Studio Theatre
(also known as Buena Park Theatre & Studio Adultland)
7886 Beach, Buena Park, CA.

Specifications

    Operators: Electrovision Corp/Loews/GCC/Independent
    Status: Closed
    Opened: 1959
    Closed: 1999
    Current Use: Retail
    Screens: 1/3
    Seating: Slope (570 seats)

Profile

Located down the street from Knott’s Berry Farm, the Studio (also billed as “Studio Adultland”) ran straight pornography for two decades, in an area better known for family entertainment. Prior to it’s notorius run as an adult theatre, the Studio had been known as the Buena Park Theatre and booked general audience films. Built by notable cinema operator Robert Lippert and later run by the Loews and General Cinema chains, the Buena Park appears to have operated from 1959 through the late 70’s, before switching to adult films and the Studio moniker.

The small, 7,000 square foot, theatre ran as a single screen until the early 90’s, when two additional screens were added to the lone auditorium (billed as the “fantasy room”), resulting in three films playing simultaneously in the same room. As with all modern adult theatres, the Studio was converted to video projection in the 1980’s.

Following years of legal battles with the city of Buena Park, the Studio Theatre closed quietly in 1997, as Orange County’s last adult theatre. Shortly after closing, as a cinema, the venue was reopened as “Concert of Superstars”, a celebrity impersonator revue. While a more agreeable entertainment format in the city’s view, the show was a failure and closed within a year. The building was remodeled in to a skate board shop in 1999. 

Trivia

The Studio was equiped with a large hot tub in the auditorium, during it’s years as an adult theatre. 

Images

Click on images for larger view