The status of the Capitola Theatre is that is in escrow and slated to be demolished – the rumor is – to be replaced by a luxury hotel. Surprisingly enough, there has been no local outcry to save the theatre, nor any attempt by the city council to establish it as a historical building. This little town has changed so rapidly in the past 10 years; it appears it’s all about the almighty tourist (not local) dollar and folks with enough “easy” money who come to purchase their way into belonging. I’m not sure many people living here now even saw a movie there, and thus have no connection to what it represents. It’s too bad, because maybe someone could become an instant local by purchasing and refurbishing the theatre and actually show movies in it. When Audrey sold it, it was the end of a great era, and the opera house, despite it’s intentions, was a poor fit for this little coastal town. How does one save a theatre? It’s probably too late.
That building on the left side of the Crest Theatre (on the corner) housed a Player Piano Shop. I remember going in there with my dad to mill around before or after the movies (this would be about 1965 or 1966.
As I child I saw many a classic at The Crest Theatre (circa 1965), Snow White & The Sound of Music among them. Walking the few short blocks from our Craftsman home in the wind and rain, clasping my mother’s hand, I would enter the warm, bright lobby, a bag of fresh hot popcorn my reward. The snack stand stood center in the lobby, the ticket booth was outside. I was mesmerized, as a child, with the enormous draperies that would sweep back to reveal the screen. The floors were sticky and there was a sort of flocked wallpaper covering the walls. We always sat in the rear third of the theatre, left hand side, middle of the row.
I took my younger sisters there when I was 12 (1972), and remember clearly filling my blue vinyl purse with candy and soda from the Pronto Market next door-a teenager waved me over to the snack counter, ceremoniously unzipped my bag and shouted out, “Full House!,” before confiscating my bag for the duration of the movie. The theatre was already in decline-the Santa Anita Mall had been or was being built- and storefronts on Myrtle were being abondoned-McBratney’s Department Store, AnitaShop, Earl’s Toy Store-even the Winchell’s donuts on Foothill, to the left of the theatre, with the big donut on top, and the Orange Julius to the right-they were all being left behind.
One of the last uses of the Crest was as a movie set for a Horror movie-I know, I was an extra, and along with 100 others, had to run down the aisles screaming many times. A fitting end, considering the lack of awareness in that town at that time, about the historical value of the old buildings, the Crest included; and the speed with which the decision to take it down was made. The Crest Theatre figures prominently in the sweeter memories I have of childhood. Renec
The status of the Capitola Theatre is that is in escrow and slated to be demolished – the rumor is – to be replaced by a luxury hotel. Surprisingly enough, there has been no local outcry to save the theatre, nor any attempt by the city council to establish it as a historical building. This little town has changed so rapidly in the past 10 years; it appears it’s all about the almighty tourist (not local) dollar and folks with enough “easy” money who come to purchase their way into belonging. I’m not sure many people living here now even saw a movie there, and thus have no connection to what it represents. It’s too bad, because maybe someone could become an instant local by purchasing and refurbishing the theatre and actually show movies in it. When Audrey sold it, it was the end of a great era, and the opera house, despite it’s intentions, was a poor fit for this little coastal town. How does one save a theatre? It’s probably too late.
That building on the left side of the Crest Theatre (on the corner) housed a Player Piano Shop. I remember going in there with my dad to mill around before or after the movies (this would be about 1965 or 1966.
As I child I saw many a classic at The Crest Theatre (circa 1965), Snow White & The Sound of Music among them. Walking the few short blocks from our Craftsman home in the wind and rain, clasping my mother’s hand, I would enter the warm, bright lobby, a bag of fresh hot popcorn my reward. The snack stand stood center in the lobby, the ticket booth was outside. I was mesmerized, as a child, with the enormous draperies that would sweep back to reveal the screen. The floors were sticky and there was a sort of flocked wallpaper covering the walls. We always sat in the rear third of the theatre, left hand side, middle of the row.
I took my younger sisters there when I was 12 (1972), and remember clearly filling my blue vinyl purse with candy and soda from the Pronto Market next door-a teenager waved me over to the snack counter, ceremoniously unzipped my bag and shouted out, “Full House!,” before confiscating my bag for the duration of the movie. The theatre was already in decline-the Santa Anita Mall had been or was being built- and storefronts on Myrtle were being abondoned-McBratney’s Department Store, AnitaShop, Earl’s Toy Store-even the Winchell’s donuts on Foothill, to the left of the theatre, with the big donut on top, and the Orange Julius to the right-they were all being left behind.
One of the last uses of the Crest was as a movie set for a Horror movie-I know, I was an extra, and along with 100 others, had to run down the aisles screaming many times. A fitting end, considering the lack of awareness in that town at that time, about the historical value of the old buildings, the Crest included; and the speed with which the decision to take it down was made. The Crest Theatre figures prominently in the sweeter memories I have of childhood. Renec