UA 8 Movies
362 W. El Norte Parkway,
Escondido,
CA
92026
362 W. El Norte Parkway,
Escondido,
CA
92026
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Functions: Gymnasium
Previous Names: UA Del Norte Plaza 8, Del Norte Plaza Movies
Nearby Theaters
The UA Del Norte Plaza 8 was opened on July 12, 1985. It was later taken over by an independent operator who closed it in April 2001. The theatre building still exists in the Del Norte Plaza, but has been heavily modified to be a L.A. Fitness.
Contributed by
Chris Flora
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
It was more than 1 screen, probably 8 or 10 or something like that.
Here’s an article with a mention of the Del Norte Plaza Movies 8 (UA 8 Movies).
http://retailtrafficmag.com/development/trends/retail_screen_gems/
“Edwards, a Newport Beach, Calif., company that merged into Regal Entertainment Group following bankruptcy, closed the Vineyard Twin Cinemas and six-screen Nordahl Road Cinema in Escondido, Calif., in 1998 after opening an 18-screener in nearby San Marcos. The San Marcos opening also prompted closure of the 15-year-old, independently run Del Norte Plaza Movies 8 cinema; when Del Norte management failed to find a new operator for the theater, it rented the gutted space to LA Fitness Clubs.”
Hi there, I worked at the UA8 in 1985 and was a high school friend of projectionist Dan Barron (he always promised to teach me how to run the projector, but never did!). I worked primarily as an usher and at concessions. I spent many hours learning “how to stand” and playing “Popcorn hockey” trying to see how far many tiles we could “shoot” a piece of popcorn on the floor. It took me years before I could tolerate the smell of popcorn again. I remember the following movies played at the UA8: Commando, Day of the Dead, Better Off Dead, Flesh + Blood, St. Elmo’s Fire, Teen Wolf, Fright Night, Weird Science and Re-Animator. I remember one midnight screening of Return of the Living Dead where about half the customers left in horror at the film. I must have watched each of those movies dozens of times (all in five-minute increments!) I remember playing the heck out of the arcade games in the lobby, especially Yie-Ar Karate, Kung Fu Master and Karate Champ. (Karate must have been big in 1985!) I haven’t been back to Escondido in years, and I’m sad to hear it’s long gone.
This opened on July 12th, 1985. Grand opening ad posted.