Regency Theater
4940 Watt Avenue,
North Highlands,
CA
95660
4940 Watt Avenue,
North Highlands,
CA
95660
2 people
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Golden Corral buffet now in its place.
Started to show adult movies on May 20th, 1976 and became the Pussycat theatre on August 6th, 1976. Grand opening ad posted.
This opened on November 22nd, 1963 as the Coronet theatre. Grand opening ad posted.
I only attended the Regency once in my life before it closed but I remember when I was a young teenager if we were in the area and drove by it I would always wonder how cool it would be to see porn on a big screen. So when I turned 18, circa 2001, me and a friend of mine had to go check this place out. I remember when we pulled up to the place you had to park around back, as soon as you drive around back there were suspect looking guys just kind of hanging out in the shadows. When you walked in there was a snack bar in the very front, we were making jokes about what kind of person buys Goobers and Mr. Pibb then watches a porno? The guy working there was a good guy, he gave us a little history of the place and even let us go into the theater for a little bit. Sadly the theater wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, it was just a DVD playing on a projector. At the time I didn’t realize porn hadn’t been made on 35 mm for years. This is when I learned the reality of what a porno theater really is, just a bunch of horny dudes sitting in a dark theater. Yes, I’m not going to lie-when me and my friend were 18 we thought the porno theater would be a good place to find easy ladies, when we told this to the guy working the snack bar/ticket booth he chuckled at us and told us we were in the wrong place. After this we purchased some shrink wrapped “porno magazines” that ended up being swingers catalogs full of some of the most unattractive people you would ever see. There was a time in my early teens when my hormones were running wild the idea of a porno theater or a porno store was interesting but once I was 18 I had to see what these places were about and what I found was the people who hang out there can be disturbing and depressing.
The start of construction on the Coronet Theatre was announced in Boxoffice of February 11, 1963. It was to be the first unit in a six acre commercial project planned by Comstock Developers. It was to be a first-run house, and would be operated under lease by A.J. Longtin, operator of theaters at Madera, Coalinga, and Willows, and former operator of the Guild and Encore theaters in Sacramento.
One of the partners in Comstock Developers was architect Herbert E. Goodpastor, designer of the Coronet. Goodpastor also designed the Manor and Colonial theaters in Sacramento.
This theatre was torn down last month. There are pictures of the demolition here: View link
Status should be changed to closed/demolished.
This theater is being torn down and will be replaced by a family buffet restaurant. http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1485689.html
New book-length Pussycat Theatre history from the San Diego Reader:
View link
Looks like status should be changed to closed.
I believe this was the last (former Pussycat) adult theater in Northern CA. The Sunset in Hollywood was the last (former Pussycat) adult theater to close there. (It has been demolished since.)
From CBS News, January 21, 2007:
Former Adult Theater May Become Family Buffet
Instead of attracting naughty customers, this piece of property at Watt and Myrtle Avenues could soon be catering to hungry ones. With the Regency XXX Theater now out of business, potential buyers are making offers on the property. According to the Sacramento Business Journal, the Golden Corral buffet chain would like to put a family style restaurant here.
Some neighboring property owners are applauding the possibility. “They were good neighbors, but it’ll certainly be an improvement if the buffet moves in. It’d be good for North Highlands, and I think it would be good for our property,” says Jim Streng.
This neighborhood has been gradually changing over the past few years, with your typical Starbucks, Panda Express, and Jamba Juice explosion. People who live around here tell us they’re happy to see anything more family-friendly than a porn theater.
“It involves the children, and I happen to be a father myself,” says Jeffrey Thomas. “It just doesn’t make me feel too comfortable with something like that near so many youth.”
But one property owner who owns a nearby sushi establishment is not so happy about what’s going on here. The Golden Corral buffet reportedly wants this property too, which would force the sushi place to move. That restaurant owner says he’s heading to court to try and fight getting kicked out. Either way, the days of the Regency Cinema are done, but the Golden Corral may be facing a rocky road to Sacramento.
In the days past escorted ladies were admitted free….I was just told They don’t offer that, the manager needs a call to start that up again. It was the draw for us to go there. $10 a piece, a bit much to see a dvd video. They need to figure out how to draw in more patrons…
Five years ago the Regency was a great spot to beat the summer heat on a Sunday afternoon. Watch an XXX movie with your lady, all in the couples section. We have been in there when there was more couples than single guys. The single section across the isle was as interesting as the movie maybe more. They all jockey their seats, in hopes to get a peek at a couple that is watching the movie. I just called the The Regency, the couples section still there! Maybe some of us like minded couples, might like to beat the heat and enjoy a movie on a Sunday afternoon.
Located at 4940 Watt Avenue in the northern surburb of North Highlands, Sacramento. It is located close to the McClellan Air Force Base.
My wife and I were wondering if any couples have attended the theater? Or if anyone has seen couples there? If so, please tells us the best day/time to attend? Does anyone know how many seats are use at this theater? We do not like attending the store front mini theaters.
Currently shows video, as adult features are no longer produced on 35mm. The video projector is set up in one of the front rows, roped-off. Auditorium still looks pretty nice, don’t know if anything is still in the projection booth- sad to look up and see it dark! Outside doesn’t look much like a theater.
My Father owned the Pussycat chain. I am looking for one of the old marquees. You know..the white oval with the Ms. Pussycat silouette. If you have any information on any of the old marquees..Please get in touch with me.
Tim David
510 East Durant Ave.
Aspen, Colorado 81611
970.309.3991