There is still a feeling of great loss driving by the post office location these days-what happened to the ROXY?!! PACIFIC BEACH will never feel the same to me without it! Always a great double feature, plus those famous SATURDAY MATINEES, showing at all FOX WEST COAST THEATERS, which was a wonderful chain of theaters, here on the west coast. The marquee always a welcome sight at night, with two-tone decorative lights! A lot of wonderful memories & great films at the ROXY. Happy times, for sure- THE CINEMA TREASURE of my youth!
Always a great double feature program; they showed a lot of First and second run shows. I recall Victor Mature flicks were popular, and SAMSON AND DELILAH seemed booked there every time it was re-released! A small neighborhood theater, which was attached to the behemoth ORPHEUM THEATER- down on the corner AKA: PANTAGES.
As the 1950’s-60’s arrived, The AZTEC THEATER was one of the many theaters below Broadway then, which were “open all night”, and showing “3 BIG FEATURES” with a program change twice a week. Don’t know what it looked like before then, but it was as pretty much of a DUMP in comparison with ANY of the other theatres, ANYWHERE IN TOWN. The entire floor was one big slant, stadium style, with one entrance in the center, and it was without a balcony. The only CLASSIC thing left by this time was the marquee, hardly big enough for 3 movie titles-but they managed to spell out MOST of them with a squeeze! Along with it’s next-door-neighbor the CASINO THEATER-they were two of the OLDEST theaters in San Diego, and both were ‘gutted-out’ of their original buildings in the GASLAMP re-vamping of the area, last century. The space presently serves purpose for other tourist-attracting ventures. I thought they had SAVED the CASINO’s ORIGINAL YELLOW MARQUE until I read somewhere that it’s a REPLICA!(I don’t know though—it looks like the ORIGINAL to me!) Yes, 5th AND G streets has, indeed, witnessed a few changes in the CENTURY PAST.
The Plaza Theatre was one of the smaller theatres left over from the early part of THAT century, which of course, had Vaudeville. The same pertained for the Cabrillo Theatre next door, ALSO ON THE CITY PLAZA in Downtown San Diego. The ALLEY behind also served the LYCEUM THEATRE over on the next street, which was an obvious PLUS for Stage shows loading or unloading AT THE 3 THEATRES.If memory serves me right, this was the ONLY ALLEY DOWNTOWN, AND WAS ONLY one block long! IT WAS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLACE for FAVORITE films, showing 3 features, changing twice a week, and “OPEN ALL NIGHT”.The Plaza had a beautiful little design containing a balcony which curved into the sides like a horseshoe. I was, and to this day I am STILL upset by the fact that they tore out and remodeled the ENTIRE PLAZA, replacing it with the most HIDEOUS MALL REPLACEMENT one could ever NOT imagine!! Lastly, I would like to add this: The Plaza in my opinion, had the most BEAUTIFUL marquee in town! I sure miss the place, along with the other theatres, especially the PALACES of YESTERYEAR…
The Frontier drive-in theatre was originally one screen, adding the second screen, later. At the time it was trendy for drive-ins to add a 2nd screen, IF the lot was big enough; then having additional costs for the second projector and screen, as well as re-doing the entire lot, etc. In the long run, these added screens(some added a few more, space permitting) were a bit confusing, especially when it was a then, the policy& custom to run DOUBLE FEATURES-(—WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE?) However, the MIDWAY drive-in down the street, was San Diego’s FIRST DRIVE-IN THEATRE, and my favorite of the two.
