Unicorn Theatre
7456 La Jolla Boulevard,
La Jolla,
CA
92037
7456 La Jolla Boulevard,
La Jolla,
CA
92037
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For a few years I was a co-owner of the Unicorn Theatre. I had warm experiences with The Sign of the Sun Bookstore near San Diego State College and had a high regard for the way Harold Darling presented his business to the public,he was an artful, intelligent fellow and was the soul of the glory which became the Unicorn in La Jolla. Leigh, a deeply committed film projection enthusiast used to host film nights at his home near the college and this experience with Darling’s vision became the seed of the Unicorn. Early in its operation money became a bit tight and I had a bit of cash from an inheritance which allowed me to enter into a partnership with Darling. I eventually sold my share to Leigh. I too have indelible and fine memories of this place. I recall that while I was involved with it I shared Harold Darling’s intimate enthusiasm for the brilliant sport Jai Alai in Tijuana, eventually becoming an occasional amateur dilletante/player on weekends. I have no regrets but only charming bits of memory of my involvement and was proud to have been close to the magic of the Unicorn, though in fact my contribution was not of any but financial importance. The theatre has such compelling effects on those who have enjoyed it because the best parts of Leigh,Darling and Elizabeth were expressed in its operation and those parts were fine indeed.
Michael G. Kramer
Thank you Benjamin Darling…Appreciate it and please know that the Unicorn Cinema/Mithras Book Store was (and still is) one of my fondest and very best loved memories of living in the San Diego area for something like twenty-eight years…It was one of the finest assets to the cinema community and is much missed. I am planning a relocate back to the San Diego area within the next two months and one of my many “re-living the past” treks will be to visit the actual building location of the Unicorn…even though it’s just a site and some other business operates in it, just “being there” will bring back many many fond recollections. Thanks again to your father, godmother and you. Best regards, Nick.
My Father, Harold Darling, was the owner and programmer of the Unicorn Cinema and Mithras Bookstore. I have many fond memories of growing up in a movie theatre and of all the people there, particularly my godmother Elizabeth Rattisseau. Any questions, and/or memories, can be directed to me at Thanks.
…Ah, I see what you’re saying and I stand corrected…I’ll go back one day to La Jolla hopefully, and see what actually “remains” if anything, of the “old haunts”…But regardless, why was the Unicorn such a “stand out”? Why do I miss the “Unicorn/Mithras experience” so?…Well, as far as just movies go; while I certainly have my preferences in film, I’m basically “open” to any sort of cinema no matter the genre (Drama, Action, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Classics, Documentary, Animation, Exploitation, Family, Cult, even “Adult Fare” – whatever…) as long as whatever I am being presented with abides by two very simple but steadfast rules: 1.) Do not bore me, please. 2.)Do not insult my intelligence. And there you see, is the problem…99% of the time, most of what is being spewed forth today that passes for “cinematic entertainment” breaks these rules…And no, I am not some sort of pretentious jackass who will “only watch foreign stuff”. Don’t get me wrong. There’s some good stuff being made these days…but man, you really have to make a huge effort and really really look hard. (Not to mention the over-priced ticket and snack costs). And that is why the Unicorn, when it closed, was such a loss. At least for me, I always knew that when I walked in there, I was always guaranteed, no matter what they were presenting was going to be amazingly wondrous and in most case…I would be far more than “just entertained”…
It’s a kitchen store if you use the 7456 address that was in the LA Times. The theater is listed at 7554 La Jolla on CT.
Not sure..but that “sounds” sorta right to me. Possible and maybe someone else knows. One other thing that I should mention, that I wasn’t aware of…It’s nice to hear that at least the location of the Unicorn is now still being used for something…A kitchen store…“sigh”…Oh well, I guess that counts for “something”…
I could be wrong, but I think “Solaris” was the inspiration for the Kirk Douglas-Farrah Fawcett film “Saturn 3”. Don’t ask me why I remember that.
Thanks for the wonderful article from the (1977) LA Times. Nice to see the admission prices were lower than I recalled when I was hitting the Unicorn. Remember seeing a great original German version of “Metropolis” there as well as a wonderful Ray Harryhausen festival of his films. What a far out place it was! So cool!
This is from the LA Times in October 1977. There is a kitchen store at 7456 La Jolla currently.
UNICORN-7456 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla (714) 459-4342
Perhaps the first revival theater in Southern California, the Unicorn was founded in 1964, emerging out of a film society and bookstore called “The Sign of the Sun.†“Our initial concept was to show worthy films that were neglected", said Harold Leigh, co-founder with Harold Darling. “We also wanted to revive those that had not been seen in a long time and introduce some films that normally would not have commercial attraction.â€
The Unicorn is nestled gracefully in the rear of a bookstore. Patrons-professors and students from nearby UC San Diego and Scripps Institute, surfers from Windansea Beach and conservative La Jolla couples-are encouraged to browse while waiting for the next performance. Classical and traditional folk music is played in the background. “We believe in an interesting, warm atmosphereâ€, said Leigh.
In the theater lobby you can get free popcorn (during comedy shows only) from an antique popping machine, soft drinks hand-mixed from imported Italian syrups and European chocolates. There are also exhibits of sculptures, paintings and photography by local artists.
The theater takes credit for premiering the Soviet science fiction film “Solaris†and has shown a rare documentary from Scotland called “Findhorn†and a number of Egyptian pictures. Admission is $2.25 weeknights, $2.75 weekends and $1.75 for Unicorn members, of which there are 1,000.
