UA Horton Plaza 8
475 Horton Plaza,
San Diego,
CA
92101
475 Horton Plaza,
San Diego,
CA
92101
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Regal Entertainment Group, United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Functions: Office Space
Previous Names: UA Horton Plaza 7 Movies, UA Horton Plaza 14 Movies
Nearby Theaters
The UA Horton Plaza opened December 11, 1985 on the third level of Hahn’s groundbreaking Horton Plaza center, the focus of revitalized downtown San Diego. Its first manager was Paul Belshe, who ran this extremely busy place for over 12 years. The complex originally featured seven auditoriums.
The gorgeous, 600-seat fuchsia main theatre ran 70mm projection when that format was still prominent and was the first THX auditorium in San Diego proper. One of Horton Plaza’s smaller auditoriums once featured an early interactive theatre system: armrest controls allowed audience members to ‘vote’ on the course that they wanted the movie to take.
The original front of the building had a Neo-Art Deco style, three-sided marquee and a spire illuminated by spinning rainbow lights. Unfortunately, this entire theatre front was replaced when the complex added seven more screens in the late-1990’s. UA Horton Plaza was downsized from fourteen to eight screens in 2012. It was closed on January 27, 2019. The whole of the Horton Plaza centre is to be converted into office space.
Contributed by
Zubs
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
Looks like the end is near for the newer addition. According to the UT, the last remaining tenant of the old Robinsons store, Sam Goody, is closing. Once closed the mall will tear down the store (along with the 7 screen addition) for a new park. Once again this theater will be 7 screens, as it was originally.
They are now only running 8 (not 7) auditoriums (this has been the case for the past week and is the case for the next week). I would have thought the “new” addition was shut down, if not for the extra auditorium.
I was sad to find this theatre downsized as I refuse to patron that other theatre in the gaslamp. Because of exclusive bookings, it’s going to get harder to see the best films at Horton. For some time, I felt the theatre had very poor presentation, but over the last couple years, they have done a decent job. As many know, digital projection doesn’t guarantee a decent presentation. I watched Argo in theatre 2 two Saturdays ago and the presentation was absolutely superb. It’s my favorite screen in all of San Diego and I’m glad it will continue to run. With the newer seats, straight screens, smaller crowds, and great staff, this theatre is one of the best around. The only real hassle is the parking if you care to watch multiple films. I was truly sad to hear of this, especially with Gaslamp still operating 15…
Name has officially been changed to “UA Horton Plaza 8” on Fandango. So they must have kept the first new auditorium down the left hall.
Added pics from Comic Con 2016
This theater has closed:
San Diego, CA: UA Horton Plaza 8 Closed
Horton Plaza movie theater closes after 33-year run in downtown San Diego; more closures coming
The multiplex theater at Horton Plaza, a fixture at the downtown mall for more than three decades, have closed as the center prepares for its eventual makeover as an office campus.
No announcement of the impending closure was made by the United Artists Horton Plaza 8 theaters other than a note tacked to the window of the 7th floor theater venue advising patrons of the closing on Jan. 27. The operator of the multiplex, the Regal Entertainment Group, did not respond to telephone and email inquiries about the closing.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/tourism/sd-fi-horton-plaza-theaters-close-20190221-story.html
I worked with Paul Belshe at the UA 6 Chula Vista. We both moved over to Horton Plaza when it was opened.
It was a great place to work. We regularly got good bookings. The management and staff were great!
I loved working in the Horton Plaza mall. I left in September 1989, when I transferred to the UA Granada Hills.
I wasn’t there when they opened the extra theaters, later. Sadly, like all things United Artists, the theater is long gone.
Grand opening ad posted.
I saw many films at the Horton Plaza cinemas including Schindler’s List on opening day, Kundun, Apocalypse Now Redux, Saving Private Ryan, Thelma and Louise, A Bug’s Life and a few more. I remember they added additional screens and going up the escalator. It was convenient while I was downtown.