Cinema City Stadium Theatres
5635 E. La Palma Avenue,
Anaheim,
CA
92807
5635 E. La Palma Avenue,
Anaheim,
CA
92807
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First Regal (Festival) now this! A city with almost 200,000 AND NO MOVIE THEATER! 👿👿😡🤬
Back in the 90’s this theatre won a string of NATO showmanship awards and always seemed to be a finalist in movie marketing contests. At the time, Cinemapolis stood out amidst a rather sterile theatre landscape. When most of its' peers were still in the generic multiplex era, this theatre was experimenting with thematic decor, new technologies, showmanship, innovative marketing, etc. Unfortunately, it became somewhat of a forgotten/overlooked location once the other exhibitors caught up and began thinking outside the proverbial shoe-box.
In many ways, it was similar to what occurred with SoCal/Sanborn/The Movie Experience’s later Gardenwalk theatre; pioneering much of what was to come in the industry, only to end up being left behind when others adopted the same path. Sanborn was always an early adopter and innovator, but they never seemed to be able to maintain or truly exploit their head start.
I was shocked to find out that this theater suddenly closed in May of 2023. Tesla is apparently taking it over. Why can’t they build somewhere else in ANAHEIM HILLS?
In 1989, I lived in ANAHEIM HILLS. To see movies, we had to drive to either Brea or Orange when I was younger. Cinedome was usually the showcase theater where we saw big event films like “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
For us to get a new movie theater in our neck of the woods was exciting. The theater was built on the former Sutherland Lumber site.
The opening day attraction was “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” in 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo. I stood in line in the still unfinished dirty parking lot with a guy dressed as Indy a few people ahead of me.
As it was originally known as Cinemapolis, SoCal Cinemas/Sanborn did a great job in building a beautiful theater complex. The lobby wasn’t huge, but it was cool to see movie previews up on a screen. The original main auditorium was a wide body with separate seating sections and curtains covering the screen. The screen, though not huge like Cinedome or Edwards “Big” Newport, was good sized.
When “Last Crusade” rolled onto the screen, the audience clapped with joy and we were entertained. The presentation was spectacular.
Over the years, SoCal/Sanborn poured money into the complex by expanding it and adding a parking structure in the back near the railroad tracks. The complex was usually packed on a Friday or Saturday night.
The theater was kept very clean and stadium seating was added. Employees were friendly and courteous. Eventually digital projection was installed and the name of the theater changed.
I’m very sad to see one of the best theater complexes closed. This was one of the last 1980s era theaters surviving in Southern California. Lots of fond memories of the original Cinemapolis.
May 24th, 1989 grand opening ad in photo section
I was passing this area yesterday and swung by to catch a matinee of Red. The first three theatres are themed on the outside entrances, The Palace, Grand and Egyptian. I was in #2, The Grand. The other theatres are moderate size with nice screens and a nice seats. The Grand Theatre was great. It wasnt huge, maybe 300 seats max, but it was the detail that really set it apart. The huge wide red seats with leg room, the shooting stars on the ceiling, the nice and dim red stairway lighting.
Also, the people were so courteous. More then once did I see people ASKING if they wanted them to move so late comers would have two seats together.
The Screen was about 50 feet wide, side masked and curved. The presentation was great and the sound was fantastic. Overall a great experience, and for the price it is about the best deal one can find. ( I swear I only saw 11 auditoriums, but I guess there are 13.)
Though the theatre itself advertises its location as Anaheim Hills, Anaheim Hills is not a separate city but a section of the City of Anaheim, and the location of this theatre will not map correctly on Google Maps unless you change the name from Anaheim Hills to Anaheim.
The chain which opened this multiplex was Sanborn Theatres, operating as SoCal Cinemas. The theatre continues to present special movie events that are provided under the name The Movie Experience by Sanborn Theatres. However, the company which provided the seats for the recent reconstruction into a stadium-seating configuration says on a popup from this page that Cinema City is operated by Starlight Cinemas, and a sidebar includes an encomium from Daniel Akarakian, President of Akarakian Theatres, indicating that he runs the place. Confusion.
Cinemapolis opened with two of its ten auditoriums equipped for 70mm presentations. Since the renovation, it has advertised all-digital projection, so I’m guessing the 70mm equipment is gone. The original seating capacity of the largest theatre in the complex was 500, but the reconfiguration for stadium seating has probably reduced that.