Cinema 21

1440 Hotel Circle N.,
San Diego, CA 92108

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neeb
neeb on September 24, 2008 at 8:10 am

[b]Cinema 21
1440 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108[/b]

RE = Re-Issue/ Return Engagement
MO = Move-over (i.e. continuation of engagement from another theater)
RSE = Reserve-Seat Engagement

Listings include regular engagements only, from the first day of commercial release. Test screenings, sneak-preview screenings, midnight screenings, premieres and other private events are not included. Unless noted, presentations are all 35mm â€" mono sound presentation.
All listing from San Diego Union, San Diego Tribune and ”70mm in San Diego” by Michael Coate and William Kallay.

07/19/63 … 55 DAYS AT PEKING (RSE, 4 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
08/14/63 … IRMA LA DOUCE (8 weeks)
10/09/63 … THE V.I.P.s (7 weeks)
11/26/63 … TAKE HER, SHE’S MINE (4 weeks)
12/25/63 … MOVE OVER, DARLING (6 weeks)

02/04/64 … TOM JONES! (8 weeks)
04/01/64 … THE PINK PANTHER (8 weeks)
05/27/64 … WHAT A WAY TO GO! (7 weeks)
07/15/64 … THE CARPETBAGGERS (7 weeks)
09/02/64 … A SHOT IN THE DARK (10 weeks)
11/10/64 … YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE (6 weeks)
12/25/64 … SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL (8 weeks)

02/17/65 … 36 HOURS (4 weeks)
03/17/65 … ZORBA THE GREEK (6 weeks)
04/28/65 … HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE (8 weeks)
06/23/65 … THE YELLOW ROLLS ROYCE (5 weeks)
07/28/65 … THE SANDPIPER (5 weeks)
09/01/65 … WHAT’S NEW PUSSY CAT? (6 weeks)
10/13/65 … SHIP OF FOOLS (3 weeks)
11/03/65 … MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS (3 weeks)
11/24/65 … THE CINCINNATI KID (4 weeks)
12/22/65 … BOEING BOEING (2 weeks)

01/05/66 … DO NOT DISTURB (2 weeks)
01/19/66 … DO NOT DISTURB / THE NANNY (2 weeks)
02/02/66 … DO NOT DISTURB / DARLING (2 weeks)
02/16/66 … INSIDE DAISY CLOVER (3 weeks)
03/09/66 … FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (3 weeks)
03/30/66 … THE SILENCERS (3 weeks)
04/20/66 … THE SILENCERS / HARPER (5 weeks)
05/22/66 … LA BOHEME (2 days, Stereo)
05/24/66 … THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (5 weeks)
06/29/66 … WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? (14 weeks)
10/05/66 … FANTASTIC VOYAGE (4 weeks)
11/02/66 … FANTASTIC VOYAGE / AROUND THE WORLD UNDER THE SEA (6 weeks)
12/14/66 … FANTASTIC VOYAGE / BORN FREE
12/21/66 … IS PARIS BURNING? (RSE, 7 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

02/09/67 … THE SAND PEBBLES (RSE, 33 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
09/27/67 … TWO FOR THE ROAD
10/04/67 … TWO FOR THE ROAD / BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (4 weeks)
11/02/67 … THE COMEDIANS (4 weeks)
11/29/67 … THE COMEDIANS / PATCH OF BLUE (3 weeks)
11/22/67 … WAIT UNTIL DARK (8 weeks)

02/15/68 … DR. DOLITTLE (RSE, 22 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)
07/17/68 … THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR
07/24/68 … THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR / NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (9 weeks)
09/27/68 … INTERLUDE (3 weeks)
10/16/68 … INTERLUDE / POOR COW
10/23/68 … THE ODD COUPLE / THE PARTY (3 weeks)
11/13/68 … BARBARELLA (5 weeks)
12/18/68 … THE LION IN WINTER (RSE, 32 weeks)

07/30/69 … THE GAY DECEIVERS / THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY’S (2 weeks)
08/13/69 – 12/24/69 … no listings
12/25/69 … PAINT YOUR WAGON (RSE, 39 weeks, 70mm-Stereo)

