As a friend of historical preservation, you may be aware that the San Clemente City Council recently adopted an ordinance to name about 10% of the community’s most important historical resources as “landmarks.” This is a wonderful development!
UNFORTUNATELY, however, it appears that some members of the City Council are now thinking about excluding some of the City’s most precious icons from the Landmarks List!
By excluding buildings such as the Miramar Theater, the Casino (Sebastian’s), the Beachcomber Motel and other obvious landmarks from the official Landmarks List, the Council would send a message that they have little problem seeing these iconic structures overshadowed, moved or even DEMOLISHED! (A relocation permit is currently pending on the Casino, and a DEMOLITION PERMIT is currently pending on the Miramar Theater.)
Do you want to see the Miramar Theater building or other landmark buildings demolished?
Please come to the public hearing on October 2 at 7 p.m. at City Hall (100 Avenida Presidio). We need to let the Council know we expect them to do the right thing, and not to exclude our most precious historic landmarks from the city’s official Landmarks List.
ADDITIONALLY, please send your City Councilmembers a quick email requesting that they save San Clemente’s heritage and designate all 25 landmarks recommended by their own Landmarks Task Force and unanimously approved by their own Planning Commission. Below are email addresses of each Councilmember, or you can email them all at once.
The fight for the Miramar theater and its saving is an Iconic struggle that is not only about this specific building of local historical value…It is in fact a symbol of what we all on here strive to accomplish in our own ways…and that is to spot light that if you forget where you came from you are doomed to not know where your going!
PLEASE TAKE THIS CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! WE NEED YOUR HELP!
A community that would look the other way as a historic part of its past is subject to the brutal abuse of the $elfish, $elf $erving intents of a few is no better than family members who allow an older member of their group to be allowed to wither and die in front of their own eyes while they all are too busy finding excuses for why its not their responsibility to care for them.
Please encourage all you know on here or elsewhere to voice their opinions NOW, and if possible to do so by the deadline for public input date of the 17th of AUG. (thats this coming Thursday!!).
ALL PLEASE SHOULD E-MAIL THEIR COMMENTS AND WISHES / DEMANDS TO SAVE THE MIRAMAR THEATER TO THE FOLLOWING E_MAIL ADDRESS NOW!!!!
Your Subject Line should be something like: Save the Miramar
Sincerely,
Raad Ghantous
Miramar Committe Chair
San Clemente Historical Society
Thank you for your comments..I just saw them now but I was very moved and needed to say a heartfelt THANK YOU! The fight for the Miramar theater and its saving is an Iconic struggle that is not only about this specific building of local historical value…It is in fact a symbol of what we all on here strive to accomplish in our own ways…and that is to spot light that if you forget where you came from you are doomed to not know where your going!
A community that would look the other way as a historic part of its past is subject to the brutal abuse of the $elfish, $elf $erving intents of a few is no better than family members who allow an older member of their group to be allowed to wither and die in front of their own eyes while they all are too busy finding excusses for why its not their responsibility to care for them.
Please encourage all you know on here to voice their opinions, and if possible to do so by the deadline for public input date of the 17th of AUG. (thats this coming Thursday!!).
ALL PLEASE SHOULD E-MAIL THEIR COMMENTS AND WISHES / DEMANDS TO SAVE THE MIRAMAR THEATER TO THE FOLLOWING E_MAIL ADDRESS NOW!!!!
Your Subject Line should be something like: Save the Miramar
Sincerely,
Raad Ghantous
Miramar Committe Chair
San Clemente Historical Society
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
~Margaret Meed
I would like to thank you all in advance for any and all actions you might take in the effort to help save this Iconic Building!
I would humbly request that if you do indeed send in any written comments to the city of San Clemente that you perhaps take a moment and copy me on it so we can acknowledge it and share it with our membership at the San Clemente Historical Society.
My e-mail is —>
I again would like to extend the heart felt thanks of the whole board as well as the local community at large to all of you for caring enough to help and have your voices heard…
My feeling is we might have a good chance to make a strong cae to save the Miramar and I again urge everyone who has ever felt frustrated or angered by some irresponsible development that has threatened and demolished a Historical asset to speak up LOUDLY! Jim is the point of collection to all the feedback that we can muster and as such is executing his civic duties fully. I know him personaly and would like to make sure that when voicing your comments to make sure to address them to the City and the leadership of the city council that is being asked to do the right thing! and not target Jim specificly.. I know I don’t need to even say that but I to be fair and keep the effectivness of oue joint comments on the most productive track in saving the Miramar I guess I thought I would mention it :)
If anyone would like any talking points please do not hesitate to ask me..
