Play Back: Vintage Movie Theaters

From AMC and Regal to UltraStar and Cinemark, everywhere we look it seems that big scale movie theater chains have taken over the world. If it’s not the steadily climbing movie ticket prices, it’s the overpriced popcorn and Coke slurpees that will get you in the end. 

Luckily, San Diego is still home to many historic movie theatres that offer a refuge from the abundance of arm and a leg-costing theaters. From La Paloma in Encinitas and Star Theatre in Oceanside to the Ken in Kensington and Birch Theatre in North Park, it’s time to head back in time to the age-old resplendence of movie theaters of the past. 

Discover the top vintage movie theatres in San Diego. 

Birch Theatre in North Park
Founded in 1928, whopping 730-seat Birch Theatre in North Park is the only theatre of its size in San Diego. Featuring a fly-loft for legitimate live theater productions, a full-size movable orchestra pit and a projection room for motion picture exhibition, attending a performance at Birch is quite literally an event to remember. In 1974, Birch stopped showcasing movies and sat idle for several years before it was purchased by a church for the use of congregation and Sunday school. By the late 80s however, the City of San Diego purchased the Theatre from the church for a restoration project. Renovation of Birch has transformed it from an unused, out-of-date venue to an entertainment destination with high-tech, state-of-the-art staging and lighting systems, projection equipment, and a multi-channel theater sound system. Birch Theatre is now home to a wealth of entertainment options including monthly classic movie screenings, musicals, jazz concerts, LGBT films, and dance performances. For more information on upcoming events and to purchase tickets, please visit Birch Theatre. 

La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas
Established in 1928 by Frank E. Brown as a silent movie house, this fun and funky vintage venue in Encinitas houses 540 seats in both orchestra and small balcony levels. .” As one of the first theatres to showcase “Talkies,” La Paloma opened with its first feature film "The Cohen's And Kelly's in Paris” on February 11th, 1928. In recent years, La Paloma switched gears to offer live performances which have included a diverse range of musical artists such as Loreena McKennitt, Nickel Creek, Ralph Stanley, Jerry Garcia and Eddie Vedder. Luckily for all you movie buffs out there, La Paloma still offers midnight screenings of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” every Friday night at midnight, as well as an assortment of independent films and unique documentaries. For more information on screenings and upcoming concerts, please visit La Paloma Theatre.

Gaslamp Theatre in Downtown San Diego
A notable exception to the dreary formula of most contemporary multiplexes, the four-story 15-screen Gaslamp Theatre touts itself by saying "Its art deco ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ exterior is spectacular.” In the lobby, the same kind of tip-of-the-top-hat style is achieved via lavishly patterned, thick carpets, Gone With the Wind staircases, and concession attendants dressed like turn-of-the-century riverboat gamblers. Gaslamp 15 currently showcases a wide variety of all-new hit flicks for both adults and children alike. And for all you parents out there who want to catch a flick, but can’t find a babysitter, every week Gaslamp Theatre presents the "Crybaby Matinee". Kick back, relax and enjoy a movie without worrying about unexpected tantrums or feedings in the dark. Gaslamp keeps the lights dimmed, the sound volume down, and the movies coming, and even provides a baby changing table and stroller valet for the convenience of parents. For current showtimes, please visit Gaslamp Theatre. 

Star Theatre in Oceanside
Boasting the largest marquee in San Diego County, the Star was once a popular and heavily frequented movie house in downtown Oceanside. The Star originally opened in August of 1956 with the movie "Moby Dick" starring Gregory Peck. In its “darkest days”, the Star Theatre functioned as an adult theater operated by Pussycat Theatres, but in recent years it has been renovated to be used for regular moving screenings and live performances. The Star Theater remained in the hands of the Siegel family until 1980 when they sold it to an outside developer. It changed hands several times eventually operating as an 'Adult porno' movie theatre in the late 80s. In April 1989, it returned to showing regular release movies again (although the first offering was the 'R' Rated "Skin Deep" and "Seige of Firebase Gloria"). The Star finally closed to movies in September 2000 when the building had been purchased by the Poinsettia Center for the Performing Arts as a performing arts center and is now home to the Coast Kids Theatre and the Star Theatre Company. For more information, please visit Star Theatre. 

Ken Landmark in Kensington
The Ken is undoubtedly one of the most precious jewels in the quaint neighborhood of Kensington. First opened in 1912 to showcase foreign films in San Diego, the Ken was remodeled in 1947 by S. Charles Lee in Art Moderne style, and was fully restored in 1975 after being taken over by the nationally recognized Landmark Theater chain. In recent years, the Ken sadly retired their reel-to-reel carbon rod projectors, but nonetheless, you’re last single screen theater in San Diego, the Ken now offers a wide variety of films, from independent fare to foreign language cinema to restored classics including “The Fallen Idol,” "Julien Donkey Boy,” "Fat Girl,” and " Holy Rollers." Every year, The Ken also hosts FALL OUT, San Diego's gay and lesbian film festival. For more information on current screenings, please visit The Ken. 

Balboa Theatre in Downtown San Diego
Located in the heart of downtown San Diego next to Horton Plaza, the Balboa Theatre was first opened for vaudeville acts and movies on March 28, 1924. Originally boasting seating capacity of 1,534, with about 500 of those seats in the balcony, Balboa was downtown's first big scale movie theatre. The Balboa Theatre was closed in 1986 and was purchased by the city of San Diego, which planned to reuse it for non-entertainment purposes. After many petitions, the San Diego Council finally voted to finance the restoration of the historic Balboa Theatre. After 3 1/2 years and a $26.5 million renovation, the theatre had a gala opening on January 19, 2008, as a venue for theatre, concerts, and other live performances. For more information on current shows, please visit Balboa Theatre.

South Bay Drive-in in South Bay
Grab a cooler of snacks, hop in the car and head to South Bay Drive-in for a movie experience like no other. Opened in 1958, South Bay Drive-In is one of the last remaining drive-in movie theaters in San Diego. In recent years, projection was upgraded using the Technalight lamp technology which now produces the brightest and sharpest images possible for in a drive-in theatre. With six all-new feature length movies constantly rotating on the three oversize projector screens, your evening under the stars screening experience is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind. Movie soundtracks are transmitted over AM and FM radio frequencies so you must bring a working radio in order to hear the movie. The theatre is open all year, seven days a week and admission is $7 for adults and children 12 and under are admitted for $1. For information on current showings, please visit South Bay Drive-in.

Discover more San Diego entertainment and follow our San Diego lifestyle blog.