New Port Theatre

2905 East Coast Highway,
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625

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Related Websites

New Port Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Landmark Theatres (USA), Western Amusement Company Inc.

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Styles: Streamline Moderne

Previous Names: Port Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 949.723.6333

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News About This Theater

Port Theatre

The 900-seat Port Theatre opened on September 4, 1949 with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter”. It has a unique nautical exterior fitting to its location close to the Pacific Ocean. It had been an independent for most of its life, playing first-run movies. From 1989 until its closing on August 20, 1998, it was operated by Landmark Theatres as an art house.

The Port Theatre had a local and loyal customer base but unfortunately it sits at the side of busy Pacific Coast Highway and has no off-street parking to make it convenient for out-of-area patrons. To bring the theatre back, a heavy investment would be required including the addition of an air conditioning system and repair of the roof. Its large balcony seats 350. In 2007, a permit for demolition was granted.

The Port Theatre is located a few miles from the historic Lido Theatre and Balboa Theatre in Newport Beach. An investor saw the potential of the Port Theatre and it was renovated and reopened in fall of 2012 as the New Port Theatre, with a reduced seating capacity of 300.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

Recent comments (view all 35 comments)

Corey Miller
Corey Miller on November 25, 2010 at 11:51 pm

A photo from November 2010:

View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on February 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm

According to a a newsletter recently sent by the councilwoman who represents the Corona Del Mar area, the seismic retrofitting and other improvements are progressing and that she expects the theater to reopen by the end of 2011: View link

CTCrouch
CTCrouch on February 3, 2011 at 12:54 am

Great that councilwoman Gardner made the effort to keep everyone informed and the Port in the news; not so great that she throws in the “count me out” and “I’d just as soon watch it on my tv” comments, in reference to food service being added.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 8, 2011 at 3:55 pm

The new facade looks like soundproofing material,well at least they are fixing it up.

Marcel
Marcel on April 28, 2012 at 2:14 pm

Glad to hear it’s being used again. It’s in such a beautiful area. I used to pass this theatre on the way to Laguna Beach in the 90’s.

Danny Baldwin
Danny Baldwin on November 13, 2012 at 10:21 am

Reopened now as a luxury cinema: http://portnewport.com/calendar/

Richie_T
Richie_T on November 20, 2012 at 9:45 am

I’ll be there for the Lord of the Rings marathon… can’t wait… loved this theater back in the day… thrilled to have it back!

GlenBarrie
GlenBarrie on August 5, 2013 at 5:44 pm

interesting detail,
when the theater closed in 1998, “Rosebud” was lettered on the Marquise, it remained there for many years. The theater is now re opened, newly remodeled, and serving food, with the movies. I have not been there since it re opened.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on July 29, 2020 at 7:53 am

1949 Grand Opening photo as Port Theatre added credit Michael Newman.

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