Thanks again to all in this exceptional community of theater lovers for helping us in San Clemente with this most worthy cause. If ever in town pop by the museum atop Avenida Del Mar and make yur self know we would love to have the opportunity to thank you in person indeed!
There are a few pictures at the time of its opening yes. Can anyone tell me how to post some images on here? At one point its tower was even adorned with a mural of what looked like a Emperial Russion or easter european coat of arms down to the twin eagles and the crown!
I even understand that currently the theater even in its neglected state, shame on the recent and current owners!! That even now there are still carved beams and painted panels that are restoarable inside!
AGAIN PLEASE EVERYONE SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND DEMANDS FOR THIS THEATER TO BE SAVED BY THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE AUTHORITIES WHO ULTIMETLY WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS SURVIVAL OR SHAMEFULL DEMOLITION THROUGH NEGLECT!
Your e-mails should go to the City Planner in charge Jim Pechous at:
at —>
COMPOSE YOUR SHORT EMAIL RIGHT NOW to save the Miramar Theater!
Joe,
We got hold of the SwB&C articles at last! They basicly showed two important facts:
1) there was an initial request for bids for construction of this specific theater which outlined the bids as needed for a “reinforced concrete structure, red tile roofs, and concrete floors”. Given there has been a systematic attempt to claim the building was built of uninforced masonary This fact alone was key in dispelling that falsehood! Also a month later the same magazine asked for resubmission of bids under the same parameters and then a month after that showed and listed the awarding of the contract to Strang Bros. Construction ( a local contractor in San Clemente, who had built most of the key buildings in the town for the founder Ole Hanson)…and again the award acknowledgment defined the building to be built as being reinforced concrete structure.
2) The same issues of the SwB&C magazine also listed other projects by the same architectural / engineering firm of Architect Clifford .A. Balch and engineer Floyd Stanberry and asked for bids from construction companies as well for those other theaters….All of them listed the desired structure to be designed as “Reinforced Conrete structure” and as such shows a pattern od structural design that was advocated by the firm in their projects overall at the time!
We submited this information and other information as the Historical Society’s input at the early stages of an E.I.R scoping meeting last week where the city hired consultant to conduct the E.I.R needed prior to approval of the demolition permit being requested by the current owner.
Keep your fingers crossed they actually were interested of hearing facts over fiction!
Can I ask you a BIG favor in trying to locate and perhaps scan or get a copy of the following from the LA Library. I am not sure if there is any useful information in it but it is a lead and I just have not been able to get up there and look it up myself but if it proves to be as promising as it sounds it could be good background on the Miramar we would want to have.
Southwest Builder and Contractor, the july 2, 1937 edition
I think that the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles has Southwest Builder on microfiche.
I might have it the other way around good point… can we possibly qualify the connection better in a authorative way? I am really trying to dig up as much connectivity or facts on the theater? the people behind it? the operating company? etc..
So any help at all is worth while..
I would also like to attach a old picture I found predating the opening of the theater for business in 1938 that shows a fancy coat of arm crest painted larger than life on on side of the towers stucco as well as what looks like a painted boarder at the terra cotta line of the main box part of the facility. I would love to find out more about the crest and the possible history or significance of it. Is it something related to the theater chain perhaps?
Can anyone suggest how I can post that image on here?
The Architect for this Theater was C.A.Balch and the Architectural firm was Balch & Stanberry. He worked in the offices of L.A. Smith ( L.A. Smith had been mentored by Architect S. Charles Lee the most renowned Architect for Movie palaces and Theaters).
In the early 1920s, when Smith died Balch forming his own firm with engineer Floyd Stanberry completed many of the theatres on which Smith had been working and many more of his own after that.
Balch specialized in theatres, most designed under his own firm’s credentials. (There is only one record to a non-theater project ever designed by him.)
Built in 1938 by Strang Bros.
