This theater is mentioned in James Agee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “A Death in the Family,” an autobiographical account of Agee’s childhood around the time his father died in a car accident in May 1916. At the beginning of the novel, Agee (Rufus Follett in the story) and his father go to see a Charlie Chaplin film at the Majestic, and he describes the auditorium as having “the exhilarating smell of stale tobacco, rank sweat, perfume and dirty drawers, while the piano played fast music”.
As part of a film studies class taken at El Camino High School in August 1990, I went on a field trip to La Paloma to see a movie (Disney’s “The Jungle Book”) and tour the theater. Some things I remember from the tour: viewing the dressing room that lies behind/beneath the stage, and walking up to the projection booth. The tour guide told our group that when the theater first opened a drunk man fell from the balcony and died, and that his ghost supposedly still haunts the place. Has anyone heard this story before? It may have been fabricated for the amusement of our little group of high school students.
An article from the Oak Ridger (“Newcomer’s roots trace back to city behind the fence”, Sept. 16, 1997) lists David Ward as a manager of the theater, having moved to Oak Ridge from Paducah, KY.
From other information, it appears that Tri-County Cinema closed around the time the Tinseltown megaplex opened in December 1998 in Oak Ridge.
An article from the Oak Ridger (“Newcomer’s roots trace back to city behind the fence”, Sept. 16, 1997) lists David Ward as a manager of the theater, having moved to Oak Ridge from Paducah, KY.
From other information, it appears that Tri-County Cinema closed around the time the Tinseltown megaplex opened in December 1998 in Oak Ridge.
I saw a couple of movies at this theater in the 80s: “Ernest Goes to Camp” and “Police Academy 5.”
SeeingI, thanks for the memory about posters that covered the walls. I remembered seeing one of “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.” Another poster I remember seeing there was a movie ratings poster like this one (although it was probably before the NC-17 rating was used): View link
I would love to see pictures of this theater when it was still in operation.
The address listed for this theater was 1823 Mission Avenue. The MiraCosta College Community Learning Center (1831 Mission Ave.) is currently at that location next to an Arby’s restaurant. The theater was presumably torn down in the 70s (or late 60s?), and a Big Bear grocery store occupied the space for two or three decades.
This theater opened on 24 August 1966. I confirmed this by searching through microfilm records at the Oceanside Public Library. The films shown that first night were “Assault on a Queen” and “The Last of the Secret Agents?”. The theater’s original name was the Mission Drive-In Theater. Within the first year of operation the name had changed to the Mission San Luis Rey Drive-In.
This theater was also known as the Mann Oceanside 8. It closed in February 2000. The seats reportedly were sold to Oceanside’s Sunshine Brooks theater. A Barnes and Noble store sits on the spot of the demolished theater.
This theater opened in 1924. It had an upstairs ballroom and a $10,000 Morton organ. The Palomar provided entertainment for the community with movies, plays, and comedy routines. I believe the building was demolished circa 1988 to make way for the current Oceanside library and civic center.
This theater is mentioned in James Agee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “A Death in the Family,” an autobiographical account of Agee’s childhood around the time his father died in a car accident in May 1916. At the beginning of the novel, Agee (Rufus Follett in the story) and his father go to see a Charlie Chaplin film at the Majestic, and he describes the auditorium as having “the exhilarating smell of stale tobacco, rank sweat, perfume and dirty drawers, while the piano played fast music”.
As part of a film studies class taken at El Camino High School in August 1990, I went on a field trip to La Paloma to see a movie (Disney’s “The Jungle Book”) and tour the theater. Some things I remember from the tour: viewing the dressing room that lies behind/beneath the stage, and walking up to the projection booth. The tour guide told our group that when the theater first opened a drunk man fell from the balcony and died, and that his ghost supposedly still haunts the place. Has anyone heard this story before? It may have been fabricated for the amusement of our little group of high school students.
TRICITY71, I believe that theater was called the Vista Drive-In. Here is a picture of it:
http://www.drive-ins.com/pictures/catvist001.jpg
A photo from around 1937:
View link
An article from the Oak Ridger (“Newcomer’s roots trace back to city behind the fence”, Sept. 16, 1997) lists David Ward as a manager of the theater, having moved to Oak Ridge from Paducah, KY.
From other information, it appears that Tri-County Cinema closed around the time the Tinseltown megaplex opened in December 1998 in Oak Ridge.
An article from the Oak Ridger (“Newcomer’s roots trace back to city behind the fence”, Sept. 16, 1997) lists David Ward as a manager of the theater, having moved to Oak Ridge from Paducah, KY.
From other information, it appears that Tri-County Cinema closed around the time the Tinseltown megaplex opened in December 1998 in Oak Ridge.
Here is an article about the church located in the strip mall:
View link
I saw a couple of movies at this theater in the 80s: “Ernest Goes to Camp” and “Police Academy 5.”
SeeingI, thanks for the memory about posters that covered the walls. I remembered seeing one of “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.” Another poster I remember seeing there was a movie ratings poster like this one (although it was probably before the NC-17 rating was used):
View link
I would love to see pictures of this theater when it was still in operation.
More research would be needed to find out if the Midway Drive-In was an earlier name for the Oceanside Drive-In.
The address listed for this theater was 1823 Mission Avenue. The MiraCosta College Community Learning Center (1831 Mission Ave.) is currently at that location next to an Arby’s restaurant. The theater was presumably torn down in the 70s (or late 60s?), and a Big Bear grocery store occupied the space for two or three decades.
This theater opened on 24 August 1966. I confirmed this by searching through microfilm records at the Oceanside Public Library. The films shown that first night were “Assault on a Queen” and “The Last of the Secret Agents?”. The theater’s original name was the Mission Drive-In Theater. Within the first year of operation the name had changed to the Mission San Luis Rey Drive-In.
I have started compiling photos and information about this theater on this blog site:
http://valleydrive-in.blogspot.com/
There are quite a few photos of the La Paloma at this site: http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/1979.html
There is one photo of the theater at this site: View link
There are several photos of this theater at this site: http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/1896.html
There are several photos of the Valley Drive-in here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2675.html
There are a few recent photos of the Sunshine Brooks here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/16646.html
There are several photos of the Star Theater here:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/25026.html
There are some current photos of the Crest Theater at this site:
http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/2670.html
Website of current owner:
http://www.carlsbadvillagetheatre.com/
Contains a few pictures of renovated auditorium.
From Drive-ins.com:
http://www.drive-ins.com/theater/catval3
I’m looking for a photo of this theater. If anyone has one, please contact me!
This theater was also known as the Mann Oceanside 8. It closed in February 2000. The seats reportedly were sold to Oceanside’s Sunshine Brooks theater. A Barnes and Noble store sits on the spot of the demolished theater.
One source says the theater was built by R.E. Struve.
This theater opened in 1924. It had an upstairs ballroom and a $10,000 Morton organ. The Palomar provided entertainment for the community with movies, plays, and comedy routines. I believe the building was demolished circa 1988 to make way for the current Oceanside library and civic center.