The street address of the Star Theater is 402 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA. 92054
The architects were; Balch, Bryan, Perkins and Hutchason and construction was commenced in February 1956 for the owner/operator Fred Siegel. Seating capacity was given as 986 on one level.
The Star Theater opened on 18th August 1956 with the movie “Moby Dick” starring Gregory Peck.
The theatre boasted the largest marquee in San Diego County. It is 65 feet wide and 6 feet high. Above the marquee carrying out the name theme is a field of flashing and twinkling stars; for company the stars have an electrical waterfall cascading from 48 feet in the air.
The auditorium was fitted with surround speakers built into the ceiling of the theater, for the ‘then new’ stereophonic movies.
The Star Theater remained in the hands of the Siegel family until 1980 when they sold it to an outside developer. It changed hands several times eventually operating as an ‘Adult porno’ movie theatre from 1987. From April 1989, it returned to showing regular release movies again (although the first offering was the ‘R’ Rated “Skin Deep” and “Seige of Firebase Gloria”).
The Star finally closed to movies in September 2000 when the building had been purchased by the Poinsettia Center for the Performing Arts as a performing arts center.
It is now home to the Coast Kids Theatre and the Star Theatre Company. They have installed 446 plush new seats (the current capacity), new lightboard and sound systems. The stage is 33 feet deep, by 40 feet wide.
In an article published in the Theatre Historical Society of America quarterly magaizine ‘Marquee’ Vol 18 No 3 Third Quarter 1986>>>>>>> I quote;
‘Designed by R.E. Hall of New York and C.C. Hook of Charlotte, architects and engineers, the Carolina had 900 seats in the orchestra and 550 in the balcony. The design was generally Spanish Renaissance. The first note of this Spanish design came with the box office of wrought iron (In its press releases of the day Paramount-Publix heralded the Spanish design as one of most appropriate for Southern theatres.) the fixtures throughout the auditorium were also constructed from wrought iron as well as wood and leather. Spanish (and Italian) pottery, terra cotta jars, wrought iron lantern top torches old brass and copper jugs, reproductions of old paintings, mirrors and seemingly endless drapes made all parts of Charlotte’s Carolina a feast for the eyes.
Opened on 7th March 1927, this house became the centerpiece of the North Carolina operations of the Paramount-Publix chain. It served as such until the late 1960’s. It closed in 1978.'
From
‘Chronicling the Carolinas’ Theatres by Jim Lewallen and Douglas Gomery
Additional information;
The Carolina Theatre was equipped with a Barton theatre pipe organ which was opened by Faye Wilcox. In the 1950’s the organ was played by Clarence Etters who was musical director at radio station WBT & WBT-TV. After that the organ went silent.
The Fox Uptown Theatre opened on 29th December 1925 with a first-run feature film “Graustark” starring Norma Talmadge and Eugene O'Brien. On stage was Charlie Nelson and His Playboys.
The Skandia opened on 20th September 1923. A Wurlitzer 2 Manual/7 Rank theatre organ was installed in 1926, opened by Willard Ringstrand. The organ was later moved to Stockholm Town Hall.
The Skandia was re-named Look from 1968 and had its seating capacity reduced to 687.
My source of information is “American Theatres of Today” Vol 1 by R.W. Sexton & B.F. Betts Published 1927.
Pages 110 and 111 have architect plans and a photo of the auditorium side wall & balcony front looking back from the front of the orchestra level. Credited are R.E. Hall & Co Inc Architects and Engineers.
In the same publication R.E. Hall & Co Inc are credited as Architects and Engineers of the Florida Theater, Jacksonville, FL but in the case of the Eastman Theater, Rochester. NY other architects and associate architects take the credit and R.E. Hall & Co Inc are listed as being consulting engineers.
Bard’s Hill Street Theatre opened on the 12th October 1920. The architect was Albert C. Martin and a seating capacity of 700 is quoted, although this sounds more than there actually were. The opening bill was “The Fortune Teller” starring Marjorie Rambeau and a Buster Keaton comedy “One Week”.