– General contractors for most of Ole Hanson’s
“Spanish Village by the Sea†Vision!
– Was built at a cost of $75,000 !!
– Had an opening day count of 682 seats
Designed by Architect Clifford .A. Balch
– Designed with stressing excellent sound, comfortable seats, and air conditioning/heating system!
– Seats were placed in rows further apart “than any other theater in southern California†for comfort.
– Featured Loge seating! A luxury at the time for an additional 5cent charge!
– Designed to have the very best possible film Projection.
– The Auditorium featured sound absorbent plaster.
Auditorium was designed with excellent acoustical qualities.
Featured 2 Simplex projectors with peerless arcs & the latest RCA sound apparatus.
Originally Operated by Pacific States Theaters Inc.
– the project was spearheaded by the partnership that had previously built up and later sold what became known as the Fox West Coast Theater chain
Originally named “The San Clemente Theaterâ€
Double Features at 35cents! for Gala Opening day Thursday May 12th
– Deanna Durbin in “Mad about musicâ€
& Alice Brady in “Good-bye Broadwayâ€
Many prominent celebrities in the motion picture and business circles were rumored in attendance.
Operated as a movie theater till 1984
Listed on the City of San Clemente’s Designated Historical Structures List in 1996
Was used to Premier Surf movies and showcase bands in the late 80’s
Was sold out over two days in 1989 when it featured Jeff Neu’s “San Clemente Locals†surf movie.
If you are interested in helping in the on going efforts by the San Clemente Historical Society to insure against all odds that the Miramar Theater doesn’t fall victom to the wrecking ball of “Demolition by Neglect”…please e-mail the Miramar Committee at —> now!
Thank you in advance for your continuing support, interest and help in the protection of this historic icon.
Joe,
Can you point me to where you found the information or maybe even scan and send it to me?
Regards and thanks,
Raad
Philbert,
I cant access the article. Could you please cut and paste it here?
Thanks,
Raad
!!! DEAR FRIENDS OF THE MIRAMAR !!!
WE NEED YOU OCTOBER 2 !
As a friend of historical preservation, you may be aware that the San Clemente City Council recently adopted an ordinance to name about 10% of the community’s most important historical resources as “landmarks.” This is a wonderful development!
UNFORTUNATELY, however, it appears that some members of the City Council are now thinking about excluding some of the City’s most precious icons from the Landmarks List!
By excluding buildings such as the Miramar Theater, the Casino (Sebastian’s), the Beachcomber Motel and other obvious landmarks from the official Landmarks List, the Council would send a message that they have little problem seeing these iconic structures overshadowed, moved or even DEMOLISHED! (A relocation permit is currently pending on the Casino, and a DEMOLITION PERMIT is currently pending on the Miramar Theater.)
Do you want to see the Miramar Theater building or other landmark buildings demolished?
Please come to the public hearing on October 2 at 7 p.m. at City Hall (100 Avenida Presidio). We need to let the Council know we expect them to do the right thing, and not to exclude our most precious historic landmarks from the city’s official Landmarks List.
ADDITIONALLY, please send your City Councilmembers a quick email requesting that they save San Clemente’s heritage and designate all 25 landmarks recommended by their own Landmarks Task Force and unanimously approved by their own Planning Commission. Below are email addresses of each Councilmember, or you can email them all at once.
SEE YOU OCTOBER 2 ! (And wear something red!)
Councilmember email addresses:
Friends of the Miramar Theater:
THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER AND WE NEED ALL YOUR HELP!
Thank you all for your comments so far..
The fight for the Miramar theater and its saving is an Iconic struggle that is not only about this specific building of local historical value…It is in fact a symbol of what we all on here strive to accomplish in our own ways…and that is to spot light that if you forget where you came from you are doomed to not know where your going!
PLEASE TAKE THIS CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! WE NEED YOUR HELP!
A community that would look the other way as a historic part of its past is subject to the brutal abuse of the $elfish, $elf $erving intents of a few is no better than family members who allow an older member of their group to be allowed to wither and die in front of their own eyes while they all are too busy finding excuses for why its not their responsibility to care for them.
Please encourage all you know on here or elsewhere to voice their opinions NOW, and if possible to do so by the deadline for public input date of the 17th of AUG. (thats this coming Thursday!!).