Very sad indeed and perhaps because of changing times and in the presentation of “movies” and people’s “expectations” of what they want or is force fed to them, unavoidable. In my experience, the Unicorn/Mithras was a unique standout and probably could never be “reproduced” today as some sort of counterculture “throwback” cinema house…Just wouldn’t work. Sure, there’s plenty of “art house” theatres around still showing “classic” stuff but it’s like the “head” shops and “hippie” culture that are around now that younger people are into these days…interesting but really just not the same. Not trying to sound like some sort of pompous jerk or anything; but I guess you had to be “there”. Same deal with the Unicorn/Mithras. It was a “total” presentation and experience that is sorely lacking today. As I said, times change and are very different…and from what I can see, at least in the presentation of cinema and culture…not for the better.
Nick P.
It’s always sad when a class operation like this closes.
Just as a follow up to my last comments…A bit of research indicates that the Unicorn Cinema and Mithras Bookstore were operated by Harold Leigh, Howard Darling with Elizabeth Rattisseau from 1964 to 1982.(Harold Leigh passed away in 2005). Turns out that Harold Leigh was a fantasic photographer whose slide shows were presented before and between the film(s). No radio music, stupid trivia questions or insulting ads for local businesses and “buy the snacks” foolishness! Just beautiful photos presented in an artistic way. These slide shows were worth the admission price alone…which I seem to recall being at the time around $3.00 to $4.00. The amazing “coming soon” flyers/programs I mentioned were executed by Howard Darling’s wife, Sandra Louise Woodward Darling. The incredible hand carved fixtures that fascinated me were done by artist, Xian Yeagan. I also read somewhere that the very narrow theatre itself held a little over 200 seats. These seats, I remember were made of wood and fixed to the floor. Folding seats which were pretty stiff with the thinnest of cushioning and were somewhat unforgiving on the buttocks the next morning but very well worth it! I always made sure to hit the Unicorn/Mithras only at night even though I vaguely remember the bookstore portion being open during day-light hours. This added to the “mood” and “mystery” of this amazingly unique and wonderful world I was partaking in…Man, I miss this place and everything it represented to me. A real loss when it shut down. Times changed and something was certainly “lost”…
Nick P.
I didn’t “discover” the Unicorn and the “Mithras” bookstore till 1970 when I was a senior in high school. An art/cinema teacher took a few students there, including myself. For a young guy who wasn’t easily “impressed” by much, the place totally blew me away! It was like traveling to another place and time. I remember well the poster decorated floor and for some reason, I recall the doors being decorated and the door push being wood and hand carved with some sort of “All Seeing Eye” which was pretty cool. Also remember there were plants and weird sculptural things hanging off the ceiling. There were actual chairs here and there where you take it easy and actually read a book…which was unheard off in my experience at that time. All totally alien to me but happily so. I wanted to be a “part” of it and the Unicorn opened up a new world for me and my interest in foreign/off beat/weird cinema has remained with me to this day. The popcorn was free – hey, how can you go wrong with that? The incense and “other” stuff in the air was thick and you never knew what you’d see or who you’re run into there. I seem to recall as well, people doing Tarot readings and selling jewelry off and on. The Unicorn also had the coolest “coming” features flyer I’d ever seen. Many many visits followed and I have only fond fond memories of the place. When I learned many years ago that the place had closed, it was like the loss of a very dear friend. It was a great “classical” and “New Age” place long before “New Age” was totally commercialized and ruined.
Nick P.
The Unicorn holds a special place in my heart. My first visit was in early 1965 and my last just before moving back to the Bay Area in 1978. I still have a number of their program brochures including an amazing booklet prepared by the Green Tiger Press.
Some random thoughts:
I purchased by first Edward Gorey piece in the bookstore. It was the original The Owl Press edition of the Fantod Pack.
Their selection of Japanese films was always exceptional. KWAIDAN in particular was a favorite of mine.
The snack bar was one of the first places in the area that served Italian sodas which were made out of Torani Syrups and club soda: Tamarind was the best flavor. Common place now but not then.
Finally, I am surprised that no one has mentioned the remarkable floor in the bookstore. It was a giant decoupage of vintage movie posters that slowly wore down over the years.
I was a hospital corpsman, stationed at the nearby San Diego Naval Training Center when I first discovered the Unicorn Theater. Part of the bookstore was devoted to record albums. I purchased a couple of Nonesuch releases….Bulgarian woman’s choir and Renaissance lute music from their stacks. I had my first Italian orzata at the Unicorn…a sweet almond flavored drink that they mixed up for you at the snack bar. I saw Children of Paradise, Marat Sade and King of Hearts there. The place had an evocotive odor of popcorn, incense and strong coffee….a heady aroma that filled me with an ebullient sense that there was a more perfect place than the US Navy for an 18 year old in 1966.
The Unicorn was a very unique art house. I went there during the mid 1960’s. At that time they ran independant and foreign films, and a midnight show on Saturdays.
The building contained a book store and the ticket office was inside the book store. From the ticket counter you entered the theater from the front of the auditorium by the screen and walked up the ramped floor to the seats. A small lobby and concession area was located behind the auditorium where one would expect it. They served many tropical fruit drinks and such, more like a non alcoholic bar than a typical snack stand. As I recall it was a small theater with maybe 400 seats give or take. A truely fun place to go.