Lou Bard and Fred Miller organised the Far West Theatres Company in 1924 and the Hill St house became part of the chain. It was renamed the Town Theatre for many years until being re-named the Pussycat in 1970.
The Art Theatre opened in June 1918. Art and foreign films were screen and large leather loge seats were located in the last six rows of the narrow auditorium. Western and actions films were presented in the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s with an admission price of 15c. From 1984 adult porno films were screened almost ‘non-stop’, the theatre only closing for two hours a day for cleaning.
The Monterey Theatre opened in the 1920’s, located on the corner of Whittier Blvd and S. Soto St, it presented English language films up until 1965. By the early 1980’s it was known as Teatro Blanquita presenting on the stage, ‘Adult Only’ burlesque shows direct from Mexico City.
The Las Palmas Theatre sustained serious damage in a fire early in March 1977. It was obviously repaired and continued to operate. It originally opened in the late 1930’s.
The San Carlos Theater in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles opened on 2nd July 1926. The architect was Lewis A. Smith (L.A. Smith). It was originally operated by West Coast Theaters.
The Manchester Theater was considered a major neighborhood house and for some years it was the ‘break-in’ house for Francheon & Marco ‘Ideas’ shows before they travelled downtown to the Loews State Theater, where they ‘opened’ minus any mistakes.
I have record of an opening date for the Manchester Theater being 30th January 1926.
The street address of the Star Theater is 402 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA. 92054
The architects were; Balch, Bryan, Perkins and Hutchason and construction was commenced in February 1956 for the owner/operator Fred Siegel. Seating capacity was given as 986 on one level.
The Star Theater opened on 18th August 1956 with the movie “Moby Dick” starring Gregory Peck.
The theatre boasted the largest marquee in San Diego County. It is 65 feet wide and 6 feet high. Above the marquee carrying out the name theme is a field of flashing and twinkling stars; for company the stars have an electrical waterfall cascading from 48 feet in the air.
The auditorium was fitted with surround speakers built into the ceiling of the theater, for the ‘then new’ stereophonic movies.
The Star Theater remained in the hands of the Siegel family until 1980 when they sold it to an outside developer. It changed hands several times eventually operating as an ‘Adult porno’ movie theatre from 1987. From April 1989, it returned to showing regular release movies again (although the first offering was the ‘R’ Rated “Skin Deep” and “Seige of Firebase Gloria”).
The Star finally closed to movies in September 2000 when the building had been purchased by the Poinsettia Center for the Performing Arts as a performing arts center.
It is now home to the Coast Kids Theatre and the Star Theatre Company. They have installed 446 plush new seats (the current capacity), new lightboard and sound systems. The stage is 33 feet deep, by 40 feet wide.
aproximate translation of the above:
I do not like Disney and the Teatro Orfeon because the price is too expensive for ordinary citizens.
The Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 gives a seating capacity for the Jewel Theatre as 650.
The Tujunga Theatre was built in 1937/38, opening in 1938.
It was later also known as the Hilltop Theatre, Rainbow Theatre and finally the Canyon Theatre.
When the Cobble Hill Cinemas was known as the Lido Theater in 1941, The Film Daily Yearbook for that year gives a seating capacity of 500.
The 1930 Film Daily Yearbook lists the seating capacity of the Parkside Theater as 590.
The Film Daily Yearbooks of 1941 and 1950 list the seating capacity as 581 and 598 respectively.
The York Theatre, located in the Highland Park district opened in 1923. It became a Korean Church in about 1985.
Any further information ie, Architect, Opening date (or year) would be very much appreciated. Thanks
In an article published in the Theatre Historical Society of America quarterly magaizine ‘Marquee’ Vol 18 No 3 Third Quarter 1986>>>>>>> I quote;
‘Designed by R.E. Hall of New York and C.C. Hook of Charlotte, architects and engineers, the Carolina had 900 seats in the orchestra and 550 in the balcony. The design was generally Spanish Renaissance. The first note of this Spanish design came with the box office of wrought iron (In its press releases of the day Paramount-Publix heralded the Spanish design as one of most appropriate for Southern theatres.) the fixtures throughout the auditorium were also constructed from wrought iron as well as wood and leather. Spanish (and Italian) pottery, terra cotta jars, wrought iron lantern top torches old brass and copper jugs, reproductions of old paintings, mirrors and seemingly endless drapes made all parts of Charlotte’s Carolina a feast for the eyes.