ALL PLEASE SHOULD E-MAIL THEIR COMMENTS AND WISHES / DEMANDS TO SAVE THE MIRAMAR THEATER TO THE FOLLOWING E_MAIL ADDRESS NOW!!!!
Your Subject Line should be something like: Save the Miramar
Sincerely,
Raad Ghantous
Miramar Committe Chair
San Clemente Historical Society
Joel,
Thank you for your comments..I just saw them now but I was very moved and needed to say a heartfelt THANK YOU! The fight for the Miramar theater and its saving is an Iconic struggle that is not only about this specific building of local historical value…It is in fact a symbol of what we all on here strive to accomplish in our own ways…and that is to spot light that if you forget where you came from you are doomed to not know where your going!
A community that would look the other way as a historic part of its past is subject to the brutal abuse of the $elfish, $elf $erving intents of a few is no better than family members who allow an older member of their group to be allowed to wither and die in front of their own eyes while they all are too busy finding excusses for why its not their responsibility to care for them.
Please encourage all you know on here to voice their opinions, and if possible to do so by the deadline for public input date of the 17th of AUG. (thats this coming Thursday!!).
ALL PLEASE SHOULD E-MAIL THEIR COMMENTS AND WISHES / DEMANDS TO SAVE THE MIRAMAR THEATER TO THE FOLLOWING E_MAIL ADDRESS NOW!!!!
Your Subject Line should be something like: Save the Miramar
Sincerely,
Raad Ghantous
Miramar Committe Chair
San Clemente Historical Society
Friends of the Miramar Theater:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
~Margaret Meed
I would like to thank you all in advance for any and all actions you might take in the effort to help save this Iconic Building!
I would humbly request that if you do indeed send in any written comments to the city of San Clemente that you perhaps take a moment and copy me on it so we can acknowledge it and share it with our membership at the San Clemente Historical Society.
My e-mail is —>
I again would like to extend the heart felt thanks of the whole board as well as the local community at large to all of you for caring enough to help and have your voices heard…
Warmest regards,
Raad
Thank you so much Patsy!
My feeling is we might have a good chance to make a strong cae to save the Miramar and I again urge everyone who has ever felt frustrated or angered by some irresponsible development that has threatened and demolished a Historical asset to speak up LOUDLY! Jim is the point of collection to all the feedback that we can muster and as such is executing his civic duties fully. I know him personaly and would like to make sure that when voicing your comments to make sure to address them to the City and the leadership of the city council that is being asked to do the right thing! and not target Jim specificly.. I know I don’t need to even say that but I to be fair and keep the effectivness of oue joint comments on the most productive track in saving the Miramar I guess I thought I would mention it :)
If anyone would like any talking points please do not hesitate to ask me..
Thanks again to all in this exceptional community of theater lovers for helping us in San Clemente with this most worthy cause. If ever in town pop by the museum atop Avenida Del Mar and make yur self know we would love to have the opportunity to thank you in person indeed!
Raad
There are a few pictures at the time of its opening yes. Can anyone tell me how to post some images on here? At one point its tower was even adorned with a mural of what looked like a Emperial Russion or easter european coat of arms down to the twin eagles and the crown!
I even understand that currently the theater even in its neglected state, shame on the recent and current owners!! That even now there are still carved beams and painted panels that are restoarable inside!
AGAIN PLEASE EVERYONE SEND YOUR COMMENTS AND DEMANDS FOR THIS THEATER TO BE SAVED BY THE CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE AUTHORITIES WHO ULTIMETLY WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS SURVIVAL OR SHAMEFULL DEMOLITION THROUGH NEGLECT!
Your e-mails should go to the City Planner in charge Jim Pechous at:
at —>
COMPOSE YOUR SHORT EMAIL RIGHT NOW to save the Miramar Theater!
Joe,
We got hold of the SwB&C articles at last! They basicly showed two important facts:
1) there was an initial request for bids for construction of this specific theater which outlined the bids as needed for a “reinforced concrete structure, red tile roofs, and concrete floors”. Given there has been a systematic attempt to claim the building was built of uninforced masonary This fact alone was key in dispelling that falsehood! Also a month later the same magazine asked for resubmission of bids under the same parameters and then a month after that showed and listed the awarding of the contract to Strang Bros. Construction ( a local contractor in San Clemente, who had built most of the key buildings in the town for the founder Ole Hanson)…and again the award acknowledgment defined the building to be built as being reinforced concrete structure.
