This is truly an awesome theatre. If somebody lives nearby, please please please set something up with the manager to take pictures on the last day. Most GM’s are happy to do this. I was irritated I couldn’t get any good shots of the big theatre witout a tripod, but I can tell that this theatre had evolved from an awesome single screen.
I’m pretty sure that a branch of Pacific was called Cinerama Theatres. I was under the impression that the theatres they operated in Marin County were all operated by Cinerama Theatres Inc.
Do you think Pacific may dislike the Cinerama name because their entire chain was called “Cinerama” in the past? Perhaps they’re just tired of hearing it.
All 16-theatres can show scope films. The newer theatres likely just have top masking so that the width of the screen stays the same. Just because the width stays the same doesn’t mean they can’t show scope films.
I agree. And from a preservation stand point, they [porn theatre owners] kept a number of theatres from meeting the wrecking ball until such a time that the public began to care about preservation and restoration. I know of a number of first run theatres, performing arts venues and Drive-Ins that ran porn at one time.
As far as applauding the death of a “smut peddler” – that’s a whole different debate and not one I think should be raised on this website.
It’s sadly ironic that I worked for the company that caused this theatre to close, and that were it not for my job with Century, I wouldn’t even know it existed in the first place. I can only say in my defense that had Century have built downtown, it would have been somebody else, possible even Loews themselves.
The pictures of the goodbyes on the electrical panel / heating duct is so sad. When I closed the theatre I started at, it was a very sad day indeed.
I’d love to see more pictures of this place. Something that shows off how odd yet appealing it was as a movie house.
Is this actually the same building or did Century rebuild an entirely new theatre? If so, it’s somewhat misleading to re-name the information about the OLD Stratford Square to include the new theatre.
Designed as a 7-screen drive-in by Vincent Raney for Syufy Enterprises. This is one of the last Drive-Ins built by Syufy on 6/13/1979. It was later expanded into its current 9-screen configuration.
This location is now operated by West Wind Drive-Ins.
It was originally a single screen that opened 2/7/1966 and was later expanded into six screens. A storm blew down most of the main screen, which has been closed for some time now.
Vincent Raney is the architect of this drive-in that opened 2/7/1977.
I’ve seen plans that had it originally designed as the “Desert Drive-In” but was actually built as the Scottsdale Drive-In. Syufy later used the name Desert Drive-In for one of the drive-ins in Las Vegas.
Vincent Raney was the architect of this Drive-In. The building is similar in design to the former Burlingame Drive-In and the Santa Barbara Twin Drive-In.
The Santa Barbara Twin Drive-In was originally built by Vincent Raney for Syufy Enterprises. I don’t know if Syufy ever actually ran it, but shortly after its construction it was traded to what became Metropolitan Theatres in exchange for the Geneva Drive-In in Daly City/San Francisco, CA.
After the lease with Metropolitan expired, it reverted back to Syufy which operates it now as the West Wind Goleta Public Market. Many upgrades to the property are in the works.
The Solano Drive-In re-opens tonight with a free showing of Shrek 2 and Nacho Libre. It will be opening full time starting tomorrow May 4th with a double feature of Spiderman 3 and Ghost Rider.
I think it’s funny that people think the area is underscreened. I think Santa Clarita is fine, and that perhaps people are just so used to seeing a glut everywhere else.
I doubt that anybody would re-open this theatre. The pictures I took on Cinematour were taken during rush hour and dear LORD was the traffic horrendous. It took me about 45 minutes just to get in and out of the parking lot.
And if I’m not mistaken, this theatre looks like it was built by Cineplex Odeon. Is that correct?
I don’t believe any of the domes were built for Cinerama or D-150. The Century 21 in San Jose was built for 3-Strip Cinerama but it was never installed.
We took some decent pictures of the Bittersweet for Cinematour. You can check them out over there. As far as the Cooper Twin we couldn’t get good pictures of that place, the lobby was way too small to take anything without management freaking out. But it is SUCH a tacky 70’s theatre. It really is a sight to see.
This is truly an awesome theatre. If somebody lives nearby, please please please set something up with the manager to take pictures on the last day. Most GM’s are happy to do this. I was irritated I couldn’t get any good shots of the big theatre witout a tripod, but I can tell that this theatre had evolved from an awesome single screen.
Roadshow,
I’m pretty sure that a branch of Pacific was called Cinerama Theatres. I was under the impression that the theatres they operated in Marin County were all operated by Cinerama Theatres Inc.
