Surf Theatre

121 5th Street,
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

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Additional Info

Architects: M. Eugene Durfee

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Scott's Theatre, Roxy Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Surf Theatre

Scott’s Theatre was opened on May 20, 1925 with Mary Philbin in “5th Avenue Models”. It was renamed Roxy Theatre in 1937. It was renamed Surf Theatre in June 1941. It was still open in 1983, and was razed sometime after 1989.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 27 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 26, 2009 at 9:28 am

Here is a 1983 photo. The city is misidentified.
http://tinyurl.com/yb2g43r

mw8
mw8 on October 6, 2010 at 9:26 am

I grew up in HB during the 50’s ad 60’s. We used to go to the Surf Theater every Saturday to watch westerns, Abbott and Costello movies, godzilla, and every B movie that hollywood made. The owner would play games with us inbetween movies. Throw candy, frizbees etc out to the audience. We had a blast. Afterwards we would go over to my dad’s drug store, Waite’s Main Drug and have hamburgers and ice cream at the counter. Hb was a great place to grow up. Lived at the beach during our teen years and now paying for it with my dermatoligists.

thephaneufs
thephaneufs on May 28, 2012 at 8:26 am

Dear mw8. I was there in the 50’s and 60’s as well. LOVED IT! It was a wonderful part of my childhood! I loved the intermission and the fun and games. Don’t forget the talent shows! Kids would get up on stage and mostly sing, but other talents would jump up from the audience as well. I remember a friend got up and sang a song. I was so proud of her. I remember Wait’s Main Drug – AND the ice cream. Yes, Huntington Beach was a wonderful place to grow up! I moved away in 1972 and have dreamed of the beach just about every day. Will be taking a trip to see it in September.

mikechase1
mikechase1 on March 29, 2013 at 10:25 am

I grew up in HB during the 60’s and visited the Suff Theater many times as a kid. In those days the Surf had a PAL Club you could join where you would get admission, popcorn and a grab bag of goodies for about $.50 on Saturday, if I recall correctly. You also got in free on your birthday!

The Surf played a double-feature kids movies on Saturday – I saw everything that Disney produced and my parents were grateful that kids had a safe place to go while they got a break! Between shows there was entertainment and Surf owners would toss prizes and snacks to the kids in the audience. It was great fun. After the shows we would often walk down to the pier and have ‘strips’ from beach vendors.

I lived in HB between 1960 and 1976 and have a lot of find memories growing up in ‘old’ Huntington Beach!

SurfTheatre
SurfTheatre on May 29, 2013 at 1:22 am

WoW! It’s great to read all the comments about The Surf! My name is Tracy Thomas, my father owned & operated The Surf Theatre from 1961 until it was demolished 1989, for the “new” downtown re-vamping. It’s fun to visit old memories which include; Saturday Pal-Club matinees, March of Dimes fundraisers, surf & ski movies- which showed 2x a nite, (7:30 & 9:30 with lines around the building!). The shenanigans I participated in by letting the ‘locals’ in free. Eating at; Mazzotti’s, Whimpy’s, The DogFather and of course, The Sugar Shack. Great Memories! My Dad passed away suddenly on August 4, 2007- he was 66 yrs old.

SurfTheatre
SurfTheatre on May 29, 2013 at 1:28 am

PS: The Surf should be listed as ‘demolished’, and the seat capacity was more like- 356. My Dad had taken rows of chairs out so there was more leg room between isles, and reconstructed the stage area in front of the screen. The 600+ number is incorrect. Tracy Thomas Morehead, daughter of owner.

Drive-In 54
Drive-In 54 on May 29, 2013 at 5:22 am

SurfTheatre..have any pictures to share?

ToddRobbins
ToddRobbins on February 13, 2014 at 3:02 pm

My grandfather, Lowell Robbins, owned the Surf during the late 1920s. He always called it the Surf and he sold it before 1941 when it was supposedly renamed. Unfortunately, he died thirty years ago, so I can’t clear it up as to when this theater changed its name.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 31, 2021 at 8:23 pm

Appears to have still been open in 1983, when “Ocean Fever” played there. Photo added. Patron’s wardrobes suggest early `80s.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on June 3, 2021 at 5:21 am

Architect: M. Eugene Darfee of Anaheim

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