09/23/70 … ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER (13 weeks)
12/25/70 … LOVE STORY (26 weeks)

06/23/71 … PLAZA SUITE (6 weeks)
08/04/71 … THE ANDERSON TAPES / PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS (4 weeks)
09/01/71 … THE RED TENT (2 weeks)
09/17/71 … BILLY JACK (3 weeks)
10/08/71 … THE STEAGLE / THE MAN WHO HAD POWER OVER WOMEN (2 weeks)
10/22/71 … SEE NO EVIL / A NEW LEAF
10/29/71 … T.R. BASKIN (2 weeks)
11/12/71 … ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS / THE LION IN WINTER (RE)
11/19/71 … BLESS THE BEASTS AND CHILDREN (2 weeks)
12/01/71 … MY FAIR LADY / FINIAN’S RAINBOW (RE)
12/08/71 … JENNIFER ON MY MIND / MIDNIGHT COWBOY
12/15/71 … WEST SIDE STORY / AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS (RE)
12/25/71 … HAROLD AND MAUDE (2 weeks)

01/07/72 … 200 MOTELS (3 weeks)
01/28/72 … THE HOSPITAL (8 weeks)
03/22/72 … THE GODFATHER (39 weeks)
12/20/72 … YOUNG WINSTON (RSE, 8 weeks)

02/14/73 … SLEUTH (10 weeks)
04/25/73 â€" 09/26/73 … no listings
09/26/73 … ELECTRA GLIDE IN BLUE (5 weeks, Stereo)
10/31/73 … THE WAY WE WERE (8 weeks)
12/23/73 … SLEEPER (7 weeks)

02/15/74 … THE LAST DETAIL (19 weeks)
06/26/74 … CHINATOWN (12 weeks)
09/18/74 … CALIFORNIA SPLIT (5 weeks)
10/25/75 … THE ODESSA FILE (8 weeks)
12/18/74 … THE GODFATHER: PART II (22 weeks)

05/21/75 … THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE (5 weeks)
06/25/75 … THE FORTUNE (6 weeks)
08/06/75 … NASHVILLE (10 weeks, Stereo)
10/15/75 … THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR (14 weeks)
12/25/75 … LUCKY LADY (11 weeks)

03/12/76 … THE MAN IN THE GLASS BOOTH
03/19/76 … GONE WITH THE WIND (RE, 3 weeks)
04/07/76 … THE BAD NEWS BEARS (11 weeks)
06/22/76 … MURDER BY DEATH (12 weeks)
10/15/76 … MARATHON MAN (14 weeks)
12/25/76 … NICKELODEON (7 weeks)

02/09/77 … FUN WITH DICK AND JANE (7 weeks)
04/01/77 … THE SLIPPER AND THE ROSE (4 weeks, Stereo)
04/29/77 … THE LATE SHOW (3 weeks)
05/20/77 … THE GREATEST (4 weeks)
06/17/77 … THE DEEP (15 weeks, Stereo)
09/28/77 … WELCOME TO L.A. (4 weeks)
10/26/77 … BOBBY DEERFIELD (7 weeks)
12/14/77 … CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (13 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

03/17/78 … THE FURY (10 weeks)
05/26/78 … BIG WEDNESDAY (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06/23/78 … THE CHEAP DETECTIVE (6 weeks)
08/02/78 … FOUL PLAY (11 weeks)
10/20/78 … THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL (8 weeks)
12/15/78 … SUPERMAN (Dolby Stereo)
12/22/78 … SUPERMAN (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

02/02/79 â€" 05/17/79 … no listings
05/18/79 … BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (6 weeks, Sensurround)
06/29/79 … NIGHTWING (3 weeks, Stereo)
07/20/79 … RUST NEVER SLEEPS (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo, Rust-O-Vision)
08/17/79 … FANTASIA (RE, 6 weeks, Stereo)
09/28/79 … A MAN, A WOMAN AND A BANK (2 weeks)
10/12/79 … BLAZING SADDLES (RE)
10/19/79 … …AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (9 weeks)
12/21/79 … THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN (8 weeks)

