Miramar Theatre
1720 N. El Camino Real,
San Clemente,
CA
92672
1720 N. El Camino Real,
San Clemente,
CA
92672
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Does anyone have any vintage photos of this theatre in its heyday?
I truly believe that this theatre in San Clemente CA should be saved. Isn’t San Clemente where former President Nixon had a home?
Raad,
That’s excellent news. One of the theatres I often attended growing up was Edwards San Gabriel, later called Edwards Century, designed by Balch and Stanberry. It was a substantial building, and easily survived the earthquake of 1987 which destroyed two nearby theatres in Alhambra and badly damaged the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium. Unfortunately, the Century was later demolished to make way for a commercial development.
Balch and Stanberry’s theatres make very good candidates for restoration. Two that are now thriving venues in small San Joaquin Valley cities, for example, are the Hanford Fox and the Visalia Fox. (Visit their official web sites through the links on those Cinema Treasures pages.) I have no doubt that, restored and properly managed, the Miramar could be a valuable asset to San Clemente.
Joe,
We got hold of the SwB&C articles at last! They basicly showed two important facts:
1) there was an initial request for bids for construction of this specific theater which outlined the bids as needed for a “reinforced concrete structure, red tile roofs, and concrete floors”. Given there has been a systematic attempt to claim the building was built of uninforced masonary This fact alone was key in dispelling that falsehood! Also a month later the same magazine asked for resubmission of bids under the same parameters and then a month after that showed and listed the awarding of the contract to Strang Bros. Construction ( a local contractor in San Clemente, who had built most of the key buildings in the town for the founder Ole Hanson)…and again the award acknowledgment defined the building to be built as being reinforced concrete structure.
2) The same issues of the SwB&C magazine also listed other projects by the same architectural / engineering firm of Architect Clifford .A. Balch and engineer Floyd Stanberry and asked for bids from construction companies as well for those other theaters….All of them listed the desired structure to be designed as “Reinforced Conrete structure” and as such shows a pattern od structural design that was advocated by the firm in their projects overall at the time!
We submited this information and other information as the Historical Society’s input at the early stages of an E.I.R scoping meeting last week where the city hired consultant to conduct the E.I.R needed prior to approval of the demolition permit being requested by the current owner.
Keep your fingers crossed they actually were interested of hearing facts over fiction!
Stay tuned……
Raad
Raad,
Unfortunately, I’m even farther from Los Angeles than you are. I live in rural Northern California, about 70 miles from Sacramento. I only have access to the scanned cards in the L.A. library’s California Index on their web site, some of which contain excerpts from various SwB&C articles.
The L.A. library had a set of the magazines themselves until they were destroyed in the 1986 fire. Fortunately, the University of California at Santa Barbara had a set of the magazines, which they had already begun transferring to microfiche at the time of the fire. I think that most of the UC libraries have copies of the microfiche now.
Joe,
Can I ask you a BIG favor in trying to locate and perhaps scan or get a copy of the following from the LA Library. I am not sure if there is any useful information in it but it is a lead and I just have not been able to get up there and look it up myself but if it proves to be as promising as it sounds it could be good background on the Miramar we would want to have.
Southwest Builder and Contractor, the july 2, 1937 edition
I think that the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles has Southwest Builder on microfiche.
Thanks a lot for your continuing help..
Raad
Radd,
The crest is interesting, but I don’t know of any specific connection between it and Pacific States Theaters. It might have been meant simply as decoration, and perhaps was copied from an actual historic coat of arms. I’m not too familiar with heraldry myself, but there are some web sites about it, such as Heraldry on the Internet, and you might find some information there to help you decipher the meanings of the various symbols on the Miramar’s crest.
I’ve found only a couple of references to Pacific States Theaters on-line. A few scanned cards at the L.A. Public Library’s California Index mention a company called Warner Brothers Pacific States Theatres, in connection with the Warner Brothers Theater in Sacramento and the Forum Theater in Los Angeles, and there is one card which mentions Pacific States Theatres (no mention of Warner Bros. in this instance) as the owners of the La Mar Theater in Manhattan Beach. All these mentions are from the 1930’s, and all cite issues of the trade publication Southwest Builder & Contractor.
Joe,
Thanks for the suggestion. Here is the link on Webshots:
View link
The image I was talking about is titled “crest”
Let me know your thoughts,
Raad
NOTE: Most of the images copyrighted to the San Clemente Historical Society.
