Niguel Theatre
32844 Crown Valley Parkway,
Dana Point,
CA
92629
32844 Crown Valley Parkway,
Dana Point,
CA
92629
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Pacific Theatres
Architects: Ricardo A. Nicol
Styles: Spanish Colonial
Nearby Theaters
No theaters found within 30 miles
Opened onJune 9, 1965 with Gregory Peck in “Mirage”. The Niguel Theatre was a Spanish themed single screen venue, located near the borders of Dana Point and Laguna Beach, adjacent to the Pacific Coast Highway.
Originally owned by the family of actor James Cagney (an early investor in Dana Point realty), the venue was sold to Pacific Theatres in the late-1970’s and closed in 1980. The theatre has since been razed and the property redeveloped in to the high end strip mall, Monarch Bay Plaza.
Contributed by
CTCrouch
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
When the theatre was operated by Pacific Theatre chain. The theatre would have problems when the pacific ocean would over run the Pacific Coast Highway and flood the front of the theatre.
As for the flooding mentioned earlier, I believe you are thinking of another theatre (perhaps, the Laguna Beach South Coast). The Niguel was located well above sea level and not directly adjascent to the ocean (a large gated community has stood on the ocean side of PCH for quite some time). The Niguel’s flooding and water damage issues were the result of the theatre being built at the base of a hillside; i.e. drainage problems during heavy rains. While the theatre is long gone, Monarch Bay Plaza still stands, near the corner of Crown Valley and PCH.
Boxoffice of April 12, 1965, reported that the Niguel Theatre, to be operated by South Coast Theatres, would have 478 seats. The project was designed by San Clemente architect Ricardo A. Nicol.
This was a great little theater to go to since it wasn’t very busy. I lived in Laguna Beach and saw Swashbuckler and Zulu Dawn (3 times) there.
The Niguel Theater was located next door to a great burger stand called “Duke’s on the Pacific Coast Highway. Good burgers and fries as I recall. In 1978 I saw "Big Wednesday” at the Niguel. In one of the scenes the William Katt character talks about “surfing Laguna” and a big cry came from the audience in response.
Architect Ricardo A. Nicol.