Star Theatre

402 North Coast Highway,
Oceanside, CA 92054

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Related Websites

The Historic Star Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Pussycat Theatres

Architects: William Glenn Balch, Louis L. Bryan

Firms: Balch, Bryan, Perkins & Hutchason

Functions: Live Performances, Performing Arts

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 760.721.9983

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News About This Theater

Star Theatre - Oceanside, CA

The Star Theatre opened on August 18, 1956 with Gregory Peck in “Moby Dick”. It had a seating capacity for 986. There were 546 seats in the orchestra and 440 in the stepped loge section at the rear. Behind the loge seating area was a cry room, that was equipped with electric fixtures for bottle warmers.

This was once a popular movie house, located in downtown Oceanside. In it’s darkest days it fuctioned as an adult theater operated by Pussycat Theatres, but has recently been renovated and is used for live performances.

Contributed by Ian Ehrnstrom

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on March 19, 2008 at 11:57 pm

ken mc, they changed the name of Hill Street to Coast Highway. I don’t know the year.

drb
drb on March 18, 2009 at 1:05 pm

Some photos I took back in November 2000, when it had recently closed as a movie theater and its fate was uncertain. Sorry the first two aren’t the sharpest, early digital cameras were unpredictable things:

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 6, 2010 at 6:28 am

The Balch in the firm of Balch, Bryan, Perkins, Hutchason was William Glenn Balch, the considerably younger brother of theater architect Clifford Balch. Following the dissolution of the firm of Balch & Balch, in 1946 Clifford Balch formed a partnership with Louis L. Bryan. Balch & Bryan became Balch, Bryan, Perkins, Hutchason, Architects in 1953, with the addition of partners John Loring Perkins and W.K. Hutchason.

Here is a Boxoffice article about the Star Theatre. It notes that William Glenn Balch had “…designed over 180 southland theatres over the last 25 years….”

Douglas Westfall
Douglas Westfall on July 6, 2010 at 7:31 am

Jim Heiser and I connected during the re-opening of the Star Theater when it played TITANIC in late June of 1998. I had just released the book “The Wreck and Sinking of the Titanic” and he asked me to open the theater. So with microphone in hand I stood at the curtain and gave a breif overview of the history then took questions. After the showing I sold books in the lobby. I was saddened to see it close.

Douglas Westfall, Publisher
www.SpecialBooks.com

startheatre
startheatre on August 14, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Thank you for posting our picture on your page. We just wanted to inform anyone who was still in the area that we are indeed still thriving and we are now a performing arts theatre. We have been named a historic landmark having been built in 1956. We did renovate in the early 2000s and now rent out our facility 260+ days a year for many different groups: ballets, comedy acts, musicals, live concerts, etc., as well as, house our own two companies (Adult and Youth Theatre program) which perform 6 shows a year. We also have an Academy for instruction on dance, acting and singing.

We are trying our best to be a place where the community can come and be entertained year-round. We also pride ourselves on being a safe and fun environment for people to come and learn and perform. So if you are in the area, please come and be our guest.

www.startheatreco.com

bailey9971
bailey9971 on January 24, 2015 at 2:49 am

I am so glad to see that this theatre is still around. I was stationed on Camp Pendleton from 1990-1994 and spend countless weekends in Oceanside. I don’t think the theatre was in operation the entire time but I do remember seeing a few movies there. I loved going to see a movie there and would always imagine what it must have been like in its prime.

MissAmanda
MissAmanda on August 28, 2016 at 1:09 pm

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!

rivest266
rivest266 on July 11, 2019 at 2:46 pm

This opened on August 18th, 1956. Grand opening ad posted.

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