If memory serves me right, (and it might not..)I recall this CLASSIC, BEAUTIFUL little neighborhood theatre being called the HILLCREST, (for obvious reasons)in the 1950’s well into the ‘60’s; then, whoever took it over, cornered the foreign-movie market(pre-Landmark?)and re-named it “The Guild”, which angered me as I’m sure it also did the local Hillcrest folks…The theatre’s original design I remember, was similar to the Casino, way down the street, as well as the Strand, in Ocean Beach; all built around 1914, possibly around the same time as the 1st EXPO, which is logical… this way showing off not only downtown San Diego, but the NEW and NICELY laid out growing communities up the hill, and way out at the beach (with NEW Freshly-cemented streets, lighting by electricity, and extended rail transportation!) I remember they ran the Saturday KIDDIE MATINEE circuit, and then, later in the '60’s, titles like Kubricks’ “LOLITA”. I cannot find a decent PICTURE of this former landmark(no pun intended)as the “HILLCREST”. The historical society’s ONE photograph was taken up the street, BARELY recognizing the marquee which had BARELY enough room to spell out the title of a 1954 Victor Mature flick: “Chief Crazy Horse”!!
3 Big features. Open All Night; continuous from 9:45 AM! In the fabulous 1950’s & ‘60’s, The Casino and it’s neighbors, The Aztec, and The Savoy ; all at 5th & G streets, would have this policy! And for a pre-teen young boy, crazy about the movies as well as the CLASSIC theatres that showed them; For THIS young lad, it WAS FAR BETTER THAN THE NEWLY-OPENED DISNEYLAND!!…plus they changed features TWICE A WEEK ! I really thought they would always be there for me! I also LOVED the Historical neighborhood that they were in…and now they show film no more, but instead make up the hub of San Diego’s GASLAMP section.I’m so happy that someone saved the marquee!!
Many memories here at the “CAPRI”! First recalled as a child, seeing “GUYS AND DOLLS”“(1955); and the last movie I saw there at the re-named "PARK”, was the re-issued and restored epic “GIANT”(1956),(before this classic theatre became the “PUSSYCAT”!!). In the ‘50’s, 60’s and 70’s, when it was the “CAPRI”, it ran the 'BIG ROADSHOW’ versions of the latest BIG attractions, (when most of us ‘dressed up’ to go out ANYWHERE!!) I remember AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS", “BEN-HUR”, and “KING OF KINGS”, to name a few. In those days they had their parking lot next to it on the UNIVERSITY AVENUE side, where , on it’s north wall, a ‘POSTER-PAINTING’ of the latest film, as it would play for MONTHS at a time! Also saw the premiere there of “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW”, IN 1971.
Tragic. I thought of all theatres, the Waikiki Theatre would SURELY last; so beautiful, AND historical. I recall seeing (over a half-century ago)the first-runs of, “TARAS BULBA”(Yul Brynner & Tony Curtis) and “FATHER GOOSE”(Cary Grant & Leslie Caron).Do you remember? I almost forgot: that ‘I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now..’
The Plains Theatre, 1975. “The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad”(1958), …a Re-Release! A new print! A classic film! At that time, the last of the old theatres in Roswell to run FILM,was “plum tuckered out”; now a museum…..I also remember “The Yucca Theatre”, off of the main drag,: it was just sitting empty, looking like a lost child wondering why it wasn’t open and showing “House on Haunted Hill”, or another title equally memorable jumping off the screen for the Saturday Kid’s matinee!
Academy Theatre. They had a premiere of the JANUS VERSION of “KING KONG”(in the late 1960’s, I believe, containing the original censored
scenes, which had not been viewed since it’s original release in 1933,(plus, not forgetting the many edits made during each re-issue release); hence the version that’s out there today, containing the “outtakes”. The place was packed, as I recall…it was showing during the great
revival of the classic film era, bolstered by the new FILM STUDIES courses DEBUTING IN COLLEGES at that time, thus allowing the public to actually VIEW the titles at local cinemas such as the ACADEMY.
showings
The La Paloma theatre ran Mexican movies in the 1950’s and into the 1960’s. This beautiful old historic theatre STILL runs current movies; it’s really a treasure!
While living in San Francisco the year of 1969, the Powell Theatre was my main movie hangout, I just loved that classic little theatre which played all of the classics rotating…‘plus new shows changing all the time.
