I frequented Hutton Center quite a bit in the late ‘80s & throughout the ‘90s. I can remember seeing “The Dead Pool” with Clint Eastwood, “Back to the Future II & III,” “Lock Up,” “Jennifer Eight,” “Dave,” “Star Trek Generations,” “Goldeneye” and “There’s Something About Mary” there. Was sorry to see it close.
The Park Place was a nice 10-screen theater in a rather odd little
pop-up shopping center. Located off busy Jamboree Road at the 405, you had to take cross street Michelson down a ways to access the center from behind. There was a new B. Dalton bookstore (odd since small mall bookstores were closing as B&Ns were opening everywhere), a sporting goods store (Big 5 or Sports Chalet) and a few restaurants, most notably the city’s first California Pizza Kitchen. It was basically that CPK that drew me to the theater a handful of times after dinner in 1996/‘97. I can distinctly remember seeing “Primal Fear” and “Grosse Pointe Blank” there but nothing else.
The Uni, as locals called it, was Irvine’s second movie theater and opened four years after the Woodbridge 5.
Even though it was at the far end of town, it didn’t stop my Irvine High School buddies and I from coaxing our parents to drop us off on a Friday or Saturday night for such flicks as “Commando,” “Predator” & U2’s “Rattle & Hum.”
I even recall taking my one and only bus ride there in the summer of ‘87 to see “Dragnet” with Dan Aykroyd & Tom Hanks. Other memorable '80s films included “Die Hard,” “Big” Lethal Weapon 2" & “Christmas Vacation.”
Came back in the ‘90s for “Misery,” “Ed Wood,” “Speed” & “Pulp Fiction” (with a full crowd opening weekend).
The Uni later became a popular indie art house in the Regal chain and was soon booking OC exclusives. Unfortunately, the theater has an absolutely terrible parking lot they share with a Trader Joe’s, Target and every other retailer & business office in the center. Most close-by parking is 45 minutes or less & I can’t tell you how many movies I’ve given up on seeing because I couldn’t find a parking space. By far, the worst parking lot of all of Regal’s OC locations.
Exclusives should be at the nearby Westpark, which has its own sprawling, dedicated parking lot.
This was the premier indie theater in LA for nearly 20 years under the Laemmle brand. All the exclusives came here. Made my first visit in 1996 when a friend moved from OC to Hollywood. Can remember seeing weekend matinees of both “Big Night” & “Sling Blade” here with a full crowd.
As I grew up frequenting this mall as a kid, I’m sure I caught a few flicks here back in the day, but the only one I really remember is Goodfellas in September of 1990 with a bunch of college friends.
Frequented this theater throughout the ‘70s & early ‘80s, usually after Saturday trips to the mall & nearby Kmart. There was a McDonald’s & Del Taco across the street where we usually got lunch before the flick. Can remember seeing quite a few Disney flicks here, along with Hooper, The Muppet Movie, Time Bandits, Supergirl and Iceman (1984). Want to say the last thing I saw here was Forget Paris with Billy Crystal when it was a bargain theater.
Forgot about this theater. I remember seeing Ice Castles with Robbie Benson here back in the late ‘70s. Can also remember seeing Meatballs listed on one of the individual theater marquees while I was there for another movie. Also recall the nearby ice rink & Hamburger Hamlet.
Robert Altman’s “Popeye” starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall opened at the SCP III 40 years ago this weekend back in 1980. I can remember waiting in line for at least an hour that first Saturday for a mid-afternoon showing.
The wife and I drove by the old location for the first time in years yesterday and noticed a parking garage now sits on the site. It’s like the Town Center never existed, except here on Cinema Treasures.
Happy 40th birthday to the Woodbridge 5, which opened on this date back in 1980. As someone whose family has lived in Irvine since 1971, we were sure glad to finally have our own theater after years of having to leave the city to see a movie.
March always reminds me of the Woodbridge, especially March of 1984. What a great bunch of titles there 35 years ago this month: Splash, Police Academy, Ice Pirates, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan and Romancing the Stone. I was in seventh grade back then and my buddies and I must have ridden our bikes there nearly every Saturday that month. I want to say matiness were $2.50. Remember it rained quite a bit, just like today in So. CA. Good times.
With the 40th anniversary of “Grease” over the weekend, I was reminded by an old newspaper ad that this is where I saw the film as a seven-year-old opening weekend back in 1978. According to the ad, the film showed on two of the three screens, probably for the rest of the summer, if not the year.
AMC has now removed the marquee and replaced it with a huge red AMC logo. Films and showtimes are now printed on a piece of paper taped to the box office. This appears to be a growing trend in the industry as most people use their phones now to see what’s playing. Kind of sad, especially when it happens to your childhood theater.
