Ken Cinema

Pretty low ceiling in the auditorium!

Here’s a direct link to the photos posted on 8/19/11. (Thanks, Danny.)

Lots of photos, including a few interiors, here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.119571068065336.12520.117370998285343&type=1

Any interior photos?

I recently took a weekend trip to San Diego. While in San Diego I wanted to visited any historic theaters that were still left in the city. I was sadden to find out that Ken Cinema was the last single-screen theater in San Diego. of course I had to see film, “ Holy Rollers.” I am happy this theater at least remains.

Here are two 1983 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

Joe, the cinema may have some filed away, if there’s something specific that you’re looking for you might want to try phoning them or the city office which is at the Hillcrest Cinemas.

Here is another photo.

Ken, the photo you linked was taken in 2003, as the film showing at the time was “Lilya 4 Ever”, which was out in limited release in April of that year. A very disturbing film, though definitely Ken fare. I saw many a disturbing film there over the years, “Fat Girl” and “Julien Donkey Boy” are two examples that come quickly to mind.

I’ve posted this same picture above, though now it’s included on my theatres page on Flickr:
View link

This is another night view of the Ken Cinema.

The first time I can remember attending the Ken was in the early eighties for a Saturday night
screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. There were so many people dressed up as the characters in the movie that I had no idea what to expect. It was my first viewing of this now camp classic and I can remember someone entering with a motorcycle from a door on the front right side, playing the role of the Meatloaf character and the scenes where people tossed toilet paper and rice towards the screen.
Truly an eye-opening experience.
In a few weeks, I’ll be bringing a group of photographers there for a screening of Edward Burtynsky’s movie, Manufactered Landscapes. Looking forward to it.
http://www.pbase.com/camera0bug

It is sad that the carbon arch projectors have been retired, though the theatre will surely benefit from the fact that the projector will now be manager run rather than projectionist run, lowering the theatre payroll. It was inevitable, and good for Landmark to wait until the Ken’s projectionist retired to make this major change.

A fairly recent photo of the Ken can be seen here: View link

WED20SEP06, 9:10P CST
That’s a real shame but I guess inevitable. I’m sure the carbon is very expensive to make now. It’s been a long time and I can’t remember all that went into the carbons, but there were some rare earths involved. I guess carbon arc lamps, tube driven amplifiers and glue splicing are all history.
Dan Whitehead
Irving, Tx.

A single screen venue tucked away by I-15 in the Kensington area of San Diego, this theater reminds me so much of what I’d experienced in neighborhood theaters in Brooklyn & Queens (like the Peerless) when I was a kid some 50-odd years ago. Landmark is to be congratulated for keeping this gem going, very much like its sister counterpart, the Hillcrest Cinema.

Just recently, I was fortunate to view a wonderfully restored print of “The Fallen Idol,” a British entry made back in 1948. Last year, the folks at the Ken Cinema gave us the delightful “Festival Express,” filmed in Canada in 1970 and featuring the likes of Janis Joplin just three months before her untimely demise, a dark-haired Jerry Garcia, Ian & Sylvia, Buddy Guy and many more colorful characters from that era.