MetroLux Theatres At San Clemente

101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa,
San Clemente, CA 92672

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Related Websites

Metropolitan Theatres (Official)

Additional Info

Operated by: Metropolitan Theatres

Firms: SMS Architects

Functions: Movies (First Run)

Phone Numbers:
Manager: 310.858.2800

Nearby Theaters

MetroLux Theatres At San Clemente

Metropolitan Theatres 17th location opened February 24, 2022, at the Outlets at San Clemente, which is situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Designed by SMS Architects, the 10-plex is equipped with 4K laser projection, IMAX and D-Box. For patron comfort there is a bar, full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining and auditorium service.

Metropolitan Theatres notes Joseph H. Corwin moved to California from Sioux City, Iowa and founded the company in 1923 with the Broadway Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Sherrill Corwin (1909-1980) later said he became manager of the Broadway Theatre in 1923 for his father.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, December 28, 1950, Sherrill previewed RCA Theater Television at the Orpheum Theatre, live from the Palladium, on a 15x20- foot screen. He wanted this $40,000 installation to be in 100 theatres by the middle of 1952. Theatre television was ahead of its time and eventually faded away. In 1951 Mr. Corwin bought a low budget picture, “The Man From Planet X” starring Robert Clarke, outright from the producers and distributed it by United Artists with an advertisement headed ‘Sherrill Corwin Presents’.

In Metropolitan’s 1950’s heyday it ran thirteen Los Angeles theatres, of which eight were of the 20 downtown houses. Notable theatres also operated by Sherrill were the four-location Music Hall chain, the Hawaii Theatre and Pan Pacific Theatre. In San Francisco it was the Esquire Theatre and the leasing of the Orpheum Theatre to Cinerama where “This Is Cinerama” debuted December 25, 1953. In February 1967 Sherrill brought Metropolitan Theatres into Palm Springs, where he had a home, with the opening of the Camelot Theatre. In 1974 one news account put the number of Metropolitan theatres at 42.

Sherrill was at one time president of Theatre Owners Of America and other philanthropic and business organizations and a board member of RKO Pictures under Howard Hughes, (which he met only once). He later became an investor in the 1972 film, “The Poseidon Adventure”.

Bruce C. Corwin, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, led the company for 40 years before passing away in November 2021. Bruce’s son, David, is Metropolitan’s President and represents the fourth generation of the Corwin family to run the company and its locations in California, Colorado, Idaho and Utah.

Complementing the MetroLux at the Outlets are dozens of retail brands, restaurants and a planned boutique hotel.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

Recent comments (view all 3 comments)

rivest266
rivest266 on February 25, 2022 at 5:10 am

Trans-Lux + Metropolitan theatres = Metrolux. I thought the partnership has dissolved.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 25, 2022 at 5:18 am

Grand opening ad posted.

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on August 25, 2022 at 11:57 am

I visted this location last week for an IMAX showing of TG:Maverick. I gotta say, this place is cool. The other auditoriums in the complex are very generic but nice, however the IMAX theater is really one of the best newer IMAX builds I have seen.

When you enter the Laser IMAX auditorium, the handicapped aisle is almost at the top of the theater. There are 8 rows below the aisle and only 3 above it. I dont recall seeing this set up before at an IMAX. I sat in the last row of the bottom section and was blown away with how immersive this was. They have the overhead speakers (I think its 11.1?) and the huge IMAX logo on each side of the screens. Also, there is no exit door near the screen, so the screen fills up the entire wall. Its about 60 feet, with a nice curve to it, but with the dimensions of the theater is just feels larger. The seats do not recline as in the other auditoriums, but they are nice comfortable rockers. Really a nicely designed theater.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.