Northridge Center Cinemas

I knew this theater as a Pacific Theaters theater when I first came across it in the late 1990’s. Shortly before the theater was completely destroyed, the marque that I knew and had seen every time I went there was removed. And what appeared to be there was the “original” marque behind that one.

The theater was called, “Sun Cinema.” Here’s another time I wish I had a camera handy. It was a very nice looking marque too. I was there to see “Reign of Fire” one time, and after the movie was done running there, the manager let me have the bus-stop-size poster of that movie hanging inside the theater.

Any Photos?

The Mexican place was “Don Ricardo’s.” Nice frozen margaritas and good food at most times, but I went there once for breakfast (I worked at the American Handicrafts store next door while going to grad school), and was served a cup of coffee with a dead “cucaracha” floating on top. I don’t think I went back after that.

The theatres…I saw a number of films there, but have virtually no memory of the place rather than it being a standard small mall multiplex. The one thing I do remember was that the marquee was located on the front of the parking garage at the opposite end of the mall, which probably confused a lot of moviegoers.

This is probably one of more obscure and forgotten mall theaters but it was a regular hang out for me as a kid in the late 70’s/early 80’s. I think mainly because they had a DEFENDER (video game) machine in their tiny lobby and it was right across from the Malibu Grand Prix arcade which was a 2nd home for me around 1980-82. Though i remember seeing a lot of films here at the time as well, hopping from screen to screen, things like “Heavy Metal”, “Megaforce” and “Tron”. The one i think i saw the most here was WIZARDS (Bakshi) i guess i was just old enough to be dropped off by myself (around 10) at the mall and this film was a childhood obsession, must have seen it 50 times. I remember walking past that Mexican restaurant (Don something or other) and a jewelry shop right on the corner every day for years. Haven’t been back there since the 80’s and really don’t care to see how it’s changed, i’m sure it looks like every other modern homogenized place.