Orinda Theatre

Moraga Way and Brookwood Road,
Orinda, CA 94563

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Related Websites

Orinda Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Renaissance Rialto

Architects: Alexander Aimwell Cantin, Alexander Mackenzie Cantin

Firms: Cantin and Cantin

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 925.254.9060
Manager: 925.254.9065

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News About This Theater

Orinda Theater at Sunset

The Orinda Theatre opened on December 27, 1941 with William Holden in “Texas”. The theatre was built for and operated by Donald Rheem. It was designed by father & son architects Alexander Aimwell Cantin & Alexander McKenzie Cantin, who, in 1950 would form the architectural firm Cantin and Cantin.

Slated for demolition in 1984, it was saved through the efforts of preservationists and reopened in 1989 as the center of the Theater Square Project – a retail/entertainment redevelopment project.

Two extra screens have been constructed within adjoining retail space, leaving the original screen intact.

Contributed by Jeremy Sanford

Recent comments (view all 33 comments)

darquil
darquil on May 27, 2010 at 5:44 am

I’ve posted information and photos from a recent visit here.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on August 8, 2010 at 4:29 am

The address should be 2 Orinda Theater Square.

Mikeyisirish
Mikeyisirish on June 27, 2012 at 5:49 pm

A 2010 photo can be seen here.

paulvideo
paulvideo on April 6, 2015 at 9:40 am

Very nice. I lhave seen a long shot on fb of the lobby-excellent.

jordanlage
jordanlage on July 30, 2017 at 3:01 pm

I remember seeing a double feature of AGAINST ALL ODDS and MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON here in… 1984. Preferred the Bridges film. A recent visit to the theater (July 2017) finds it still beautifully kept up.

terrywade
terrywade on June 9, 2020 at 5:35 pm

For many years the stereo surround sound in the large original Orinda Theatre has been turned way down as the former IA union projectionist did not care for people looking up when they heard effect surround speaker volume so he turned the ceiling/wall surround speakers way down. That projectionist is no longer in the booth so the volume has been turned back up like It was in the past. Hope they can re open soon so we can go and see this classic deco neon cinema with better sound at least in the large cinema space. Turn on the marquee neon and bring back the movie crowd!

terrywade
terrywade on May 8, 2021 at 1:01 am

On a recent visit 5/1/2021 all the surround speakers are mostly turned off. Many of the speakers set hi up on the ceiling have blown out cones so they just turned them all off. Too bad hope they can get funding to put in better speakers or a Meyers sound system for the stereo surround system. People live in plus multi million dollars homes in Orinda and have fancy home movie theatres. So sad to go pay to see a movie in a great old deco 750 seat theatre like the Orinda and the sound does not work on the sides and back!

jwmovies
jwmovies on May 1, 2022 at 6:00 pm

Uh oh! Looks like the end could be near! πŸ₯ΊπŸ₯ΊπŸ˜«πŸ˜«

Per Orinda Theatre website, they are now putting on concerts (NOT a good look see UC in Berkeley for more information)

They’ve set up a Go Fund Me page too! πŸ˜”πŸ˜” That’s not reassuring either! With Cal and Oaks in Berkeley gone, local theaters are drying up! You talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel! Lamorinda is home to world famous St. Mary’s basketball team! YIU CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS PEOPLE! 🀬🀬

Matias Antonio Bombal
Matias Antonio Bombal on February 27, 2024 at 7:58 am

I will be teaming up with the Orinda to show Hollywood Studio Classic matinees, the last Tuesday of each month, starting TODAY, February 27th at 1p.m. $10.00 all seats: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

March 26 1 p.m. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)

April 30 1 p.m. SAN FRANCISCO (1936)

May 28 1 p.m. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

June 25 1 p.m. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

July 30 1 p.m. THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) The Matias Bombal’s Hollywood Orinda Classic Movie Matinees www.orindamovies.com

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