Magic Lantern Theater
960 Embarcadero del Norte,
Isla Vista,
CA
93117
960 Embarcadero del Norte,
Isla Vista,
CA
93117
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A neighborhood theater in 60’s style. In the 1980’s, the Magic Lantern Theater became a second run house, and was later purchaced by the University of California Santa Barbara.
Contributed by
Scott Padrick
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Opened in 1966, the Magic Lantern Theatre (at 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista), operated as such through 1985, at which point Metropolitan sold it to UCSB, who renamed it the Isla Vista Theatre. It’s very much open these days, as the Magic Lantern:
http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/Display.aspx?PKey=1120
i remember attending a screening at the magic lantern, when jim babb ran this theater, soon after that-1969- he went to the cinema theater in hollywood.
When I was in High School, the Magic Lantern was the place to go see surf flicks, and cult flicks like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I can’t remember ever seeing a new release there even though it was the closest theatre to my home (University Village) and I lived there when the theatre opened. Whew! Isla Vista is really a pretty mellow place compared to the hippy days. I remember watching the Bank of America burn twice not far from the Magic Lantern. You guys remember when the streets and sidewalks were literally covered in graffiti? All the “Secret Police Get out of IV” stencils, People’s Park, TP Village etc. What a strange place for a kid to grow up.
Would like to see some photos,cool name for a theatre.
525 and 148 seats in both auditoriums – apparently it’s been twinned – View link