Regency Lido Theatre
3459 Via Lido,
Newport Beach,
CA
92663
3459 Via Lido,
Newport Beach,
CA
92663
25 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 37 comments
Various images added. Additional history credit Christine Phoenix Theriault: “My father, Craig Phoenix managed this theater for about 15 yrs. & Mason Siler owned the Lido and the Mesa Theaters.”
What a bad time to plan to renovate a theater…
Here’s a shot ca. January 1975 showing the original configuration of the neon.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5819/23788829379_5f0c259531_o.jpg
Closing on Jan 1, 2016 http://www.ocregister.com/articles/lido-694521-theater-brunch.html
OCRon’s link
I worked here as a manager for a little while after the renovation. Beautiful location and one of the best movie going experiances out there. Now with the addition of digital projection and first run theatres, this would be my first choice to see movies if I was still in CA. Cool thing about this theatre is its one of two theatres with balcony seating in Ornage County. I hope this theatre becomes a landmark and never goes away.
The Lido stands as proof that a single screen house can survive if the owner is willing to work hard and please the customers.
Keep up the great work.
Keep the LIDO alive folks in that area.
Very cool looking marquee and 72 years old and still running,very nice.
It appears Warner’s Clash of the Titans reboot will screen at the Regency Lido beginning Thursday, Apr 1. And in 3D, if you can believe it. Kind of an odd film for the 72-year-old Lido which specializes in art fare. But the real kicker is the 3D presentation. Not even Regal’s flagship 1108-seat Big Newport theater down the road is equipped for 3D. One would have to think with the financial commitment a digital 3D projector requires that a shift is afoot in Lido programming. Regal appears to be taking notice. According to Fandango.com, Clash of the Titans isn’t scheduled to screen at the Big Newport, unheard of for a big-budget event film. Should be very interesting to see how this plays out over the summer.
Lido Theater is very much alive and well in 2009. I was there a lot for the Newport Beach Film Festival 2009 with the action sports series which featured Irish surf movie, Waverunners. The staff really cares about the glamourous theatre. The new seats do seem a bit stiff and the rows are a bit closer together than the old chairs, yet the new chairs are comfortable. (I’m an Irish upholsterer’s daughter!). I first started out working at a plain chain theatre, the Rosemead 4 Theater, so to have the Lido Theatre in my backyard is a hoot! The theater is used on Sunday mornings for a church service.
The plaster penguin is not permanent. Say that five times fast….
Your assumptions of the Lido are correct! It is an amazing place. There’s nothing like glow in the dark sharks painted on the auditorium walls to add that extra little something to your movie going experience!
Oh, no. I’m getting double and triple postings here. What’s happening?
I’m not a California or west coast resident. However, I really like that picture of the Lido, as well as the pictures of the interior. It looks like a fantastic theatre, both inside and out. I love that round marquee—it gives it a great look, because it’s so unique. Regarding that great big plaster penguin on top: Was that just put there for the duration of the screening of “March of the Penguins”, or is that permanently up there? Just curious.
I’m not a California or west coast resident. However, I really like that picture of the Lido, as well as the pictures of the interior. It looks like a fantastic theatre, both inside and out. I love that round marquee—it gives it a great look, because it’s so unique. Regarding that great big plaster penguin on top: Was that just put there for the duration of the screening of “March of the Penguins”, or is that permanently up there? Just curious.
I recently went to the Lido Theater for the time to see “Brideshead Revisted.” I had never been to the theater before as I do not really live close to the theater. I had on occasion, when in Newport Beach in Orange County, driven by the theater, and had commented that at some point I would like to see a film here. Luckily the theater survived and I was able to do this. The interior is nice, but remodeled. However the bathrooms, while well kept, reveal the true age of the theater.
I used to work at the Lido. There’s a senior apartment complex down the street, and every week the seniors would come by and ask about the week’s movie, just like they used to back in the day. I’d make sure I saw the movie the first day so I could tell them if they’d like it. “Cold Comfort Farm” – a massive hit with the seniors. “Trainspotting,” not so much. Plenty of them went to see it even when I told them what it was about, just because it was their routine. We’d be waiting with refund tickets at the 20 minute mark, when they’d all walk out.
Glad it’s not run by Edwards anymore. They treated their employees really badly, and most who worked there didn’t appreciate how special the Lido is.
This theater is an absolute “gem” from ones moment of arrival to departure. Their manager is a complete showman and knows how to work the crowds at the Box Office to presenting a speech of welcome prior to the curtain going up. Interestingly, he assured us that they would hold the film until everyone was in!
We saw the Edith Piaf story (with tears) “La Vien Rose” which was thoroughly entertaining. Projection and audio were outstanding -just like their delicious popcorn and coffee.
It’s well worth going slightly early to obtain parking but also to admire the beautiful blacklight decorative theme and original Art-Deco surroundings… and remember to take your camera!
Here is a recent daytime photo of the Lido, from June 2007: View link
I’m trying to find information about a locally made feature film that had its (possibly) one and only screening at the Lido Theater on August 2, 1955. It was a comedy, featuring an all Orange County cast, called “The Noble Experiment.” The director/producer/writer/star was Tom Graeff, a young filmmaker living in Corona del Mar who went on to cult status with his second feature, Teenagers from Outer Space (Warner Brothers, 1959). If anyone out there saw the film or knows anything about it, I would really like to talk to you. I’m writing a biography of Graeff and this film is proving difficult to get much information on, aside from some articles in local newspapers. Thanks so much. Jim Tushinski –
Nice 2005 photo:
View link
Hey Tony!
Go to http://www.theporttheater.com/ Provided by MagicLantern…the Port theater is coming back!!
I wondered what happened to the Edwards theater chain and appreciate this time honored explanation. Thank goodness the Lido survived, particularly since the Port Theater did not. Some of the spirit of the Lido survives in the Laguna Beach theater. It smells like they actually ran a vacuum cleaner through there and I was pleased that removing most of the old popcorn did not lead to a structual failure.
Tony Crowell
“Artsy-fartsy” movies are usually pretty good…they’ve gone through a lot of careful review before they’re selected for your viewing pleasure. Anyway, once you’re up in the balcony with your favorite girl, who really cares what’s playing!
I used to take care of ‘old man’ Edwards' old ‘rum runner’ boat when I worked at Lido Shipyards. The old man loved his boat second only to the Lido Theater (I am not referring to his son who ran his business, Edwards Cinimas, into the ground in less than 4 years after he took over!) . The old man told me he would NEVER get rid of the old Lido because he had so many fond memories of the island kids and their love for the place. It was his favorite theater. My wife and I still love to go down and sit in the balcony and kiss… everyone should do that once in their life. It is a shame though that the only showings now are the artsey fartsey ones. Us old folks really do like to see some of the better big show moives out these days and in the past five years the management was doing a good job of selecting movies…now the selection is really only for the eclectic crowd… no harm. We just love that the historic old place is getting some use. It really is a joy to see a movie in that place…
Peter Jones