In anticipation of “Blade Runner 2049” opening Thu., Oct 5, Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut 4K Restoration” will get an exclusive one-week engagement @ Seattle Cinerama beginning Fri., Sept. 29. Three to four shows daily through Wed., Oct. 4. Lobby display cases will feature original BR costumes and a cyberpunk event will kick off opening night. More info @ https://www.cinerama.com/Movie.aspx?fc=5106000440&day=19976
In anticipation of “Blade Runner 2049” opening @ the Dome Thu., Oct. 5, Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” will get a one-shot Dome screening Wed., Oct 4 @ 7PM. Tickets going fast.
There are no films currently being shown at this theater. Visit the Movie Experience website, click on the Fremont icon and you get nothing, just blank space. Seriously, has anyone seen a movie here since last October? Do tell.
Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” returns to the Dome for a week-long 40th-anniversary run starting Friday, Sept. 1. Four shows daily starting at 1PM. Presentation is 4K DCP.
I caught “Close Encounters” at the Dome back in 1998 when it was part of a classics festival (something the Dome hosted quite regularly back then) and it was incredible. Believe me, you haven’t experienced this film until you’ve seen it at the Dome. Pure cinematic bliss.
Seattle Cinerama’s annual 70mm Film Festival takes place August 24-Sept 6. For films, dates and showtimes visit https://www.cinerama.com/News/July-2017/Announcing-70mm-Film-Festival.aspx
Walked by today and was surprised to see titles like “Dunkirk” and “War for the Planet of the Apes” listed on the marquee. Matinees are actually $4.99 ($7.99 for 3D) until 4PM, then $6.99 until close ($9.99 for 3D). Still better prices than any other first-run venue in the area.
Seems rather odd, though, that AMC would pit the little five-screen Woodbridge against its nearby Tustin/District multiplex for fist-run choices. Screen size aside, why would your average patron pay $12.69 for a matinee of “Dunkirk” when they could pay $4.99 just a couple of miles down the street.
LB76: On Twitter there’s a cool feed called @OldMovieAds that showcases old movie newspaper ads mainly from the LA/OC area and the Plitt City Center is featured quite regularly in the theater listings. There was a Star Wars one last week.
I frequented Hutton Center quite a bit in the late ‘80s & throughout the ‘90s. I can remember seeing “The Dead Pool” with Clint Eastwood, “Back to the Future II & III,” “Lock Up,” “Jennifer Eight,” “Dave,” “Star Trek Generations,” “Goldeneye” and “There’s Something About Mary” there. Was sorry to see it close.
The Park Place was a nice 10-screen theater in a rather odd little pop-up shopping center. Located off busy Jamboree Road at the 405, you had to take cross street Michelson down a ways to access the center from behind. There was a new B. Dalton bookstore (odd since small mall bookstores were closing as B&Ns were opening everywhere), a sporting goods store (Big 5 or Sports Chalet) and a few restaurants, most notably the city’s first California Pizza Kitchen. It was basically that CPK that drew me to the theater a handful of times after dinner in 1996/‘97. I can distinctly remember seeing “Primal Fear” and “Grosse Pointe Blank” there but nothing else.
The Uni, as locals called it, was Irvine’s second movie theater and opened four years after the Woodbridge 5.
Even though it was at the far end of town, it didn’t stop my Irvine High School buddies and I from coaxing our parents to drop us off on a Friday or Saturday night for such flicks as “Commando,” “Predator” & U2’s “Rattle & Hum.”
I even recall taking my one and only bus ride there in the summer of ‘87 to see “Dragnet” with Dan Aykroyd & Tom Hanks. Other memorable '80s films included “Die Hard,” “Big” Lethal Weapon 2" & “Christmas Vacation.”
Came back in the ‘90s for “Misery,” “Ed Wood,” “Speed” & “Pulp Fiction” (with a full crowd opening weekend).
The Uni later became a popular indie art house in the Regal chain and was soon booking OC exclusives. Unfortunately, the theater has an absolutely terrible parking lot they share with a Trader Joe’s, Target and every other retailer & business office in the center. Most close-by parking is 45 minutes or less & I can’t tell you how many movies I’ve given up on seeing because I couldn’t find a parking space. By far, the worst parking lot of all of Regal’s OC locations.
Exclusives should be at the nearby Westpark, which has its own sprawling, dedicated parking lot.
Can remember seeing “Bugsy” here in 1991 & “Rob Roy” in ‘95.
Caught the exclusive 70mm engagement of Kenneth Branagh’s “Hamlet” here in December of 1996.
This was the premier indie theater in LA for nearly 20 years under the Laemmle brand. All the exclusives came here. Made my first visit in 1996 when a friend moved from OC to Hollywood. Can remember seeing weekend matinees of both “Big Night” & “Sling Blade” here with a full crowd.
