Fiesta Twin Cinema
475 Fifth Avenue,
Chula Vista,
CA
91910
475 Fifth Avenue,
Chula Vista,
CA
91910
1 person
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I only went to this theater once. Sometime between November 1990 and maybe the middle of 1991. I cant' remember what movie I saw there, but I remember there being an awful buzzing noise coming out of one side of the screen, like the wires to the speakers were shot on that side. I was still a teenager with my parents, so I couldn’t just up and leave, but I sure wanted to! I think we were there because the tickets were SUPER cheap. I remember the building for the Farrell’s still being there, but it was definitely closed down.
Yeah, I didn’t think SanDiegoNative had it correct about it being gone by December 1989. My wife (of over 30 years) and I, went on some of our early dates there and saw The Doors a couple times Spring 1991.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Lingg were the latest operators of a Jerry Lewis Theater and the circuit presented a plaque to the at a benefit opening on January 19, 1972 with “Star Spangled Girl” and also “Paint Your Wagon.” The Mayor was there along with Miss Chula Vista. The theatre opened to the public on January 20, 1972 with “Girl” and “Paint” continuing operations on Screen One and “Man on the Wilderness” and Play Misty for Me" on Screen Two. Family fun was also next door in the the retro Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour and Old-Time Restaurant.
The Linggs found out that movie ownership under the Lewis Circuit was not the one-button automagic fun and profits that were promised. The chain tanked a year later and the Linggs moved on. After the Lewis Chain dissolved, new theatre owner, Bob Ortega, had a naming contest. He announced the winning entry was Showcase Cinema but likely was dissuaded from that name as it was in use elsewhere.
On September 20, 1973, he renamed as the Fiesta Twin Cinema with Screen One as a discount, sub-run dollar house showing “Billy Jack” and house two at “regular;ar prices” with “The Legend of Hell House.” The Fiesta got a new owner, Jerry Willits in 1974 who also began screening foreign films at midnight in early 1992.
The neighboring Farrell’s teamed up in the 1990s for dinner and movie concept long before that trend hit. But Farrell’s was taken over by the Scripps Hospital which forced sold the ice cream shop at the end of 1991 and razed thereafter. They also were the owners of the theater which closed later on April 26, 1993. Willits teamed up with Nickelodeon Cinemas of San Diego moving to a new 10-plex operation launching April 27, 1993. The theatre was razed on November 1-3, 1993.
I remember all the flicks I saw here! Hangar 18; The Blue Lagoon; Coast to Coast; The Black Hole; Earthbound; and Clash of the Titans.
Farrell’s was next door and in the lobby of Fiesta Twin, they shamelessly had an advertisement saying to come on over after your flick!
I remember going on a date to Farrell’s in December 1989 and seeing the empty lot where the theater once stood.
I know Jerry was shocked when R rated movies were booked in.
This opened as Jerry Lewis on January 6th, 1972. Later renamed Fiesta Twin.
Just another parking lot now.