UA Buena Park 8 Facade & Former Entrance, 2021

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Uploaded on: May 1, 2021

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An odd feature of the once-UA Buena Park 8 is that, despite having been redeveloped into retail space and a gym, its former entrance and facade still exist on the building’s eastern side.

The theater’s cavernous entrance portico still remains underneath its towering geometric facade, though the tinted glass tiles have gradually disappeared over the years, and the doors walled up. Still, it’s impressive how intact it is, considering the building is still very much in use.

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At first glance, it may look like the theater entrance was shoehorned into a narrow pedestrian alley, but the building to the left of the frame – a Walmart – wasn’t built until 2003, sitting on what was once the UA’s parking lot. Meanwhile, the ex-UA was redeveloped into retail space – later, 24 Hour Fitness – with a new entrance on the building’s southern side.

These changes left the theater’s disused former entrance tucked away, largely out of view of all except those shoppers using the very obscure mall entrance just behind the camera. One can only assume the mall’s more recent developers abide by the philosophy of “out of sight, out of mind”.

So remember, folks! Check behind your local Walmart. You never know if there might be an old ‘80s multiplex hidden back there.