Forgot about The Final Countdown & Raise the Titanic.
As I grew up frequenting this mall as a kid, I’m sure I caught a few flicks here back in the day, but the only one I really remember is Goodfellas in September of 1990 with a bunch of college friends.
Frequented this theater throughout the ‘70s & early ‘80s, usually after Saturday trips to the mall & nearby Kmart. There was a McDonald’s & Del Taco across the street where we usually got lunch before the flick. Can remember seeing quite a few Disney flicks here, along with Hooper, The Muppet Movie, Time Bandits, Supergirl and Iceman (1984). Want to say the last thing I saw here was Forget Paris with Billy Crystal when it was a bargain theater.
Forgot about this theater. I remember seeing Ice Castles with Robbie Benson here back in the late ‘70s. Can also remember seeing Meatballs listed on one of the individual theater marquees while I was there for another movie. Also recall the nearby ice rink & Hamburger Hamlet.
Robert Altman’s “Popeye” starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall opened at the SCP III 40 years ago this weekend back in 1980. I can remember waiting in line for at least an hour that first Saturday for a mid-afternoon showing.
My mom still talks about taking a bus with a bunch of her high school classmates from Orange County to see “It’s Mad Mad Mad Mad World” at the Dome.
The wife and I drove by the old location for the first time in years yesterday and noticed a parking garage now sits on the site. It’s like the Town Center never existed, except here on Cinema Treasures.
Happy 40th birthday to the Woodbridge 5, which opened on this date back in 1980. As someone whose family has lived in Irvine since 1971, we were sure glad to finally have our own theater after years of having to leave the city to see a movie.
Tickets now up for Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” in 70mm @ the Dome.
March always reminds me of the Woodbridge, especially March of 1984. What a great bunch of titles there 35 years ago this month: Splash, Police Academy, Ice Pirates, Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan and Romancing the Stone. I was in seventh grade back then and my buddies and I must have ridden our bikes there nearly every Saturday that month. I want to say matiness were $2.50. Remember it rained quite a bit, just like today in So. CA. Good times.
With the 40th anniversary of “Grease” over the weekend, I was reminded by an old newspaper ad that this is where I saw the film as a seven-year-old opening weekend back in 1978. According to the ad, the film showed on two of the three screens, probably for the rest of the summer, if not the year.
AMC has now removed the marquee and replaced it with a huge red AMC logo. Films and showtimes are now printed on a piece of paper taped to the box office. This appears to be a growing trend in the industry as most people use their phones now to see what’s playing. Kind of sad, especially when it happens to your childhood theater.
In anticipation of “Blade Runner 2049” opening Thu., Oct 5, Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut 4K Restoration” will get an exclusive one-week engagement @ Seattle Cinerama beginning Fri., Sept. 29. Three to four shows daily through Wed., Oct. 4. Lobby display cases will feature original BR costumes and a cyberpunk event will kick off opening night. More info @ https://www.cinerama.com/Movie.aspx?fc=5106000440&day=19976
In anticipation of “Blade Runner 2049” opening @ the Dome Thu., Oct. 5, Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner: The Final Cut” will get a one-shot Dome screening Wed., Oct 4 @ 7PM. Tickets going fast.
There are no films currently being shown at this theater. Visit the Movie Experience website, click on the Fremont icon and you get nothing, just blank space. Seriously, has anyone seen a movie here since last October? Do tell.
Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” returns to the Dome for a week-long 40th-anniversary run starting Friday, Sept. 1. Four shows daily starting at 1PM. Presentation is 4K DCP.
I caught “Close Encounters” at the Dome back in 1998 when it was part of a classics festival (something the Dome hosted quite regularly back then) and it was incredible. Believe me, you haven’t experienced this film until you’ve seen it at the Dome. Pure cinematic bliss.
Seattle Cinerama’s annual 70mm Film Festival takes place August 24-Sept 6. For films, dates and showtimes visit https://www.cinerama.com/News/July-2017/Announcing-70mm-Film-Festival.aspx
Walked by today and was surprised to see titles like “Dunkirk” and “War for the Planet of the Apes” listed on the marquee. Matinees are actually $4.99 ($7.99 for 3D) until 4PM, then $6.99 until close ($9.99 for 3D). Still better prices than any other first-run venue in the area.
Seems rather odd, though, that AMC would pit the little five-screen Woodbridge against its nearby Tustin/District multiplex for fist-run choices. Screen size aside, why would your average patron pay $12.69 for a matinee of “Dunkirk” when they could pay $4.99 just a couple of miles down the street.
LB76: On Twitter there’s a cool feed called @OldMovieAds that showcases old movie newspaper ads mainly from the LA/OC area and the Plitt City Center is featured quite regularly in the theater listings. There was a Star Wars one last week.