New Port Theatre
2905 East Coast Highway,
Corona Del Mar,
CA
92625
2905 East Coast Highway,
Corona Del Mar,
CA
92625
13 people
favorited this theater
The Port Theatre opened on September 4, 1949 and has a unique nautical exterior fitting to its location close to the Pacific Ocean. It had been an independent for most of its life, playing first-run movies. From 1989 until its closing on August 20, 1998, it was operated by Landmark Theatres as an art house.
The Port Theatre had a local and loyal customer base but unfortunately it sits at the side of busy Pacific Coast Highway and has no off-street parking to make it convenient for out-of-area patrons. To bring the theater back, a heavy investment would be required including the addition of an air conditioning system and repair of the roof. Its large balcony seats 350. In 2007, a permit for demolition was granted.
The Port Theatre is located a few miles from the historic Lido Theatre and Balboa Theatre in Newport Beach. An investor saw the potential of the Port Theatre and it was renovated and reopened in fall of 2012 as the New Port Theatre.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 34 comments)
It just looks like so many theatres built near the Ocean.East or West coast.
A photo from November 2010:
View link
According to a a newsletter recently sent by the councilwoman who represents the Corona Del Mar area, the seismic retrofitting and other improvements are progressing and that she expects the theater to reopen by the end of 2011: View link
Great that councilwoman Gardner made the effort to keep everyone informed and the Port in the news; not so great that she throws in the “count me out” and “I’d just as soon watch it on my tv” comments, in reference to food service being added.
The new facade looks like soundproofing material,well at least they are fixing it up.
L.A. Times article
Port Theater in Corona del Mar will reopen after 14 years
Glad to hear it’s being used again. It’s in such a beautiful area. I used to pass this theatre on the way to Laguna Beach in the 90’s.
Reopened now as a luxury cinema: http://portnewport.com/calendar/
I’ll be there for the Lord of the Rings marathon… can’t wait… loved this theater back in the day… thrilled to have it back!
interesting detail,
when the theater closed in 1998, “Rosebud” was lettered on the Marquise, it remained there for many years. The theater is now re opened, newly remodeled, and serving food, with the movies. I have not been there since it re opened.