2) The same issues of the SwB&C magazine also listed other projects by the same architectural / engineering firm of Architect Clifford .A. Balch and engineer Floyd Stanberry and asked for bids from construction companies as well for those other theaters….All of them listed the desired structure to be designed as “Reinforced Conrete structure” and as such shows a pattern od structural design that was advocated by the firm in their projects overall at the time!
We submited this information and other information as the Historical Society’s input at the early stages of an E.I.R scoping meeting last week where the city hired consultant to conduct the E.I.R needed prior to approval of the demolition permit being requested by the current owner.
Keep your fingers crossed they actually were interested of hearing facts over fiction!
Stay tuned……
Raad
Joe,
Can I ask you a BIG favor in trying to locate and perhaps scan or get a copy of the following from the LA Library. I am not sure if there is any useful information in it but it is a lead and I just have not been able to get up there and look it up myself but if it proves to be as promising as it sounds it could be good background on the Miramar we would want to have.
Southwest Builder and Contractor, the july 2, 1937 edition
I think that the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles has Southwest Builder on microfiche.
Thanks a lot for your continuing help..
Raad
Joe,
Thanks for the suggestion. Here is the link on Webshots:
View link
The image I was talking about is titled “crest”
Let me know your thoughts,
Raad
NOTE: Most of the images copyrighted to the San Clemente Historical Society.
I might have it the other way around good point… can we possibly qualify the connection better in a authorative way? I am really trying to dig up as much connectivity or facts on the theater? the people behind it? the operating company? etc..
So any help at all is worth while..
I would also like to attach a old picture I found predating the opening of the theater for business in 1938 that shows a fancy coat of arm crest painted larger than life on on side of the towers stucco as well as what looks like a painted boarder at the terra cotta line of the main box part of the facility. I would love to find out more about the crest and the possible history or significance of it. Is it something related to the theater chain perhaps?
Can anyone suggest how I can post that image on here?
Raad Ghantous
(949) 492-1872
The Architect for this Theater was C.A.Balch and the Architectural firm was Balch & Stanberry. He worked in the offices of L.A. Smith ( L.A. Smith had been mentored by Architect S. Charles Lee the most renowned Architect for Movie palaces and Theaters).
In the early 1920s, when Smith died Balch forming his own firm with engineer Floyd Stanberry completed many of the theatres on which Smith had been working and many more of his own after that.
Balch specialized in theatres, most designed under his own firm’s credentials. (There is only one record to a non-theater project ever designed by him.)
Built in 1938 by Strang Bros.
– General contractors for most of Ole Hanson’s
“Spanish Village by the Sea†Vision!
– Was built at a cost of $75,000 !!
– Had an opening day count of 682 seats
Designed by Architect Clifford .A. Balch
– Designed with stressing excellent sound, comfortable seats, and air conditioning/heating system!
– Seats were placed in rows further apart “than any other theater in southern California†for comfort.
– Featured Loge seating! A luxury at the time for an additional 5cent charge!
– Designed to have the very best possible film Projection.
– The Auditorium featured sound absorbent plaster.
Originally Operated by Pacific States Theaters Inc.
– the project was spearheaded by the partnership that had previously built up and later sold what became known as the Fox West Coast Theater chain
Originally named “The San Clemente Theaterâ€
Double Features at 35cents! for Gala Opening day Thursday May 12th
– Deanna Durbin in “Mad about musicâ€
& Alice Brady in “Good-bye Broadwayâ€
Operated as a movie theater till 1984
Listed on the City of San Clemente’s Designated Historical Structures List in 1996
Was used to Premier Surf movies and showcase bands in the late 80’s
Was sold out over two days in 1989 when it featured Jeff Neu’s “San Clemente Locals†surf movie.
CALL FOR ALL INTERESTED !!
If you are interested in helping in the on going efforts by the San Clemente Historical Society to insure against all odds that the Miramar Theater doesn’t fall victom to the wrecking ball of “Demolition by Neglect”…please e-mail the Miramar Committee at —> now!
Thank you in advance for your continuing support, interest and help in the protection of this historic icon.