Red Lantern
134 South Brea, Brea, CA. 92821

Specifications

    Operators: Independent
    Status: Demolished
    Opened: 3/7/22
    Closed:
    Current Use:  
    Screens: 1
    Seating: Slope (800 seats)

Profile

The Red Lantern opened as Orange County’s largest and most ornate theatre in 1922. Built at a cost of $25,000, the Chinese themed interior sat 800 and featured a full stage. The Chinese motif included a large Buddha, with a red light beaming from the image’s forehead, overlooking the auditorium. In contrast to the lavish oriental interior, the venue’s exterior was constructed in a somewhat drab, stucco and tile, spanish style. On either side of the theatre’s entrance stood a confectionary/tobacco shop and soda parlor.

Renamed the Brea Theatre by 1935, the building was run as a movie theatre through the 1960’s, before being converted in to a church. In 1987, the Brea Theatre was demolished as part of a city funded downtown revitalization project.   

Trivia

The theatre opened with the silent feature “A Game Chicken” 

Among the performers that graced the Red Lantern’s stage was singer Frances Gumm, who later gained international stardom under the name Judy Garland.

Some literature lists the Red Lantern as replacing “Richardson’s Picture Show”, a venue which was alleged to have burned down circa 1913. As of writting this entry, no documentation has been found to support the existance of this cinema.

Images

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