Montclair Savings Cinema

9355 Monte Vista Avenue,
Montclair, CA 91763

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: General Cinema Corp.

Firms: Burke, Kober, Nicolais & Archuleta

Functions: Gymnasium

Previous Names: Cinema I & II, Montclair Cinemas

Nearby Theaters

Los Ángeles Times opening day ad

Opened as Cinema I & II on April 2, 1969 as a twin screen theatre with 1,000-seats and 500-seats. The opening movies were Steve McQueen in “Bullet” & Leonard Whiting in “Romeo and Juliet”. This later became an eight-screen venue housed within two buildings of The Montclair Plaza on Monte Vista Avenue adjacent to the Freeway 10. The front building had three screens; the rear structure had five. Although two parts of the same venue, the front screens were of a different style than those in the rear–which strongly resembled the Woodland Hills GCC (possibly built around the same time).

As far back as 1983, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” had weekly screenings here. But with increased competition from newer, flashy megaplexes nearby (like AMC’s Ontario Mills), this venue began to steadily lose business in the 1990’s, its final decade of operation. In 1995, the front screens were closed and that building subsequently torn down. The rear screens continued operations through the late-1990’s, but were eventually reduced to showing second-run films as its support from the General Cinemas chain got pulled.

As an independent venue, it remained open up until August 2000, which is when it ceased operations as a movie theatre.

Contributed by Lavar Burkhart

Recent comments (view all 42 comments)

Logan5
Logan5 on November 25, 2014 at 1:42 pm

“The Rocketeer” was presented at the Montclair GCC Cinema in 35mm Dolby Stereo beginning on Friday June 21, 1991.

larryoakford
larryoakford on September 9, 2015 at 6:58 am

I worked at the Montclair Cinema from the summer of 1969 to 1975. Started off as an usher and shortly moved up to Chief of Staff. Then there were 2 houses, one was 1000 seats and the other was 500 seats. I remember that the theater, which had opened a few weeks before I was hired, was showing Bullit and Romeo & Juliet. The first manager was James Polydorus. Lots of great memories were had in this place. So sad that it no longer exists.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 15, 2017 at 4:48 pm

April 2nd, 1969 grand opening ad in the photo section.

richjr37
richjr37 on May 4, 2017 at 10:12 am

Los Angeles Times once listed the theatre in its independent theatre section as shown by the photo in the photo section.

DENNISMAHANEY1
DENNISMAHANEY1 on April 18, 2018 at 1:37 am

Well I found two photos this was an important theater where are the photos

Smart5
Smart5 on July 1, 2018 at 3:56 pm

Man I remember coming to this theater as a kid along with UA 6 on central.

richjr37
richjr37 on September 6, 2019 at 11:27 pm

Added a May 30,1969 ad for a special weeklong showing of the classic first Oscar winner for Best Picture. 1927’s “Wings”.

rivest266
rivest266 on November 23, 2019 at 4:03 pm

Expanded to 8 screens on October 24th, 1980. No grand opening in the LA times.

richjr37
richjr37 on May 24, 2023 at 12:53 am

I added the final movies to play here in the photo section.

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