Balboa Performing Arts Theatre
707 E. Balboa Boulevard,
Newport Beach,
CA
92661
707 E. Balboa Boulevard,
Newport Beach,
CA
92661
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The Balboa Theatre is undergoing a $2.5 million dollar restoration project, led by community activist and President of the Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation, Dayna Pettit. The project will turn the 1928 movie palace into a cinema and performing arts center that will be capable of hosting live events and films for 350 people.
Originally opened as the Ritz Theater in 1928, it was renamed Balboa Theatre in 1939. It was taken over by Pussycat Theatres in 1973 and operated as an adult theatre until 1975. Later operated by Landmark Theatres, it closed as a movie theatre in 1992, after years of lobbying the city for support, the city of Newport Beach purchased the building in 1998, and with construction underway, a proposal was made to re-open the theatre in 2008.
Plans may call for a return of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” which had been a controversial staple of the beach community’s cinema.
Contributed by
Ross Melnick
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
The official website for the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre Foundation is
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The correct address is 707 E. Balboa Blvd.. The website gives a history fo the Balboa Theatre.
I saw a midnight showing of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” here back in 1991. It was weird in that the regulars didn’t dress up as characters from the film but in costumes that had more of a retro-Edwardian look to them. Guess that was the style at the time. This theater was notorious for getting one film and letting it play for weeks on end – “Hear My Song” was there FOREVER. Closed in 1992 after years of low attendance. Glad to hear it is coming back.
Where can we see Rocky Horror Picture Show? I live in Downey,CA.
You can see RHPS at The Art Theatre in Long Beach. I was the Assistant Manager at the time of the closing of the Balboa. The last night of Rocky Horror we had lines all they way to the Balboa pier. After the Balboa closed I worked at The Port in Corona Del mar which is also set for major renovation. I’m hoping both or either will make a deal with Landmark Theatre Corp. who ran the theatres at the time of closing for film booking. I hope I will be involved in running of the Balboa when it re-opens. Where do I apply??
I saw “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” here.
OMG, my friends and I saw Rocky Horror here many, many, many times throughout the 1980s….people definitely dressed in character and got into it then, with stageshows, virgin auctions and all. The theatre was pretty run-down, but beautiful underneath the years of wear- can’t wait to see it renovated!
“Midnight Insanity” who is the cast that performed at the Balboa before it closed is currently at the Warner Grand in San Pedro. For more information please go to www.midnightinsanity.com
According to this website, the Balboa was built in 1928 and opened as the Ritz Theater. The name was changed to the Balboa Theater in 1939.
1983 photo of the Balboa Theatre.
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As I recall, Rocky Horror was my first film at the Balboa. I can also remember seeing Christopher Guest’s The Big Picture and Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train there during my college years. Usually ate at BJ’s Pizza across the street and always seemed to be raining. Good times.