I had forgotten that train in the middle of the street. I saw it in the 60s and in the 1984 photo above. Does this still happen. We were in the military when we saw it….probably 1966 or so. We did go to the Senator too!
My ex was at that Premiere night when Debbie Reynolds appeared. She has a photo or two from that night. Rats, I suppose I better ask her about that now. She was 17 years old when that occurred and we were married 3 months later. Scandalously young.
I saw “Rebel Without A Cause” when it was first running back in 1955 at this theater. I was in 3rd grade…what were my parents thinking? I also saw the film “Tarantula” there! Not quite the classic that Rebel was! It was a grand old theater! I lived on Live Oak next to the dry river wash and was attending school on the San Gabriel side of the river.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Death scene for Port
The ‘50s-vintage cinema is marked for demolition, despite residents’ efforts to salvage it.
By JEFF OVERLEY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NEWPORT BEACH â€" The final credits rolled a decade ago, but the final curtain hadn’t fallen until now.
The historic Port Theater, which closed in 1998 but sought to reopen ever since, will fall victim to the wrecking ball, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The California Coastal Commission approved a demolition permit last week, an agency spokeswoman said, and theater owner Rick Aversano applied for similar clearance through the city Tuesday.
“A lot of people are saddened by it. It’s a shame,” said Troy Marino, who owns a frame shop next to the Port. Customers, he said, have been reminiscing about date nights and necking in the theater’s balcony in the old days. “Another landmark gone,” Marino said.
Opened in the early 1950s, the 900-seat Port thrived for years, first as a mainstream cinema with dramas and Westerns and later as an art house theater screening indie documentaries and anything with subtitles. With no air conditioning, employees would hand out popcorn boxes that doubled as fans on balmy days.
But after multiscreen megaplexes cropped up near and far, the Port went under. Employees put a padlock on the door and the word “Rosebud” on the marquee, a reference to the dying words of the protagonist in “Citizen Kane.”
In closing, the Port joined the ranks of shuttered single-screen cinemas such as the Yost Theatre in Santa Ana, the Mesa Theatre in Costa Mesa and the Surf Theatre in Huntington Beach, to name just a few that have closed over the years.
A residents group called Save the Port formed, unsuccessfully prodding city officials to bail the Port out. Owner Scott Burnham for several years tried to revive the cinema, ultimately selling in 2002, Councilman Ed Selich said.
The new owner, Aversano, tried to sell the building for $4.8 million in recent years and promoted a pre-approved design for a theater and conference center, apparently to no avail. “He had shopped (the concept) to any number of theater people, and it just didn’t pencil out,” said city Planning Director David Lepo.
Aversano, who owns a 20,000-square-foot mansion near the theater, has been active with the Laguna Playhouse and has donated money to Hoag Hospital. He did not return calls for comment.
Lepo and three other city officials said Aversano plans to sell the Port property, after which it might be developed with an office and retail building. No formal plans have been submitted, and the demolition timetable is unknown, Lepo said.
Locals had mixed reactions to the news. Some, noting plywood-covered windows, faded graffiti and peeling baby-blue paint, said good riddance. “Better to be demolished than just sitting around being no benefit to the area,” said Bobby Shaw, owner of a television repair shop behind the Port.
Resident Ann Stonick, on the other hand, reminisced about Swedish films and impromptu serenades by theater employees. “I was very sad when it closed,” she said. “It was a true original.”
Eyeing the Port from her art gallery on Coast Highway, Dana Ridenour glumly gestured to stucco chain shops â€" a Kentucky Fried Chicken, a Subway, a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf â€" that sprang up around the Port in recent years. The demise of the kitschy old theater was inevitable, she said, given the land’s value.
“Everybody likes the charm and the past,” Ridenour said. “But everybody needs to make money.”
Staff writer Lisa Liddane contributed to this report.
I loved going to the port as a teenager living in CdM (Cameo Shores). It was always a fun place to see a film. The walk from wherever you could find a place to park to the theater was part of that fun. It is so nice to see from MagicLantern’s link that they are going to restore this theater. It’s about time!!!
This theater was wonderful for the gigantic screen…the largest outdoor one I have ever seen. It was close to home and also very close to the Warner and the Harbor Drive-in…at one time that part of Orange County had five drive-ins about ten minutes apart to choose from…Warner, Harbor, Fountain Valley, Highway 39 and the Paulo…. Valhalla for those of us who loved drive in movies! This one also was in the lowlands and was now and then shut down early due to thick fogs.
One of my favorite places to go to in my younger days. One of my early dates with my now ex wife was to this theater. It was when we found that people with Vitiligo (moi!) glow in black lights!!! Whoopee! Saw “Modesty Blaise†1966 with Monica Vitti from the balcony that night. Really bad film…they are remaking it again… finally a good reason for a remake.
This was actually close to the Harbor Drive-in so we often wound up here if the film there was one we had seen or it was crowded. This theater was subject often to the thick fogs that rolled in from the beach since this was a low lying area. Of course sometimes with a date you may never notice the fog since you weren’t watching the film anyway.