There is still a feeling of great loss driving by the post office location these days-what happened to the ROXY?!! PACIFIC BEACH will never feel the same to me without it! Always a great double feature, plus those famous SATURDAY MATINEES, showing at all FOX WEST COAST THEATERS, which was a wonderful chain of theaters, here on the west coast. The marquee always a welcome sight at night, with two-tone decorative lights! A lot of wonderful memories & great films at the ROXY. Happy times, for sure- THE CINEMA TREASURE of my youth!
Always a great double feature program; they showed a lot of First and second run shows. I recall Victor Mature flicks were popular, and SAMSON AND DELILAH seemed booked there every time it was re-released! A small neighborhood theater, which was attached to the behemoth ORPHEUM THEATER- down on the corner AKA: PANTAGES.
As the 1950’s-60’s arrived, The AZTEC THEATER was one of the many theaters below Broadway then, which were “open all night”, and showing “3 BIG FEATURES” with a program change twice a week. Don’t know what it looked like before then, but it was as pretty much of a DUMP in comparison with ANY of the other theatres, ANYWHERE IN TOWN. The entire floor was one big slant, stadium style, with one entrance in the center, and it was without a balcony. The only CLASSIC thing left by this time was the marquee, hardly big enough for 3 movie titles-but they managed to spell out MOST of them with a squeeze! Along with it’s next-door-neighbor the CASINO THEATER-they were two of the OLDEST theaters in San Diego, and both were ‘gutted-out’ of their original buildings in the GASLAMP re-vamping of the area, last century. The space presently serves purpose for other tourist-attracting ventures. I thought they had SAVED the CASINO’s ORIGINAL YELLOW MARQUE until I read somewhere that it’s a REPLICA!(I don’t know though—it looks like the ORIGINAL to me!) Yes, 5th AND G streets has, indeed, witnessed a few changes in the CENTURY PAST.
The Plaza Theatre was one of the smaller theatres left over from the early part of THAT century, which of course, had Vaudeville. The same pertained for the Cabrillo Theatre next door, ALSO ON THE CITY PLAZA in Downtown San Diego. The ALLEY behind also served the LYCEUM THEATRE over on the next street, which was an obvious PLUS for Stage shows loading or unloading AT THE 3 THEATRES.If memory serves me right, this was the ONLY ALLEY DOWNTOWN, AND WAS ONLY one block long! IT WAS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLACE for FAVORITE films, showing 3 features, changing twice a week, and “OPEN ALL NIGHT”.The Plaza had a beautiful little design containing a balcony which curved into the sides like a horseshoe. I was, and to this day I am STILL upset by the fact that they tore out and remodeled the ENTIRE PLAZA, replacing it with the most HIDEOUS MALL REPLACEMENT one could ever NOT imagine!! Lastly, I would like to add this: The Plaza in my opinion, had the most BEAUTIFUL marquee in town! I sure miss the place, along with the other theatres, especially the PALACES of YESTERYEAR…
The Frontier drive-in theatre was originally one screen, adding the second screen, later. At the time it was trendy for drive-ins to add a 2nd screen, IF the lot was big enough; then having additional costs for the second projector and screen, as well as re-doing the entire lot, etc. In the long run, these added screens(some added a few more, space permitting) were a bit confusing, especially when it was a then, the policy& custom to run DOUBLE FEATURES-(—WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE?) However, the MIDWAY drive-in down the street, was San Diego’s FIRST DRIVE-IN THEATRE, and my favorite of the two.