Do you think Pacific may dislike the Cinerama name because their entire chain was called “Cinerama” in the past? Perhaps they’re just tired of hearing it.
All 16-theatres can show scope films. The newer theatres likely just have top masking so that the width of the screen stays the same. Just because the width stays the same doesn’t mean they can’t show scope films.
I agree. And from a preservation stand point, they [porn theatre owners] kept a number of theatres from meeting the wrecking ball until such a time that the public began to care about preservation and restoration. I know of a number of first run theatres, performing arts venues and Drive-Ins that ran porn at one time.
As far as applauding the death of a “smut peddler” – that’s a whole different debate and not one I think should be raised on this website.
It’s sadly ironic that I worked for the company that caused this theatre to close, and that were it not for my job with Century, I wouldn’t even know it existed in the first place. I can only say in my defense that had Century have built downtown, it would have been somebody else, possible even Loews themselves.
The pictures of the goodbyes on the electrical panel / heating duct is so sad. When I closed the theatre I started at, it was a very sad day indeed.
I’d love to see more pictures of this place. Something that shows off how odd yet appealing it was as a movie house.
Is this actually the same building or did Century rebuild an entirely new theatre? If so, it’s somewhat misleading to re-name the information about the OLD Stratford Square to include the new theatre.
I need to contact them to take photos before they do too much to the theatrey-ness of it all.
Vincent Raney was the architect for these theatres.
Former site is now occupied by a Wal-Mart strip mall.
Vincent Raney is the architect of this building.
Architect, at least for the expansions of this location, was Vincent Raney.
Designed by Vincent Raney for Syufy Enterprises. Opened 6/26/1973. Currently operated as a West Wind Drive-In.
Designed as a 7-screen drive-in by Vincent Raney for Syufy Enterprises. This is one of the last Drive-Ins built by Syufy on 6/13/1979. It was later expanded into its current 9-screen configuration.
It is now operated as a West Wind drive-in.
This location is now operated by West Wind Drive-Ins.
It was originally a single screen that opened 2/7/1966 and was later expanded into six screens. A storm blew down most of the main screen, which has been closed for some time now.
The location operates year round with 5-screens.
Vincent Raney is the architect of this drive-in that opened 2/7/1977.
I’ve seen plans that had it originally designed as the “Desert Drive-In” but was actually built as the Scottsdale Drive-In. Syufy later used the name Desert Drive-In for one of the drive-ins in Las Vegas.
West Wind Drive-Ins now operates this location.
Vincent Raney was the architect of this Drive-In. The building is similar in design to the former Burlingame Drive-In and the Santa Barbara Twin Drive-In.
Opened 12/22/1961.
The chain is now “West Wind”.
The Santa Barbara Twin Drive-In was originally built by Vincent Raney for Syufy Enterprises. I don’t know if Syufy ever actually ran it, but shortly after its construction it was traded to what became Metropolitan Theatres in exchange for the Geneva Drive-In in Daly City/San Francisco, CA.
After the lease with Metropolitan expired, it reverted back to Syufy which operates it now as the West Wind Goleta Public Market. Many upgrades to the property are in the works.
The second screen will be running by May 18th.
The Solano Drive-In re-opens tonight with a free showing of Shrek 2 and Nacho Libre. It will be opening full time starting tomorrow May 4th with a double feature of Spiderman 3 and Ghost Rider.
I think it’s funny that people think the area is underscreened. I think Santa Clarita is fine, and that perhaps people are just so used to seeing a glut everywhere else.
I doubt that anybody would re-open this theatre. The pictures I took on Cinematour were taken during rush hour and dear LORD was the traffic horrendous. It took me about 45 minutes just to get in and out of the parking lot.
And if I’m not mistaken, this theatre looks like it was built by Cineplex Odeon. Is that correct?
http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=6757
I believe the theatre was actually opened in 1948… somewhere I have an ad proclaiming the opening day.
I don’t believe any of the domes were built for Cinerama or D-150. The Century 21 in San Jose was built for 3-Strip Cinerama but it was never installed.
We took some decent pictures of the Bittersweet for Cinematour. You can check them out over there. As far as the Cooper Twin we couldn’t get good pictures of that place, the lobby was way too small to take anything without management freaking out. But it is SUCH a tacky 70’s theatre. It really is a sight to see.