Del Mar Theatre

1124 Pacific Avenue,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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Related Websites

Landmark Theatres(USA) (Official)

Additional Info

Operated by: Landmark Theatres (USA)

Architects: J. Lloyd Conrich

Functions: Movies (Independent)

Styles: Art Deco

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 831.469.3220

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News About This Theater

From Pacific and Soquel

Opened on August 14, 1936 with “China Clipper”, the 1,521-seat Del Mar Theatre has served the college town of Santa Cruz, California for almost 65 years.

After years of struggling through dollar nights and intermittent attendance, the Del Mar Theatre was sold in 1999 and closed.

After an extensive renovation and restoration, the Del Mar Theatre reopened in February of 2002. In November 2015 it was taken over by Landmark Theatres.

Contributed by Tom Mayer, Jacob Hunter

Recent comments (view all 32 comments)

GaryParks
GaryParks on November 28, 2014 at 2:00 pm

I have not been to the Del Mar since the new improvements, but, looking at photos of the new carpet, I’m quite amazed. Not only does the new carpet pick up the colors of the lobby ceiling, but many of its motifs and patterns as well. And that’s not all: The patterns even evoke some of the decorative borders which existed in the auditorium ceiling mural, which hasn’t existed since 1990. Obviously, a lot of thought was put into the choice of carpet.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 26, 2015 at 9:36 am

August 14th, 1936 and November 15th, 1978 grand opening ads in photo section.

CrystalJo74
CrystalJo74 on July 26, 2015 at 10:23 am

I have a personal interest story regarding this historic theater. My grandfather, Robert Hanson, a carpenter, fell from the balcony while working on the original build in 1936, fracturing his skull. He died the next day, May 21, 1936.

According to newspaper clippings that I have, as a gesture of sympathy, his coworkers presented my grandmother and her 2 small children (the youngest being my 1-year old father, Vernon) with a fund that they gave generously from their paychecks the following day.

I would love to have him remembered as one of the original builders of the theater.

Thank you,
Crystal Hanson

jschwen
jschwen on July 26, 2015 at 10:42 am

http://thenick.com/tours.html

The video referred to on my post of 10/19/14 can now be seen here. Sorry about the confusion.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 26, 2015 at 1:13 pm

February 8th, 2002 grand opening ad now online.

terrywade
terrywade on November 23, 2015 at 5:30 pm

Sad news I have heard today Nov 23 2015 the great Del Mar Theatre along with the Nick and Aptos Twin in the Santa Cruz CA area have just been bought by Landmark Theatres. I can tell you when the nice curtains stop to work at the Del Mar Landmark won’t fix them, just like all the other cinemas they run or rent in the SF Bay Area that had curtains they will leave them broke. Lets see what they do come next month with any neon marquee issues. Goodbye to showmanship in Santa Cruz CA.

terrywade
terrywade on December 8, 2016 at 7:33 pm

The curtains as of the first week in Dec 2016 are broke and Landmark won’t fix them. The neon marquee has many letters and light bars off and not working. Seems Landmark does not care to fix anything at this time. They blame It on the city of Santa Cruz that owns the Del Mar, Landmark just pays the lease each month. Soon nothing will light up when all the neon goes out.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 25, 2017 at 6:39 am

1936 postcard image added courtesy of Sandy Ragsdaleā€Ž.

terrywade
terrywade on October 10, 2017 at 9:06 am

Good news thanks to Scott one of the managers at Theatre Delmar the great red waterfall curtains are working again as of Oct 7 2017. We hope Scott like before can also put in a cue for the curtains to close again on the last 10sec of trailers then open again on the main feature. Showmanship is back at Landmark in Santa Cruz! Now let’s go to work on the neon marquee repair project.

DENNISMAHANEY1
DENNISMAHANEY1 on February 15, 2018 at 1:58 pm

Just look over this post am shocked at how this old classic of the theater looks today, I was with the small theater chain took over this theater and others after the do nothing and spend nothing chain of U.A. I did almost nothing but as much as I could being alone and without funds, my health went and retired do to health. LANDMARK WELL DONE YOU SAVE A CLASSIC OF A THEATER, so many we lost, I am so please this one was saved

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