Experienced my first walk-in big screen movie in this theatre back in the late 1970’s starring Chevy Chase. It was 1 big screen at that time and the hot real buttered popcorn was amazing.
Later, I worked at the Park Aire Drive-In & filled in at the Santa Maria Theatre during the Summer matinee times in the early-mid 1980’s.
Before the Santa Maria Theatre was closed it went through an additional remodeling in which 2 small theatres were added upstairs for a total of 4 screens. Both upstairs screens had separate projection booths which made running matinee showings a work-out in itself. I believe the initial remodel (initial “twining”) occurred in early 1980’s.
I have an old Santa Maria Times front page article discussing the close with Gary Galt (sp?) pictured that has more details and will attempt to add a scan of that information later as time permits.
Experienced my first walk-in big screen movie in this theatre back in the late 1970’s starring Chevy Chase. It was 1 big screen at that time and the hot real buttered popcorn was amazing.
Later, I worked at the Park Aire Drive-In & filled in at the Santa Maria Theatre during the Summer matinee times in the early-mid 1980’s.
Before the Santa Maria Theatre was closed it went through an additional remodeling in which 2 small theatres were added upstairs for a total of 4 screens. Both upstairs screens had separate projection booths which made running matinee showings a work-out in itself. I believe the initial remodel (initial “twining”) occurred in early 1980’s.
I have an old Santa Maria Times front page article discussing the close with Gary Galt (sp?) pictured that has more details and will attempt to add a scan of that information later as time permits.
Good times & good people.