Cinemaland
1414 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA.

Specifications

Operators: National General/Mann
Status: Demolished
Opened: 4/10/68
Closed: 6/05/79
Current Use: Parking lot
Screens: 1/3
Seating: Slope (1,180/900)

Profile

Built across the street from Disneyland, Cinemaland opened in the spring of 1968, as one of Orange County’s last single screen movie palaces. Sandwiched between the 5 freeway and Harbor Blvd., the theatre was a highly visible landmark for thirty years, but only managed to survive as a cinema for a decade.

While displaying a cold, generic box exterior, Cinemaland possessed a rather luxurious interior. The lobby was lined with huge windows and featured a large cut glass chandelier hanging above the center of the room. A modest wood paneled concession stand stood behind the box office, facing a series of four auditorium entry doors. Two points of particular note were a sitting area (powder room) in the ladies restroom and a built in clock above the auditorium entry way; features that were excluded from nearly all theatres in years to come (theatres began to view clocks as hampering concession business, as patrons were more prone to feel rushed). Beyond the four entry doors stood Cinemaland’s true treasure, a cavernous auditorium; with 1180 plush rocking back seats, a massive screen, and single tone wall to wall drapery. Complementing this understated elegance was the day’s finest projection and sound (including six channel stereo and 70mm capability). For a brief time, Cinemaland was truly one of Orange County’s finest movie going destinations.

Sadly, Cinemaland’s days as a premiere cinema were numbered, as Mann purchased the theatre from National General, in the mid 70’s, and quickly set about “modernizing” the venue. After briefly closing the theatre in the fall of 1974, Mann reopened Cinemaland as a poorly divided three plex. Cutting a long, narrow auditorium, horizontally, from the front of the original auditorium and splitting the remaining area in to two additional auditoriums, the resulting tri plex was a tragic mess. While adhering to the modern industry business model, the new Cinemaland lacked everything the original theatre epitomized. The grand movie going experience gave way to a sub par, pseudo multiplex that failed almost immediately. By the early 80’s, Cinemaland was closed and the building sat vacant for over a decade.

After languishing in a state of decay throughout the late 80s and 90’s, Cinemaland was razed in 1998, to make way for a parking lot.

Trivia

Cinemaland was built for $750,000

The theatre opened with the feature “Far From The Maddening Crowd”

Cinemaland’s first manager was Harold Brislin, an individual who had been with the chain for 33 years (at the time of Cinemaland’s opening) and had previously managed the Fox West Coast, in Santa Ana, from 1955 to 1968.

Images

Click on images for full size view