Brookhurst 4 Cinemas
2229 Ball Road,
Anaheim,
CA
92804
2229 Ball Road,
Anaheim,
CA
92804
3 people
favorited this theater
The Brookhurst Theatre closed in early May of 2003 after more than 42 years of continuous operation. It first opened in April of 1961 in a new neighborhood center built away from the downtown area. In addition to its opening attraction, an advertised 70mm demo reel was shown and then a month later it played its first feature in 70mm Todd-AO, “Can-Can”, making it the first theater in Orange County to screen 70mm. The operator was Vinicof Theatres of Los Angeles who also built a snack shop near the entrance of this ultra-modern theater, complete with a covered drive-through area for cars to drop off patrons.
Over the years the Brookhurst Theatre, always an independent, was converted to four screens and its exterior was changed from the way it once was. In its original form, the 944-seat cinema could be considered Orange County’s first modern theater and predated Edwards Theatres entry into the county. In later years it was mostly forgotten because no one remembers it in its prime as a large 70mm, single-screen venue situated in a quiet part of Anaheim. Also forgotten is the Brookhurst Loge, a very small but plush theater with all-loge seating, which was built next door in a separate building in 1970.
In the fall of 2003, with its signage removed, the Brookhurst remained vacant awaiting its fate. Rescued by the TriStone Cinema Group, it re-opened in December 2009 as a discount movie theatre. It was closed again in spring of 2011.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
The four plex configuration resulted in the following seating capacity:
Aud#1 – 163
Aud#2 – 168
Aud#3 – 275
Aud#4 – 275
Total – 881
The two small auditoriums are accessed directly off of the lobby. The larger auditoriums are acccesed at the end of a hallway that runs between the two small auditoriums (formerly the center of the single screen auditorium). The small auditoriums have a traditional slope and are slightly V shaped. The large auditoriums slope slightly upwards, as they are located in what was once the front of the auditorium, but retain a more common rectagular shape. The auditorium decore is red/white/blue drapery and white-washed wood panneling. The flooring is bare concrete, with dark patterned carpeting running down the aisles.
Projection is divided in to two booths, linked by a catwalk that runs above the center hallway. Two neon arrow fixtures hang from the open catwalk, remnants from a previous incarnation (the theatre featured heavy use of indoor neon in the 90’s). The concession stand retains the post quading remodel look/structure (complete with glass bricks and a neon arrow). The current lobby/hallway decore consists of bare, lavender colored walls.
The large A frame signage, that stood in front of the theatre for 30 years, was removed in the early 90’s; the rooftop marquee was removed circa 2003. The current signage consists of a small branding lightbox above the entry and a marquee space on the property’s freestanding signage (above a listing of the property’s other tenants). One of the theatre’s original signs, directing patrons to a rear parking area, remains, but is partially covered with ivy.
According to the 4/24/61 Boxoffice Magazine, the Brookhurst Theatre was built for $300,000. The news piece also mentions that the opening manager was Jack Geller, “former acting school operator in Hollywood”.
After being divided in to four screens, the Brookurst was operated by the folowing companies:
American Family Theatres 1992 – 1997
Globe Theatres 1998 – 2003
Interstate/Starplex Cinemas 2003 – 2006
I went to the the Brookhurst Theater through the mid 60’s, I saw some great movies there. It brings back good memories. I remember the girl that worked at the refrestment counter, Frances Baur. She was real attractive and had such a great personality. She was a graduate of Magnolia High School. I think she is living in Cario, Egypt, everything checks out that is her. I never thought that the theater had 900 seats. I wonder if that is after they turned it into a multiplex? I just remember it as a single theater.
BallRoad
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cyfjc4
The Brookhurst is scheduled to reopen as “Brookhurst 4 Discount Cinemas” on July 3, 2009.
Yes, Brookhurst has reopened under TriStone Cinema Group, the same operators of Temeku 7 Cinemas in Temecula and Terra Vista 6 Cinemas in Rancho Cucamonga.
Here is the website for the discount theater. Status should be open and function should be “movies-second run”.
http://www.brookhurst4.com/
Photo of one of the auditoriums of the Brookhurst.
View link
Proved to be a short run; the Brookhurst has been closed once again.