If memory serves me right, (and it might not..)I recall this CLASSIC, BEAUTIFUL little neighborhood theatre being called the HILLCREST, (for obvious reasons)in the 1950’s well into the ‘60’s; then, whoever took it over, cornered the foreign-movie market(pre-Landmark?)and re-named it “The Guild”, which angered me as I’m sure it also did the local Hillcrest folks…The theatre’s original design I remember, was similar to the Casino, way down the street, as well as the Strand, in Ocean Beach; all built around 1914, possibly around the same time as the 1st EXPO, which is logical… this way showing off not only downtown San Diego, but the NEW and NICELY laid out growing communities up the hill, and way out at the beach (with NEW Freshly-cemented streets, lighting by electricity, and extended rail transportation!) I remember they ran the Saturday KIDDIE MATINEE circuit, and then, later in the '60’s, titles like Kubricks’ “LOLITA”. I cannot find a decent PICTURE of this former landmark(no pun intended)as the “HILLCREST”. The historical society’s ONE photograph was taken up the street, BARELY recognizing the marquee which had BARELY enough room to spell out the title of a 1954 Victor Mature flick: “Chief Crazy Horse”!!
3 Big features. Open All Night; continuous from 9:45 AM! In the fabulous 1950’s & ‘60’s, The Casino and it’s neighbors, The Aztec, and The Savoy ; all at 5th & G streets, would have this policy! And for a pre-teen young boy, crazy about the movies as well as the CLASSIC theatres that showed them; For THIS young lad, it WAS FAR BETTER THAN THE NEWLY-OPENED DISNEYLAND!!…plus they changed features TWICE A WEEK ! I really thought they would always be there for me! I also LOVED the Historical neighborhood that they were in…and now they show film no more, but instead make up the hub of San Diego’s GASLAMP section.I’m so happy that someone saved the marquee!!
Many memories here at the “CAPRI”! First recalled as a child, seeing “GUYS AND DOLLS”“(1955); and the last movie I saw there at the re-named "PARK”, was the re-issued and restored epic “GIANT”(1956),(before this classic theatre became the “PUSSYCAT”!!). In the ‘50’s, 60’s and 70’s, when it was the “CAPRI”, it ran the 'BIG ROADSHOW’ versions of the latest BIG attractions, (when most of us ‘dressed up’ to go out ANYWHERE!!) I remember AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS", “BEN-HUR”, and “KING OF KINGS”, to name a few. In those days they had their parking lot next to it on the UNIVERSITY AVENUE side, where , on it’s north wall, a ‘POSTER-PAINTING’ of the latest film, as it would play for MONTHS at a time! Also saw the premiere there of “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW”, IN 1971.
Tragic. I thought of all theatres, the Waikiki Theatre would SURELY last; so beautiful, AND historical. I recall seeing (over a half-century ago)the first-runs of, “TARAS BULBA”(Yul Brynner & Tony Curtis) and “FATHER GOOSE”(Cary Grant & Leslie Caron).Do you remember? I almost forgot: that ‘I was so much older then; I’m younger than that now..’
The Plains Theatre, 1975. “The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad”(1958), …a Re-Release! A new print! A classic film! At that time, the last of the old theatres in Roswell to run FILM,was “plum tuckered out”; now a museum…..I also remember “The Yucca Theatre”, off of the main drag,: it was just sitting empty, looking like a lost child wondering why it wasn’t open and showing “House on Haunted Hill”, or another title equally memorable jumping off the screen for the Saturday Kid’s matinee!
Academy Theatre. They had a premiere of the JANUS VERSION of “KING KONG”(in the late 1960’s, I believe, containing the original censored scenes, which had not been viewed since it’s original release in 1933,(plus, not forgetting the many edits made during each re-issue release); hence the version that’s out there today, containing the “outtakes”. The place was packed, as I recall…it was showing during the great revival of the classic film era, bolstered by the new FILM STUDIES courses DEBUTING IN COLLEGES at that time, thus allowing the public to actually VIEW the titles at local cinemas such as the ACADEMY. showings
The La Paloma theatre ran Mexican movies in the 1950’s and into the 1960’s. This beautiful old historic theatre STILL runs current movies; it’s really a treasure!
While living in San Francisco the year of 1969, the Powell Theatre was my main movie hangout, I just loved that classic little theatre which played all of the classics rotating…‘plus new shows changing all the time.