Ojai Playhouse
145 E. Ojai Avenue,
Ojai,
CA
93023
145 E. Ojai Avenue,
Ojai,
CA
93023
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The original Isis Theate was opened by druggist Delacy Clarke on September 4, 1911 on Main Street. A local historian says the Isis debuted August 19, 1914 with “The Valley of the Moon.” The Isis was rebooted 15 years after the original reopening as the Ojai Theatre on May 10, 1926.
The theater basically survived to the end of a second 20-year leasing agreement closing with mainstream films in 1965. William Glasgow took on the venue after a refresh relaunching as an art film venue as the Glasgow Playhouse on June 15, 1966 with the Merchant Ivory film, “Shakespeare Wallah.” That policy runs for a year and a note about unpaid taxes. Ted Morris' B&B Amusements took on the venue relaunching with “The Mad Woman of Chaillot” “Rachel Rachel” on January 29, 1970. It appears to have closed August 5, 1982 with “Chariots of Fire.”
Khaled Al-Awar took on the venue in 1983 renaming it as the Ojai Playhouse with Roy Scheider in “Blue Thunder” on August 5, 1983. It ran with mainstream movies to March 2, 2008 with “No Country for Old Men.” The Hartleys took it over from there as a film society and art house venue. After a $10 million renovation David Berger reopened it with repertory films on November 22, 2024 with “Heat.”
Boxoffice, Nov. 21, 1953: “H. H. Flesher sold his Ojai Theatre, 370-seater in Ojai, to Fred N. Bower, formerly of Fargo, N.D. Flesher had operated the showcase since 1946.”
Reopening November 22, 2024
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/ojai-playhouse-relaunches-new-owner-1236060250/
The Hartleys had an option to buy on the Ojai Theatre and chose not to. In 2010 the theater reverted to Khaled Ad-Awar and he returned the name of the theater to the Ojai Playhouse. In 2012, Mr. Al-Awar purchased a digital projector, an investment in the community that will ensure the screening of movies for many decades to come. E.DePuydt
The April 11, 1966, issue of Boxoffice said that San Francisco theater man Arthur Glasgow had bought the Ojai Theatre and would rename it the Glasgow Playhouse, operating it as an art house after refurbishing it.
Boxoffice said that the refurbishment was to be done by the F.F. Shearer Co., with architect Arthur Drilsman, though they must have meant B.F. Shearer Co. and architect J. Arthur Drielsma. Some issues of Boxoffice got more than their share of errors.
The Ojai Playhouse has just undergone an extensive renovation, thanks to owners Mark and Kathy Hartley and is now stunning! The sound system is top notch, as Mark is in the music industry.
Most of Ojai turned out for the 2 pm matinee of “Dark Knight” yesterday. Here are some photos:
http://tinyurl.com/6qjn7p
http://tinyurl.com/5m63cq
http://tinyurl.com/5tps4f
A vintage view of “The Ojay” as the Playhouse was also known in the Fifties, can be seen here on this postcard from my collection:
View link
ELEPHANT WALK is playing.
Ojay seems to be a lovely little Californian town. I wonder what the interior was like. Somehow so many theaters never show photos of their exteriors and interiors on their websites.
I was fortunate to live in Ojai a truly magical place in 1987-8 helping to reopen the Ojai Valley Inn & CC…the Playhouse was a great refuge in a great little hideaway…caught The Living Daylights, Stakeout there amongst others in this little single aisled jewelbox…It is rumored that Roger Ebert has used it to preview films there from time to time