One of my best memories is going to see “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner†here. I was dating my future wife (now ex) Janice Jacobs and we were with friends Steve King (no..not that one!) and Donna DeCubellis and we got into a great discussion on race with the car next to us with two African American couples. We went on talking about it the rest of the night over at Bob’s Big Boy. I saw many more films there but that one stands out.
We used to travel over from Costa Mesa often to this drive-in since it was so large there would always be a place to park. Always at least a double feature and the snack bar was one of the best in the county. I seemed to be here with Laurie Mynatt at times and then after I was old and married with the wife and kids. It was a good place to go and one of the last to still have speakers rather than your car radio.
I used to attend this theater often when I was in high school and beyond. It was also the workplace of a girl I adored for quite a while…Stephanie Shumate. She lived close by and was an usher there her senior year and then on breaks from college. She would often… after seating people… come back and sit with me when she was off for the night. It was a nice large comfortable venue and it had a wonderful restaurant across the street called Coco’s…so in a small area you had the makings of a nice time with a date. This theater had by far the most comfortable seating in the city at the time.
A very nice large theater…very clean and always fun. We saw lots of wonderful films there. I went from 1961 until well into the 70’s. I sat behind some very lovely girl in there in 8th grade… Sandy Kahre.. I even recall the film… “None But The Brave"
Later on from my junior year up until I was married and moved away I took dates there often when I wasn’t at the Paulo or some other theater.
Did anyone ever get a photo of this theater? I would love to see a copy…my email can be reached by clicking on teoslola!
Thanks!
I also saw “Endless Summer” here a few times!
If anyone wants to see some old black and white aerial shots of this theater let me know! I used to go here often. I was sad to see it closed down but that freeway thing was needed I guess!
I used to go to this theater every Saturday to see the matinees… a cartoon, serial, and a good feature…. I think we got in for twenty five cents…this was in 1956-1957. I saw Earth vs. The Flying Saucers here and many other fine old sci-fi films of the day. We walked the few block from Los Robles Street where we lived. I hope they do restore it… great memories!
Hi Bob, just in case no one ever answered… it is in the 700 block on the ocean side of W. Balboa Blvd. in Newport Beach on the Balboa Peninsula. I have a photo of it from the 1920’s but none of a recent vintage at all!
Barry
Here is one from 1924
View link
I had forgotten that train in the middle of the street. I saw it in the 60s and in the 1984 photo above. Does this still happen. We were in the military when we saw it….probably 1966 or so. We did go to the Senator too!
My ex was at that Premiere night when Debbie Reynolds appeared. She has a photo or two from that night. Rats, I suppose I better ask her about that now. She was 17 years old when that occurred and we were married 3 months later. Scandalously young.
I saw “Rebel Without A Cause” when it was first running back in 1955 at this theater. I was in 3rd grade…what were my parents thinking? I also saw the film “Tarantula” there! Not quite the classic that Rebel was! It was a grand old theater! I lived on Live Oak next to the dry river wash and was attending school on the San Gabriel side of the river.
Here is the article in the Register:
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Death scene for Port
The ‘50s-vintage cinema is marked for demolition, despite residents’ efforts to salvage it.
By JEFF OVERLEY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NEWPORT BEACH â€" The final credits rolled a decade ago, but the final curtain hadn’t fallen until now.
The historic Port Theater, which closed in 1998 but sought to reopen ever since, will fall victim to the wrecking ball, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The California Coastal Commission approved a demolition permit last week, an agency spokeswoman said, and theater owner Rick Aversano applied for similar clearance through the city Tuesday.
“A lot of people are saddened by it. It’s a shame,” said Troy Marino, who owns a frame shop next to the Port. Customers, he said, have been reminiscing about date nights and necking in the theater’s balcony in the old days. “Another landmark gone,” Marino said.
Opened in the early 1950s, the 900-seat Port thrived for years, first as a mainstream cinema with dramas and Westerns and later as an art house theater screening indie documentaries and anything with subtitles. With no air conditioning, employees would hand out popcorn boxes that doubled as fans on balmy days.
But after multiscreen megaplexes cropped up near and far, the Port went under. Employees put a padlock on the door and the word “Rosebud” on the marquee, a reference to the dying words of the protagonist in “Citizen Kane.”
In closing, the Port joined the ranks of shuttered single-screen cinemas such as the Yost Theatre in Santa Ana, the Mesa Theatre in Costa Mesa and the Surf Theatre in Huntington Beach, to name just a few that have closed over the years.
A residents group called Save the Port formed, unsuccessfully prodding city officials to bail the Port out. Owner Scott Burnham for several years tried to revive the cinema, ultimately selling in 2002, Councilman Ed Selich said.
The new owner, Aversano, tried to sell the building for $4.8 million in recent years and promoted a pre-approved design for a theater and conference center, apparently to no avail. “He had shopped (the concept) to any number of theater people, and it just didn’t pencil out,” said city Planning Director David Lepo.
