After remaining vacant for months, Sonora Cinemas Phoenix has been taken over by America Cinemas, which operates Spanish language theaters in various cities in Texas. Renovations are underway and I believe they are planning to open later in August 2023 or September. I spoke with construction workers yesterday and they weren’t sure.
The name is pronounced BAR-duh-von. I grew up in Poughkeepsie in the 1950s. Many fond memories of the Bardavon — also of the Colonial, the Liberty (later renamed the Midtown), the Stratford, the Juliet. All distant memories now, long gone.
I remember that at the Bardavon, the refreshment stand was originally out in the lobby, near the entrance. Sometime in the late 1950s/early 1960s they renovated the place and moved the refreshment stand inside, at the back of the auditorium.
The balcony was usually not open unless the orchestra seats were sold out for a blockbuster movie. It was always a treat to be able to go sit up in the balcony.
They recently upgraded their seats. Seating in one auditorium includes a luxury section; that auditorium also has reserved seating (hate it!). The other two have upgraded seats but no luxury seating and no reserved seats (yippee!). The place is clean, good video and audio quality, clean rest rooms.
Visited again a few days ago. Despite multiple complaints from patrons, they still have the assigned seating policy. A total waste in a theater whose auditoriums are never full. And they send someone around to check to see that everyone is in their assigned seats. Hey, where are we, study hall in high school? In my previous comment I mentioned that the drinking fountains were out of order, and that only one gave out just a trickle of water. On this visit none of them worked at all! In the auditorium where my film was showing, the work lights were left on well into the start of the program — I had to go out and ask someone to turn them off. I would have done it myself but the switch is one of those key-activated switches and nothing I had in my pocket would fit. The only good news is that the water damage and moldy smell seem to have been taken care of.
A recent visit did disappoint me. They’ve instituted a policy of assigned seating, which I absolutely HATE! Part of the charm of going to the movies has always been that you can sit wherever you want, and if someone plops down in front of you, you are free to move. If you have to pick your assigned seat from a chart, there’s no telling in whose company you’ll end up. Also, when I visited, one of the theaters seemed to have water damage, as it smelled moldy and some of the aisles were roped off. Soap dispensers in the restroom were empty of soap — are they ever checked? The water fountains had broken handles and only a trickle of water came out of the one that was actually still working. Regal Oceanside is not the ghetto theater some reviewers claim — it is basically clean and in good working order — but it does seem to be going downhill and needs attention before it gets worse.
Update: The new seats that were put into the auditoriums that were being redone last time I was there are plush and the rows are spaced wide apart. Not so great for those of us who like to put their feet up — even the longest legs won’t reach — but very comfortable and the public seems to appreciate them. Attendance was decidedly up from what it’s been previously. Maybe this theater has a future after all.
Genesis – The King’s Church meets there Sunday mornings. I was there last weekend — the loge seats look much like they always did — they’ve been reupholstered, though, I think. However, the orchestra seats have been torn out and the stage extended into the space. The walls have been painted a hideous dark dusty rose although they’ve retained the original starburst-style lighting sconces. They’ve moved the restrooms — they used to be off the lobby but are now under the loge. Like bailey9971 who posted above, I have fond memories of the old Star and the crowd it attracted — I’m sure I’ve seen you there, bailey. It was a hoot being back in the Star but I do long for what it used to be!
The Elgin also showcased Reefer Madness and Pink Flamingos. I also remember seeing a Buster Keaton festival there — just about every silent film that Keaton ever made. Also a Marx Brothers festival. And who can forget the ominous warning short that would come on, accompanied by doomsday-sounding music, before the feature: “If you must smoke … smoking is permitted ONLY in the balcony!”
The last time I was there (March 2016) they had torn the seats out of all the older “flat” auditoriums and were in the process of putting in new seats. If the two auditoriums where the process has been completed are any guide, the new seats will not be as comfortable as the old. The newer stadium-style auditoriums aren’t bad, but except for one or two they are on the smallish side. At least Regency seems to be trying to make a go of this theater, which is encouraging.
Pity. It was one of the last non-stadium style theaters. The metal detector at the door was a first-class nuisance but I’ve spent many a happy afternoon in this theater.
I don’t understand how they remain open. Nice large auditoriums with comfortable leather rocker-style seats, but only a handful of patrons at best. They still make you pass through a metal detector at the door — why? No one is going to bring a gun in — no one is going to go in, actually. If they got rid of these, maybe attendance would improve.
About half the auditoriums have new seats — not as comfortable as the old leather seats that rocked back (which the remaining auditoriums still have). They say the plaza is being renovated, but it looks like a disaster area — food court is all boarded up, only two or three active shops. You’ve got to give the theater credit for trying, though.
Still open as of February 28, 2013, showing first run movies, so where there’s life there’s hope. I like this theater because I don’t like stadium seating, and this is one of the last orchestra-style seating venues. What I don’t like is that the restrooms are located outside the ropes, so you have to show your ticket stub to get back in after doing your business. Makes sneaking from theater to theater hard, but not impossible.
Pity. Another old auditorium-style multiplex bites the dust. When I first went there about three years ago, the crowds were healthy. Over time, they dwindled, as new stadium-style multiplexes opened in the area. The last time I was there was to see the A-Team, I believe. Hardly anyone there. I weep. I truly do.
As of December 2023 is open and showing movies.
From their website it looks like they only do live shows nowadays.
They’re open!
After remaining vacant for months, Sonora Cinemas Phoenix has been taken over by America Cinemas, which operates Spanish language theaters in various cities in Texas. Renovations are underway and I believe they are planning to open later in August 2023 or September. I spoke with construction workers yesterday and they weren’t sure.