02/15/80 … ALL THAT JAZZ (17 weeks)
06/11/80 … URBAN COWBOY (9 weeks)
08/15/80 … SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT II (7 weeks)
10/03/80 … STARDUST MEMORIES (5 weeks)
11/07/80 … SONG OF THE SOUTH (RE, 3 weeks)
11/27/80 … FANTASIA (RE, 4 weeks, Stereo)
12/25/80 … FIRST FAMILY (7 weeks)

02/13/81 … TESS (13 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/15/81 … LION OF THE DESERT (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06/26/81 … FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (12 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09/18/81 … BODY HEAT (14 weeks)
12/25/81 … CHARIOTS OF FIRE (25 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

06/18/82 … ANNIE (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/23/82 … THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (14 weeks)
10/29/82 … IT CAME FROM HOLLYWOOD
11/05/82 … IT CAME FROM HOLLYWOOD / SOME KIND OF HERO (2 weeks)
11/19/82 … FANTASIA (RE, 4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/17/82 … TOOTSIE (21 weeks)

05/13/83 … BLUE THUNDER (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/15/83 … STAYING ALIVE (13 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10/14/03 … THE BALLAD OF GREGORIO CORTEZ (3 weeks)
11/04/83 … NEVER CRY WOLF (11 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01/20/84 … REUBEN, REUBEN (6 weeks)
03/02/84 … AGAINST ALL ODDS (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04/27/84 … THIS IS SPINAL TAP (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/11/84 … THE NATURAL (13 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/10/84 … RED DAWN (6 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09/21/84 … PLACES IN THE HEART (13 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/21/84 … MICKI + MAUDE (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01/18/85 … THE KILLING FIELDS (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02/08/85 … 1984 (5 weeks)
03/15/85 … SYLVESTER (3 weeks)
04/05/85 … LOST IN AMERICA (11 weeks)
06/21/85 … RETURN TO OZ (3 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/10/85 … SILVERADO (11 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10/04/85 … PLENTY (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/22/85 … THAT WAS THEN… THIS IS NOW (MO)
11/27/85 … ROCKY IV (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

01/31/86 … DOWN AND OUT IN BEVERLY HILLS (16 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/23/86 … POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06/27/86 … RUNNING SCARED (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/01/86 … HOWARD THE DUCK (2 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
08/15/86 … MANHUNTER (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09/05/86 … DESERT BLOOM (2 weeks)
09/19/86 … WHERE THE RIVER RUNS BLACK (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/03/86 … BLUE VELVET (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/07/86 … TRUE STORIES (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/26/86 … NUTCRACKER: THE MOTION PICTURE (Dolby Stereo)
12/05/86 … TOP GUN (RE, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
12/12/86 … CRIMES OF THE HEART (7 weeks)

01/30/87 … ALLAN QUATERMAIN AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (Ultra Stereo)
02/06/87 … DEAD OF WINTER (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02/20/87 … DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR (2 weeks)
03/06/87 … LETHAL WEAPON (10 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/15/87 … ISHTAR (4 weeks)
06/12/87 … THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/05/87 … STAKEOUT (9 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10/09/87 … BABY BOOM (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/06/87 … MADE IN HEAVEN (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/20/87 … SIGN ‘O’ THE TIMES (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/09/87 … THE LAST EMPEROR (18 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

04/15/88 … COLORS (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/20/88 … WILLOW (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06/22/88 … WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT (15 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10/07/88 … PUNCHLINE (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/11/88 … SPLIT DECISION (Ultra Stereo)
11/18/88 … OLIVER & COMPANY (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/23/88 … TORCH SONG TRILOGY (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01/13/89 … BEACHES (9 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/17/89 … LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (RE, 12 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06/09/89 … DEAD POET’S SOCIETY (7 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/28/89 … TURNER & HOOCH (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/18/89 … CASUALTIES OF WAR (7 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
10/06/89 … OLD GRINGO (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/27/89 … IMMEDIATE FAMILY (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/10/89 … COMMUNION (Dolby Stereo SR)
11/17/89 … THE LITTLE MERMAID (12 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

