Orange Theatre

172 N. Glassell Street,
Orange, CA 92866

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DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 8, 2021 at 6:11 pm

Thank you cardboardroom. I will add your description beneath it in the photo gallery.

cardboardroom
cardboardroom on June 8, 2021 at 6:00 pm

@DavidZornig: Sorry you had to wait for a late response here but it was mocked up as the Regent Theatre for “That Thing You Do!” (1996), where Old Towne Orange stood in for 1964 Erie, Pennsylvania. In the photo you shared, the adjacent building was adorned with a Woolworth sign – also a prop created for the film.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 19, 2018 at 4:17 pm

I just added a photo of the Orange Theatre as the Regent Theatre, with a film from 1964 on the marquee. It is clearly the same building. Was it mocked up as the Regent for one of the above films or another? There is a more modern bus in the background, and a police officer possibly blocking traffic with the exception of the period correct cars.

kermitthefrog76
kermitthefrog76 on April 5, 2017 at 11:17 am

Featured in a couple of movies… Clockstoppers and First Daughter with Katie Holmes

criswell
criswell on January 13, 2016 at 1:27 pm

2 articles on the theater. November 2015 and January 2016.

Part I:

http://1888.center/small-towne-short-stories-son-light-christian-center-part-i/

Part II:

http://1888.center/small-towne-short-stories-son-light-christian-center-part-ii/

criswell
criswell on April 1, 2011 at 10:11 am

Please correct the name of the church. It is not “Son of Light Christian Center”, it is, Son Light Christian Center.

Additionally, this statement in the original article that the organ “is still playing for services today,” is incorrect. There hasn’t been an organ in this building for over 30 years.

opus1280
opus1280 on June 3, 2009 at 9:57 pm

Nevermind, answered my own question. Found the interior shots on the Son Of Light website. Same theatre as in the Junchen book, and the console is most defintely a Wicks and not a Wurlitzer!

opus1280
opus1280 on June 3, 2009 at 9:46 pm

Was there more than one Orange Theatre in Orange, CA? The Son Of Light website declares a “Wurlitzer Organ” having been installed there. But on page 710 of Junchens book, its said (with interior pictures) that Wicks opus 879,a 2/8 (and the last new Wicks threatre organ installed in a theatre) was installed in the Orange in 1929. Cost $17,500, less $10,075 for used organ traded in. Wonder where they got the trade in from!

criswell
criswell on January 21, 2009 at 9:20 am

1931 movie ticket and turkey drawing:
View link

monika
monika on December 27, 2007 at 9:04 am

Here are a couple of my pictures of the Orange, taken September 2007:
View link
View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 18, 2005 at 2:34 pm

Orange Theater in 1934. Tickets were 15 cents:

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 18, 2005 at 2:02 pm

These two photos from 1949 show the Plaza Theater on South Glassell in 1949. The building is clearly not the Orange. There is no listing for the Plaza on this website, as far as I can tell.

View link

View link

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 18, 2005 at 1:53 pm

Diamond Jubilee parade, 1963:

View link

criswell
criswell on November 8, 2005 at 12:36 pm

Then history of the theatre is located at: View link

Son Light christian Center purchased the building in 1976 and remains there after 30 years. Their first service in the building was March 28, 1976 (not 1978).

If anyone has additional information or pictures, please contact me at and I will update our history website. I am always looking for early newspaper articles and early pictures.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 18, 2005 at 4:39 pm

1934, courtesy of the UCLA Digital Archive:

View link

thomasl
thomasl on May 4, 2005 at 9:36 am

Located one block north of the famous “circle” formed by the intersection of Glassell and Chapman in “Old Towne” Orange, the former Orange theater is still looking fine, and is being used as a church.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on April 8, 2005 at 1:59 pm

According to the history of the theatre on the church’s website http://www.sonlightoforange.com
the architect of the Orange Theatre was Harry J. Simons of Los Angeles.

Not stated on the website is that work commenced on building in around 1926 but was brought to a halt for some reason and the contract was completed by architect John Paxton Perine.

It opened on 22nd May 1929 with the movie “Molly and Me” starring Belle Bennett and Joe E. Brown plus a vaudville show and Wurlitzer organ music. It had a seating capacity of 1,300 and was operated by Fox West Coast-Langley Theatres.

It closed in the early 1970’s and briefly went over to being a live theatre which closed in 1975. The current church use commenced in 1978.

William
William on November 13, 2003 at 3:54 pm

The Orange Theatre is located at 172 N. Glasell Street.

Donald John Long
Donald John Long on November 13, 2002 at 2:35 am

I saw several movies at the Orange around 1970, but by far the most memorable experience was when I went there to see the 1970 reissue of MGM’s BEN-HUR, in wide screen and Stereo sound, in its original premiere roadshow form with the overture music on the soundtrack.

A nice setting for a classic film.

I was in the second floor balcony and recall looking out the windows shown in the photograph on a sunny Sunday afternoon matinee. The theater looked the same in 1970 as it does in the photo above.

GaryParks
GaryParks on April 18, 2002 at 10:34 pm

The Orange Theatre is now a church. It appears virtually the same as in the photograph today except that the vertical sign has been replaced by a large neon-lit plastic cross. The marquee shown in the photo is still on the building, but painted a single dark color and there are illuminated “dove of peace” symbols where the name ORANGE used to be. All ornamental neon is gone. Other than these changes, the exterior remains as it was.