The theater of my youth. In 1972, in celebration of his return to the United States, they presented the Charlie Chaplin in Repertory Festival. My first look at The Great Dictator and the 1942 edition of The Gold Rush with Chaplin narrating his classic silent film . Scenes for “The World According To Garp” were filmed there both inside and outside. It was big news for our town when this happened. I still remember it. We went to see the film when it played there and it provoked applause and cheers when we saw the theater on the screen as we were sitting where Robin WIlliams sat.
I visited the projection booth as a child and dreamed of running those big machines that produced such joy. This was before the “platter” system. In February of 2019, the theater ran “Stan & Ollie”. I’m happy to know that. Many happy memories for me in that darkened theater that will Stay with me for my lifetime.
I grew up at the Utopia Theater. Now I am a film preservationist in Los Angeles as well as the head of the Cinecon Classic Film Festival in Hollywood.
I can digitize the film reel of Utopia snipes if you will let me. I remember them playing in the theater. It would be a privilege to preserve them. Please contact me at
The theater of my youth. In 1972, in celebration of his return to the United States, they presented the Charlie Chaplin in Repertory Festival. My first look at The Great Dictator and the 1942 edition of The Gold Rush with Chaplin narrating his classic silent film . Scenes for “The World According To Garp” were filmed there both inside and outside. It was big news for our town when this happened. I still remember it. We went to see the film when it played there and it provoked applause and cheers when we saw the theater on the screen as we were sitting where Robin WIlliams sat.
I visited the projection booth as a child and dreamed of running those big machines that produced such joy. This was before the “platter” system. In February of 2019, the theater ran “Stan & Ollie”. I’m happy to know that. Many happy memories for me in that darkened theater that will Stay with me for my lifetime.
Dear Aquarianick,
I grew up at the Utopia Theater. Now I am a film preservationist in Los Angeles as well as the head of the Cinecon Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. I can digitize the film reel of Utopia snipes if you will let me. I remember them playing in the theater. It would be a privilege to preserve them. Please contact me at