Aversano, who owns a 20,000-square-foot mansion near the theater, has been active with the Laguna Playhouse and has donated money to Hoag Hospital. He did not return calls for comment.
Lepo and three other city officials said Aversano plans to sell the Port property, after which it might be developed with an office and retail building. No formal plans have been submitted, and the demolition timetable is unknown, Lepo said.
Locals had mixed reactions to the news. Some, noting plywood-covered windows, faded graffiti and peeling baby-blue paint, said good riddance. “Better to be demolished than just sitting around being no benefit to the area,” said Bobby Shaw, owner of a television repair shop behind the Port.
Resident Ann Stonick, on the other hand, reminisced about Swedish films and impromptu serenades by theater employees. “I was very sad when it closed,” she said. “It was a true original.”
Eyeing the Port from her art gallery on Coast Highway, Dana Ridenour glumly gestured to stucco chain shops â€" a Kentucky Fried Chicken, a Subway, a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf â€" that sprang up around the Port in recent years. The demise of the kitschy old theater was inevitable, she said, given the land’s value.
“Everybody likes the charm and the past,” Ridenour said. “But everybody needs to make money.”
Staff writer Lisa Liddane contributed to this report.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6683 or
Hey Tony!
Go to http://www.theporttheater.com/ Provided by MagicLantern…the Port theater is coming back!!
I loved going to the port as a teenager living in CdM (Cameo Shores). It was always a fun place to see a film. The walk from wherever you could find a place to park to the theater was part of that fun. It is so nice to see from MagicLantern’s link that they are going to restore this theater. It’s about time!!!
This theater was wonderful for the gigantic screen…the largest outdoor one I have ever seen. It was close to home and also very close to the Warner and the Harbor Drive-in…at one time that part of Orange County had five drive-ins about ten minutes apart to choose from…Warner, Harbor, Fountain Valley, Highway 39 and the Paulo…. Valhalla for those of us who loved drive in movies! This one also was in the lowlands and was now and then shut down early due to thick fogs.
Rats! I left out a link that is very good http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=2653 interior shots and the projection room and many others.
One of my favorite places to go to in my younger days. One of my early dates with my now ex wife was to this theater. It was when we found that people with Vitiligo (moi!) glow in black lights!!! Whoopee! Saw “Modesty Blaise†1966 with Monica Vitti from the balcony that night. Really bad film…they are remaking it again… finally a good reason for a remake.
This was actually close to the Harbor Drive-in so we often wound up here if the film there was one we had seen or it was crowded. This theater was subject often to the thick fogs that rolled in from the beach since this was a low lying area. Of course sometimes with a date you may never notice the fog since you weren’t watching the film anyway.
One of my best memories is going to see “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner†here. I was dating my future wife (now ex) Janice Jacobs and we were with friends Steve King (no..not that one!) and Donna DeCubellis and we got into a great discussion on race with the car next to us with two African American couples. We went on talking about it the rest of the night over at Bob’s Big Boy. I saw many more films there but that one stands out.
We used to travel over from Costa Mesa often to this drive-in since it was so large there would always be a place to park. Always at least a double feature and the snack bar was one of the best in the county. I seemed to be here with Laurie Mynatt at times and then after I was old and married with the wife and kids. It was a good place to go and one of the last to still have speakers rather than your car radio.
I used to attend this theater often when I was in high school and beyond. It was also the workplace of a girl I adored for quite a while…Stephanie Shumate. She lived close by and was an usher there her senior year and then on breaks from college. She would often… after seating people… come back and sit with me when she was off for the night. It was a nice large comfortable venue and it had a wonderful restaurant across the street called Coco’s…so in a small area you had the makings of a nice time with a date. This theater had by far the most comfortable seating in the city at the time.
A very nice large theater…very clean and always fun. We saw lots of wonderful films there. I went from 1961 until well into the 70’s. I sat behind some very lovely girl in there in 8th grade… Sandy Kahre.. I even recall the film… “None But The Brave"
Later on from my junior year up until I was married and moved away I took dates there often when I wasn’t at the Paulo or some other theater.
Did anyone ever get a photo of this theater? I would love to see a copy…my email can be reached by clicking on teoslola!
Thanks!
I also saw “Endless Summer” here a few times!
If anyone wants to see some old black and white aerial shots of this theater let me know! I used to go here often. I was sad to see it closed down but that freeway thing was needed I guess!
I used to go to this theater every Saturday to see the matinees… a cartoon, serial, and a good feature…. I think we got in for twenty five cents…this was in 1956-1957. I saw Earth vs. The Flying Saucers here and many other fine old sci-fi films of the day. We walked the few block from Los Robles Street where we lived. I hope they do restore it… great memories!
I have a couple of very nice recent photos of this theater.
Hi Bob, just in case no one ever answered… it is in the 700 block on the ocean side of W. Balboa Blvd. in Newport Beach on the Balboa Peninsula. I have a photo of it from the 1920’s but none of a recent vintage at all!
Barry