Mesa Theatre
1890 Newport Boulevard,
Costa Mesa,
CA
92627
1890 Newport Boulevard,
Costa Mesa,
CA
92627
4 people
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Showing 9 comments
Grand opening ad posted.
1974 photo added via Duglass Duquette‎.
A great little theater. Saw many a good film there including “Animal House” in 1978.
Too bad Costa Mesa is full of fascists now.
There is a 1983 photo on this site:
http://tinyurl.com/dnmree
I worked in the box office at the Mesa not long before it was closed. It was a lovely theater with period details, and it broke my heart they let it get so run down. The upholstery was ratty and the AC didn’t work – in between shows they’d have us walk up and down the aisle spraying tons of air freshener to cover the mold smell.
I loved that the box office had a speaker hooked into the theater sound system, so I knew exactly when the movie started.
Edwards encouraged mediocrity in its employees by treating them terribly. Worst company I ever worked for.
Lived a few block away (early 60s), used to ride my bike there for cheap Saturday matinees. Saw some bizarre double-bills (Annie Hall/Gator) and premiers as well (It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World). Our junior-high PE teacher took tickets at the door when we were in high school- that was strange. It was a big theater- I don’t recall anything very remarkable about it architecturally. It was our neighborhood hangout and I was sorry to see it go.
I am Mason Siler’s granddaughter and the lido theater was my grandfather’s pride and joy. He and his father designed their theaters with the idea that going to the movies would be a unique and memorable experience. My grandfather absolutely loved the theater and it is wonderful to see people enjoying his work today.
Rianne Siler
I have never actually visited the sites of the Lido, Balboa, and Mesa Theaters, but I have seen the Lido Theater in pictures shown to me by my parents. A very historical moment for this Siler family.
A very nice large theater…very clean and always fun. We saw lots of wonderful films there. I went from 1961 until well into the 70’s. I sat behind some very lovely girl in there in 8th grade… Sandy Kahre.. I even recall the film… “None But The Brave"
Later on from my junior year up until I was married and moved away I took dates there often when I wasn’t at the Paulo or some other theater.