02/09/90 … STANLEY & IRIS (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02/23/90 … MY LEFT FOOT (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/16/90 … LORD OF THE FLIES (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04/06/90 … ERNEST GOES TO CAMP (Dolby Stereo)
04/13/90 … THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY II (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/11/90 … IMPULSE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/25/90 … FIRE BIRDS (70mm-Dolby Stereo)
06/01/90 … FIRE BIRDS (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
06/15/90 … DICK TRACY (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/27/90 … PRESUMED INNOCENT (10 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/05/90 … FANTASIA (RE, 6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
11/16/90 … ROCKY V (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
12/07/90 … THE ROOKIE (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/25/90 … THE GODFATHER: PART III (6 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

02/08/91 … THE NEVER ENDING STORY II (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02/22/91 … SCENES FROM A MALL (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/22/91 … DANCES WITH WOLVES (MO, 6 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
05/03/91 … SPARTACUS (RE, 3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/24/91 … WILD HEARTS CAN’T BE BROKEN (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06/14/91 … WILD HEARTS CAN’T BE BROKEN / DANCES WITH WOLVES (Dolby Stereo / Dolby Stereo SR)
06/21/91 … THE ROCKETEER (5 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)
07/26/91 … V.I. WARSHAWSKI (Dolby Stereo SR)
08/03/91 … THE DOCTOR (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09/27/91 … DECEIVED (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/25/91 … THE BUTCHER’S WIFE (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/22/91 … BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (13 weeks, 70mm-Dolby Stereo)

02/21/92 … RADIO FLYER (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
03/13/92 … THIS IS MY LIFE (Dolby Stereo)
03/20/92 … SHADOWS AND FOG (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
04/03/92 … BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (RE, 4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/01/92 … THE PLAYER (9 weeks, Ultra Stereo)
07/01/92 … A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
08/21/92 … THE GUN IN BETTY LOU’S HANDBAG
08/28/92 … TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09/18/92 … CAPTAIN RON (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/02/92 … GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
11/06/92 … JENNIFER 8 (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/11/92 … A FEW GOOD MEN (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)

01/19/93 … CLOSED (8 weeks)
03/19/93 … POINT OF NO RETURN (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04/07/93 … INDECENT PROPOSAL (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/28/93 … SUPER MARIO BROTHERS (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06/18/93 … WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
07/16/93 … HOCUS POCUS (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/06/93 … THE FUGATIVE (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
09/24/93 … THE GOOD SON (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/22/93 … THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
12/10/93 … SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01/07/94 … SHADOWLANDS (8 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/04/94 … ANGIE (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/25/94 … D2: THE MIGHTY DUCKS (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04/22/94 … BACKBEAT (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/06/94 … CLEAN SLATE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/20/94 … MAVERICK (5 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
06/24/94 … THE LION KING (13 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09/23/94 … RAPA NUI (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/07/94 … ED WOOD (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
10/28/94 … STARGATE (3 weeks, DTS)
11/18/94 … STAR TREK: GENERATIONS (6 weeks, DTS)
12/25/94 … I.Q. (3 weeks, Dolby Stereo)

01/20/95 … MURDER IN THE FIRST (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
02/17/95 … JUST CAUSE (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/17/95 … LOSING ISAIAH (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
03/31/95 … FORREST GUMP (RE, Dolby Digital)
04/07/95 … ROB ROY (5 weeks, DTS)
05/12/95 … CRIMSON TIDE (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06/16/95 … BATMAN FOREVER (6 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07/28/95 … THE NET (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
08/25/95 … DESPERADO (4 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
09/22/95 … SEVEN (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10/20/95 … GET SHORTY (5 weeks, DTS)
11/22/95 … TOY STORY (8 weeks, Dolby Digital)

01/19/96 … MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS (13 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
04/19/96 … CELTIC PRIDE (2 weeks, Dolby Stereo)
05/03/96 … GOLDENEYE (RE, DTS)
05/10/96 … TWISTER (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06/07/96 … THE ROCK (7 weeks, Dolby Stereo SR)
07/24/96 … A TIME TO KILL (11 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10/11/96 … THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
11/08/96 … RANSOM (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12/13/96 … MARS ATTACKS! (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)

