Magic Lantern Theater

960 Embarcadero del Norte,
Isla Vista, CA 93117

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Additional Info

Operated by: Metropolitan Theatres

Functions: Movies

Previous Names: Isla Vista Theater

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News About This Theater

Jun 18, 2010 — "Jaws"... Happy 35th!
May 14, 2010 — Please Post Today, May 14 --- "Jaws," Happy 35th

A neighborhood theater in a 1960’s style. The Magic Lantern Theater was opened on November 14, 1965. In the 1980’s, the Magic Lantern Theater became a second run house, and was closed on April 23, 1984 and was later purchased by the University of California Santa Barbara.

Contributed by Scott Padrick

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

MagicLantern on May 24, 2004 at 12:15 pm

Opened in 1966, the Magic Lantern Theatre (at 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista), operated as such through 1985, at which point Metropolitan sold it to UCSB, who renamed it the Isla Vista Theatre. It’s very much open these days, as the Magic Lantern:

http://www.ia.ucsb.edu/pa/Display.aspx?PKey=1120

JackGen on April 13, 2006 at 11:56 pm

i remember attending a screening at the magic lantern, when jim babb ran this theater, soon after that-1969- he went to the cinema theater in hollywood.

bojeta on July 18, 2006 at 1:13 am

When I was in High School, the Magic Lantern was the place to go see surf flicks, and cult flicks like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I can’t remember ever seeing a new release there even though it was the closest theatre to my home (University Village) and I lived there when the theatre opened. Whew! Isla Vista is really a pretty mellow place compared to the hippy days. I remember watching the Bank of America burn twice not far from the Magic Lantern. You guys remember when the streets and sidewalks were literally covered in graffiti? All the “Secret Police Get out of IV” stencils, People’s Park, TP Village etc. What a strange place for a kid to grow up.

TLSLOEWS on February 19, 2010 at 8:47 pm

Would like to see some photos,cool name for a theatre.

MagicLantern on February 13, 2011 at 2:14 pm

525 and 148 seats in both auditoriums – apparently it’s been twinned – View link