Raad: While there’s a lot of information on-line about S. Charles Lee, information about L.A. Smith and Clifford Balch is still rare. I’ve actually never heard anything about a connection between Lee and Smith before, but there’s so little information available about Smith that I’m unable to either confirm or deny that such a connection existed.
As for the photograph, the image posting feature at Cinema Treasures hasn’t been available for a couple of years. I don’t know when they’ll get it fixed. In the meantime, the best way to share a picture is to post it on another web site, such as Webshots or Photobucket (both offer limited free image hosting) and then post a link to the picture here.
I might have it the other way around good point… can we possibly qualify the connection better in a authorative way? I am really trying to dig up as much connectivity or facts on the theater? the people behind it? the operating company? etc..
So any help at all is worth while..
I would also like to attach a old picture I found predating the opening of the theater for business in 1938 that shows a fancy coat of arm crest painted larger than life on on side of the towers stucco as well as what looks like a painted boarder at the terra cotta line of the main box part of the facility. I would love to find out more about the crest and the possible history or significance of it. Is it something related to the theater chain perhaps?
Can anyone suggest how I can post that image on here?
Raad Ghantous
(949) 492-1872
Raadg: I’m wondering about the source of your information on the relationship between L.A. Smith and S. Charles Lee. Lee was born in 1899, studied in Chicago, worked there in the offices of Rapp & Rapp, and only arrived in Los Angeles in 1922, just a couple of years before the much older Lewis Smith died. I can imagine the relationship the other way around, but it’s difficult to picture an established architect being mentored by a kid in his twenties.
The Architect for this Theater was C.A.Balch and the Architectural firm was Balch & Stanberry. He worked in the offices of L.A. Smith ( L.A. Smith had been mentored by Architect S. Charles Lee the most renowned Architect for Movie palaces and Theaters).
In the early 1920s, when Smith died Balch forming his own firm with engineer Floyd Stanberry completed many of the theatres on which Smith had been working and many more of his own after that.
Balch specialized in theatres, most designed under his own firm’s credentials. (There is only one record to a non-theater project ever designed by him.)
Built in 1938 by Strang Bros.
– General contractors for most of Ole Hanson’s
“Spanish Village by the Sea†Vision!
– Was built at a cost of $75,000 !!
– Had an opening day count of 682 seats
Designed by Architect Clifford .A. Balch
– Designed with stressing excellent sound, comfortable seats, and air conditioning/heating system!
– Seats were placed in rows further apart “than any other theater in southern California†for comfort.
– Featured Loge seating! A luxury at the time for an additional 5cent charge!
– Designed to have the very best possible film Projection.
– The Auditorium featured sound absorbent plaster.
Originally Operated by Pacific States Theaters Inc.
– the project was spearheaded by the partnership that had previously built up and later sold what became known as the Fox West Coast Theater chain
Originally named “The San Clemente Theaterâ€
Double Features at 35cents! for Gala Opening day Thursday May 12th
– Deanna Durbin in “Mad about musicâ€
& Alice Brady in “Good-bye Broadwayâ€
Operated as a movie theater till 1984
Listed on the City of San Clemente’s Designated Historical Structures List in 1996
Was used to Premier Surf movies and showcase bands in the late 80’s
Was sold out over two days in 1989 when it featured Jeff Neu’s “San Clemente Locals†surf movie.
CALL FOR ALL INTERESTED !!
If you are interested in helping in the on going efforts by the San Clemente Historical Society to insure against all odds that the Miramar Theater doesn’t fall victom to the wrecking ball of “Demolition by Neglect”…please e-mail the Miramar Committee at —> now!
Thank you in advance for your continuing support, interest and help in the protection of this historic icon.
“CELEBRATE THE MIRAMAR THEATER!”
(A special presentation of Director Raad Ghantous)
Hosted by the San Clemente Historical Society*
Date: Sunday, November 6, 2005
Time: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Place: Talega Swim & Athletic Club
Wine and Appetizers
Special Drawing
Visit with friends and meet new people!
Learn more about the very exciting direction the Historical Society is heading!
INVITATIONS TO FOLLOW
For more information, contact Event Chair Adelaine Antonino at (949) 481-6727 or email at
*The program will include the San Clemente Historical Society’s Annual Meeting.