Pity. It was a great place to see a movie either in Spanish or with Spanish subtitles. It will be missed.
Glad to see it’s open. I wish America Cinemas would take over the Sonora Cinema here in Phoenix and open it too. It’s been too long.
I understand they are permanently closed. Passing of an era.
No, that was in Sarasota, Florida.
The name is pronounced BAR-duh-von. I grew up in Poughkeepsie in the 1950s. Many fond memories of the Bardavon — also of the Colonial, the Liberty (later renamed the Midtown), the Stratford, the Juliet. All distant memories now, long gone.
I remember that at the Bardavon, the refreshment stand was originally out in the lobby, near the entrance. Sometime in the late 1950s/early 1960s they renovated the place and moved the refreshment stand inside, at the back of the auditorium.
The balcony was usually not open unless the orchestra seats were sold out for a blockbuster movie. It was always a treat to be able to go sit up in the balcony.
They recently upgraded their seats. Seating in one auditorium includes a luxury section; that auditorium also has reserved seating (hate it!). The other two have upgraded seats but no luxury seating and no reserved seats (yippee!). The place is clean, good video and audio quality, clean rest rooms.
Visited again a few days ago. Despite multiple complaints from patrons, they still have the assigned seating policy. A total waste in a theater whose auditoriums are never full. And they send someone around to check to see that everyone is in their assigned seats. Hey, where are we, study hall in high school? In my previous comment I mentioned that the drinking fountains were out of order, and that only one gave out just a trickle of water. On this visit none of them worked at all! In the auditorium where my film was showing, the work lights were left on well into the start of the program — I had to go out and ask someone to turn them off. I would have done it myself but the switch is one of those key-activated switches and nothing I had in my pocket would fit. The only good news is that the water damage and moldy smell seem to have been taken care of.
A recent visit did disappoint me. They’ve instituted a policy of assigned seating, which I absolutely HATE! Part of the charm of going to the movies has always been that you can sit wherever you want, and if someone plops down in front of you, you are free to move. If you have to pick your assigned seat from a chart, there’s no telling in whose company you’ll end up. Also, when I visited, one of the theaters seemed to have water damage, as it smelled moldy and some of the aisles were roped off. Soap dispensers in the restroom were empty of soap — are they ever checked? The water fountains had broken handles and only a trickle of water came out of the one that was actually still working. Regal Oceanside is not the ghetto theater some reviewers claim — it is basically clean and in good working order — but it does seem to be going downhill and needs attention before it gets worse.
Fond memories of the RKO Keith’s. I once found a purse on the seat next to me that had a $10 bill in it — no ID, nothing else.
Update: The new seats that were put into the auditoriums that were being redone last time I was there are plush and the rows are spaced wide apart. Not so great for those of us who like to put their feet up — even the longest legs won’t reach — but very comfortable and the public seems to appreciate them. Attendance was decidedly up from what it’s been previously. Maybe this theater has a future after all.
Genesis – The King’s Church meets there Sunday mornings. I was there last weekend — the loge seats look much like they always did — they’ve been reupholstered, though, I think. However, the orchestra seats have been torn out and the stage extended into the space. The walls have been painted a hideous dark dusty rose although they’ve retained the original starburst-style lighting sconces. They’ve moved the restrooms — they used to be off the lobby but are now under the loge. Like bailey9971 who posted above, I have fond memories of the old Star and the crowd it attracted — I’m sure I’ve seen you there, bailey. It was a hoot being back in the Star but I do long for what it used to be!
The Elgin also showcased Reefer Madness and Pink Flamingos. I also remember seeing a Buster Keaton festival there — just about every silent film that Keaton ever made. Also a Marx Brothers festival. And who can forget the ominous warning short that would come on, accompanied by doomsday-sounding music, before the feature: “If you must smoke … smoking is permitted ONLY in the balcony!”
I always enjoy going here. The clientele (Marines from Camp Pendleton) are a big draw, I’ll admit.
The last time I was there (March 2016) they had torn the seats out of all the older “flat” auditoriums and were in the process of putting in new seats. If the two auditoriums where the process has been completed are any guide, the new seats will not be as comfortable as the old. The newer stadium-style auditoriums aren’t bad, but except for one or two they are on the smallish side. At least Regency seems to be trying to make a go of this theater, which is encouraging.
Pity. It was one of the last non-stadium style theaters. The metal detector at the door was a first-class nuisance but I’ve spent many a happy afternoon in this theater.
I don’t understand how they remain open. Nice large auditoriums with comfortable leather rocker-style seats, but only a handful of patrons at best. They still make you pass through a metal detector at the door — why? No one is going to bring a gun in — no one is going to go in, actually. If they got rid of these, maybe attendance would improve.
About half the auditoriums have new seats — not as comfortable as the old leather seats that rocked back (which the remaining auditoriums still have). They say the plaza is being renovated, but it looks like a disaster area — food court is all boarded up, only two or three active shops. You’ve got to give the theater credit for trying, though.
Had fine old trough-style urinals in the mens' room. You don’t see those much any more.
Hail and farewell, dear Whitestone Multiplex. I have many fond memories of this, one of the last of the non-stadium venues.
Still open as of February 28, 2013, showing first run movies, so where there’s life there’s hope. I like this theater because I don’t like stadium seating, and this is one of the last orchestra-style seating venues. What I don’t like is that the restrooms are located outside the ropes, so you have to show your ticket stub to get back in after doing your business. Makes sneaking from theater to theater hard, but not impossible.
Pity. Another old auditorium-style multiplex bites the dust. When I first went there about three years ago, the crowds were healthy. Over time, they dwindled, as new stadium-style multiplexes opened in the area. The last time I was there was to see the A-Team, I believe. Hardly anyone there. I weep. I truly do.