01/10/97 … JACKIE CHAN’S FIRST STRIKE (Dolby Stereo)
01/17/97 … METRO (2 weeks, Dolby Digital)
01/31/97 … STAR WARS (RE, 3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
02/21/97 … THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (RE, 4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
03/21/97 … THE GODFATHER (RE, 2 weeks, DTS)
04/04/97 … THE SAINT (4 weeks, DTS)
05/02/97 … BREAKDOWN (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06/06/97 … CON AIR (6 weeks, Dolby Digital)
07/18/97 … NOTHING TO LOSE (3 weeks, Dolby Digital)
08/08/97 … CONSPIRACY THEORY (6 weeks, Dolby Digital)
09/19/97 … L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (6 weeks, Dolby Digital)
10/31/97 … RED CORNER (3 weeks, DTS)
11/21/97 … MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL (4 weeks, Dolby Digital)
12/19/97 … TITANIC (21 weeks, Dolby Digital)

05/15/98 … THE HORSE WHISPERER (5 weeks, Dolby Digital)
06/19/98 … THE X-FILES (7 weeks, DTS)
08/07/98 … SNAKE EYES (3 weeks, DTS)
08/28/98 … BLADE (MO, 4 weeks, DTS)

09/25/98 … CLOSED

Notable Facts:

  • Charlton Heston attended the premiere of 55 DAYS AT PEKING.

  • THE GODFATHER holds the record for longest run at the Cinema 21. Despite its reputation as a box office failure, PAINT YOUR WAGON comes in second.

  • The San Diego premiere of TOP GUN was held at this theater with Anthony “Goose” Edwards in attendance.

  • One of Francis Ford Coppola’s final previews for THE GODFATHER II was held at this theater in mid-November.

  • One of the final previews for BLADE RUNNER was held at the Cinema 21 and news of it even reached Starlog magazine.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 25, 2007 at 9:21 pm

The Cinema 21 and the three nearly identical theatres built by Statewide around that time were all designed by the San Diego firm of Tucker, Sadler & Bennett. The Anaheim theatre is listed at Cinema Treasures as the Century 21, but I can’t currently find a CT listing for the Inland Theatre in San Bernardino or for the theatre in Bakersfield.

The architectural firm still exists as Tucker Sadler Architects, and Harold G. Sadler is apparently still active in it. It would be interesting if he turned up at Cinema Treasures and told us something about these theatres.

moviebluedog
moviebluedog on December 29, 2006 at 9:03 am

I’m surprised this theatre wasn’t listed on Cinema Treasures a long time ago. It was one of four nearly identical theatres built by the Statewide theatre chain during the 1960s. There was one in Bakersfield (demolished), Anaheim (demolished), and San Bernardino (still standing as a audio/video store). Photos of the Anaheim and San Bernardino theatres can be seen here:

View link
View link

I wished I had the opportunity to go inside of the San Diego Cinema 21. In 1993, my girlfriend and I went on vacation to San Diego. We were bored one night and went to the movies at the Valley Circle to see “Dave.” What a beautiful theatre! Very big and it was still in great condition. The next day we were getting ready to leave when I noticed the Cinema 21 down the road. I quickly drove to it and happened to have my camera with me. Like a geeky kid, I was excited to discover this 1960s widescreen theatre. I took a few quick shots of it and it’s curved marquee. I wanted to go inside, even if it meant buying a ticket for “Super Mario Bros.” My girlfriend didn’t want to—-she thought the theatre was too rundown. I didn’t care! But I relented and we ended up driving away without going inside.

I thought the design was unique and fixed up, the theatre probably looked wonderful. A few years later, I drove past it and it had a new coat of paint on it and numerous lights. A church had moved in and it looked very nice. I was surprised to hear it was razed only a few years later. My girlfriend is now my wife and I still egg her on for not being a good sport for letting me see “Super Mario Bros.” there. :)

It’s so sad to know that another ‘60s-era theatre is now gone. Many of those theatres were very nice and a far cry from what we have today.