Opened on 7th March 1927, this house became the centerpiece of the North Carolina operations of the Paramount-Publix chain. It served as such until the late 1960’s. It closed in 1978.'
From
‘Chronicling the Carolinas’ Theatres by Jim Lewallen and Douglas Gomery
Additional information;
The Carolina Theatre was equipped with a Barton theatre pipe organ which was opened by Faye Wilcox. In the 1950’s the organ was played by Clarence Etters who was musical director at radio station WBT & WBT-TV. After that the organ went silent.
The Town Theatre closed (as the Pussycat) in September 1985.
The Oriental Theatre (former Granada Theatre) closed in January 1985.
The Fox Uptown Theatre opened on 29th December 1925 with a first-run feature film “Graustark” starring Norma Talmadge and Eugene O'Brien. On stage was Charlie Nelson and His Playboys.
Sorry getting cross-eyed here staring at the screen The Finsbury Pary Astoria (Rainbow Theatre) link should be /theaters/1243/
The Skandia opened on 20th September 1923. A Wurlitzer 2 Manual/7 Rank theatre organ was installed in 1926, opened by Willard Ringstrand. The organ was later moved to Stockholm Town Hall.
The Skandia was re-named Look from 1968 and had its seating capacity reduced to 687.
Patsy:
My source of information is “American Theatres of Today” Vol 1 by R.W. Sexton & B.F. Betts Published 1927.
Pages 110 and 111 have architect plans and a photo of the auditorium side wall & balcony front looking back from the front of the orchestra level. Credited are R.E. Hall & Co Inc Architects and Engineers.
In the same publication R.E. Hall & Co Inc are credited as Architects and Engineers of the Florida Theater, Jacksonville, FL but in the case of the Eastman Theater, Rochester. NY other architects and associate architects take the credit and R.E. Hall & Co Inc are listed as being consulting engineers.
Bard’s Hill Street Theatre opened on the 12th October 1920. The architect was Albert C. Martin and a seating capacity of 700 is quoted, although this sounds more than there actually were. The opening bill was “The Fortune Teller” starring Marjorie Rambeau and a Buster Keaton comedy “One Week”.
Lou Bard and Fred Miller organised the Far West Theatres Company in 1924 and the Hill St house became part of the chain. It was renamed the Town Theatre for many years until being re-named the Pussycat in 1970.
The Art Theatre opened in June 1918. Art and foreign films were screen and large leather loge seats were located in the last six rows of the narrow auditorium. Western and actions films were presented in the 1930’s, 1940’s and 1950’s with an admission price of 15c. From 1984 adult porno films were screened almost ‘non-stop’, the theatre only closing for two hours a day for cleaning.
The Monterey Theatre opened in the 1920’s, located on the corner of Whittier Blvd and S. Soto St, it presented English language films up until 1965. By the early 1980’s it was known as Teatro Blanquita presenting on the stage, ‘Adult Only’ burlesque shows direct from Mexico City.
The Highland Theater opened on 5th March 1925 and Norma Shearer made a personal appearance.
The Las Palmas Theatre sustained serious damage in a fire early in March 1977. It was obviously repaired and continued to operate. It originally opened in the late 1930’s.
The Apollo Theater (later Star Theatre) was burnt out by fire in December 1976. It dated from the First World War period.
The San Carlos Theater in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles opened on 2nd July 1926. The architect was Lewis A. Smith (L.A. Smith). It was originally operated by West Coast Theaters.
The Belmont Theater opened on 2nd March 1926. For a several years it operated as a legit stage theatre before returning to movies.
The Manchester Theater was considered a major neighborhood house and for some years it was the ‘break-in’ house for Francheon & Marco ‘Ideas’ shows before they travelled downtown to the Loews State Theater, where they ‘opened’ minus any mistakes.
I have record of an opening date for the Manchester Theater being 30th January 1926.