ad, circa 1973:
http://tinyurl.com/m65xz6
1981 Photo
This site is acting strange. I hope that an obscene comment doesn’t get saved with my name on it.
No, you didn’t. I posted that for the Lux in New Mexico. Some crossed wires, I guess.
I didn’t post the above comment.
Looks a lot better there than when I saw it a few years ago.
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d2mr6f
Probably a coincidence. The building just happens to be large enough for their use.
Bookstar has also taken over the Studio City theater in Southern CA. I wonder if they target old theaters, or if it’s just coincidental.
Here is a 2008 photo.
As with DanW, I too long for the halcyon days of San Diego. I remember going to see “Earthquake” in “SenseSurround” at the Loma. There were subwoofers lined up all across the floor in front of the stage. The film ran for several weeks and I often wondered if there was any structural damage from all the low frequency vibration.
The Grand Opening was on 24 May 1945. Admission was the purchase of a $100 War Bond.
The opening attraction was ‘Diamond Horseshoes’ starring Betty Grable.