Mike Cotter
President
Cell: (949) 322-6009
Email:
How could anyone want to change the building?? Its wounderful! I have always dreamed of buying it for my business. I would keep the same structer. It is what caught my eye. I remember the first time going into the building. I was in 4th grade and we all dressed up for halloween! I was just there today to take picture’s for a project with my friend “work partner” to see how it would work for us! I hope who ever buys it now will keep the way it is! So when I do buy it I can keep it up!!!
I am a real estate broker for Beach Cities Real Estate in San Clemente and I have a client who is interested in buying these buildings. I am going to be contact the owner to see if he is willing to sell. I would love to see somebody restore this historical beauty. If anyone else may be interested, please call me at (949) 291-0424 since I will be talking with the owner.
We are VERY interested in this space. We want to keep the historic integrity and feel of the theater, as well as the charm, while adding elements to make it more usable for the community. We would like to discuss our plans with the developer as soon as possible. If anyone knows how to get in touch with the developer, please let me know. THANK YOU!!!
I saw one of the last movies ever screened at the Miramar. The movie was forgettable but the theater was absolutely charming. For anyone who has never seen the inside, it is just as you might expect; lots of beautiful murals and all those sculpted features that people like us love. When I win the lotto I will immediately buy the property, restore it and have a grand opening with free ice cream and popcorn. I will then operate the theater showing movies to the public for free. But no movies made after “Casablanca” was shot will be shown there, ever.
Joe;
Thanks for confirming those details. I agree too, that the Casino was ever a movie theatre, it doesn’t even look like one in the picture you attached. A town the size of San Clemente could never have supported two theaters.
I have lived in San Clemente for the past 4 years and have passed the Miramar Theater many times and have wondered what it would be like to see it renovated and built back to its original state. It makes me sad to see such a magnificant theater worn down and out of use. I asked my grandmother, who used to live here in San Clemente, about the theater and she told me of everything it used to be. I learned of its importance to the city and of how much joy it brought to everyone. I wish there was something i could do to help renovate it and restore it back to the lovely place it used to be. I believe this theater deserves another chance to bring entertainment to the residents of San Clemente and everyone else who comes to visit this once amazing theater!
The Hidalgo/Miramar is probably the theatre designed by Clifford Balch, the plans for which were announced in the July 2, 1937 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor. Balch designed a large number of theaters in the Spanish Colonial/Mission Revival styles in that era.
I don’t believe that The Casino Capistrano was ever a movie theater. It was a multi-purpose community building, built by the developers as an inducement to attract residential property buyers. I know that it was used as a ballroom for many years. Even in the early picture of it on this page of the San Clemente web site, it is topped by a sign reading “DANCE.” There is no marquee visible on the building.
My grandfather had a vacation house in an area about midway between Capistrano and San Clemente, and from my visits to the town in the 1950s, I know that it had only this one theatre.
Looking at street maps of San Clemente, travelling South on El Camino Real, the first theatre you would have seen would be the Casino on the corner of cross street W. Avenida Pico.
Travelling further south one block on the corner of the next street off to the right Boca de La Playa is the Miramar/San Clemente Theatre.
That’s a very interesting resume of the San Clemente history lostmemory. Thanks for posting it.
Let’s hope someone on here can supply more details on the Casino and Miramar Theaters.
No sorry, as I stated above, there is only the San Clemente Theater listed in the 3 year’s FDY that I have. Maybe another contributer on here has FDY for 1937 thru 1940?
I have it listed in Film Daily Yearbooks, 1941 and 1952 as the San Clemente Theater. FDY for 1941 gives a seating capacity of 800 and in 1952 it is listed with 650 seats. The address given is Highway 101. It is the only theatre listed in the town of San Clemente.
I went by there last June (2004) and as I was taking photographs a guy came out from the car dealership across the road and asked ‘why are you taking photo’s that dump for? The sooner its torn down the better’. I just told him that it is an important part of the local history of the community and something should be done to get it open again in some form or another. He just walked away swearing, as if I was some kinda ‘nut’.
I checked out the actual street address and I can confirm lostmemory’s posting that it is located at 1598 El Camino Real, on the corner of Boca de La Playa.
I wonder if it opened as the El Hidelgo Theater, became known as the San Clemente Theater and finally closed as the Miramar Theater?
The building looked closed up and un-used, to my eyes.
Two small photographs I took can be seen here:– http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=11305