Woodbridge 5
4626 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA. 92604
(949) 733 – 3795

Specifications

    Operators: Mann/Edwards/Captain Blood/Starplex
    Status: Open
    Opened: 2/8/80
    Closed: NA
    Current Use: Film/Second Run  
    Screens: 5
    Seating: Slope (1,200 seats)

Profile

Tucked away in a quiet suburban retail center, this small neighborhood theatre has managed to defy market and industry trends for over twenty-five years.

Built by Mann Theatres in 1980, the Woodbridge 5 was taken over by Edwards, prior to opening, in a deal that remains shrouded in urban legend and rumor. The more colorful stories cite a well connected James Edwards II “stealing” the venue from Mann, via political wrangling. Others recount a standard business transaction between the two exhibitors. In any case, the theatre’s Mann tenure officially ended the afternoon of the grand opening and the venue is generally viewed as an Edwards build by locals.

Opening as Irvine’s first theatre, with no direct competition, the Woodbridge thrived as a first run venue for over a decade. However, by the mid 90’s, Edwards’ own area builds and the advent of megaplex theatres had cut in to the Woodbridge’s customer base, forcing the theatre in to alternative booking; after a brief attempt at showing art and independent films failed, the venue was run as a discount house, with equally disappointing results. By the time Edwards filed for bankruptcy, the Woodbridge’s fate appeared sealed and the theatre was closed on January 4, 2001.

Shortly after closing, the lease was picked up by Orange County independent exhibitor “Captain Blood’s Family Theatres” and reopened on April 27, 2001. Blood, who had made a name for himself operating the Village Theatre in Orange, was seeking to create a local chain through picking up cast offs from the, then recent, industry implosion. As had been the case with his other county acquisitions, there were promises of upgrades and expansions for the aging Woodbridge, but it soon became apparent that Mr. Blood’s vision was more than his budget could handle. Within a year, the Woodbridge had fallen in to extreme disrepair and was relegated to more of a teenage hangout than viable theatre. After three more years of neglect, “Captain Blood” was evicted from the theatre, in favor of a Texas based chain, Starplex Cinemas.

Possessing deeper pockets and having agreed to an extensive remodel as part of their lease, Starplex shuttered the Woodbridge for two months, in order to bring the theatre back to an acceptable state. After investing an estimated $500,000 in the remodel, Starplex reopened the Woodbridge, as a discount theatre, just in time for the 2005 summer season. Under Starplex’s management, the theatre experienced a rebirth of sorts, as locals rediscovered the Woodbridge 5 and the forgotten concept of a neighborhood theatre. Within two years, the theatre was regularly experiencing capacity attendance levels that surpassed even it’s peak years as a first run venue.

Built in to the side of a hill, the Woodbridge 5 is laid out in a split level design. A small box office/lobby/concession area is positioned at the storefront, ground level. The five auditoriums are located at a lower level, roughly five feet below the lobby. Due to the building’s compact design, the auditoriums are positioned in a “J” formation, with the smallest auditorium (aud 1) fully encased in the complex; tucked behind a neighboring restaurant and under a utility corridor. Projection and storage areas are in a more traditional second story position. Unique to modern theatres, the building is a wood frame construction. 

Trivia

The Woodbridge complex was slated to open in 1979, but construction was set back after a Santa Anna wind blew down initial frame-work.

A special fundraiser was held, as part of the grand opening, to raise money for an aquatics scoreboard (for the AAU swimming championships, held in Irvine during the Summer of 1980). Tickets were $20 for a champagne reception and the county premiere of Bob Fosse’s “All That Jazz” (shown in three of the five auditoriums).   

Edwards added Dolby Stereo to all five screens in the mid 1990s. Under Captain Blood’s, auditorium one was run in mono sound. Starplex converted all five auditoriums to DTS digital sound in 2005. 

All 5 screens are a fixed 2:1 aspect ratio.

Seating:

Aud 1 – 220
Aud 2 – 260
Aud 3 – 240
Aud 4 – 240
Aud 5 – 240
* note: auditoriums are listed according to their post Edwards number assignments (under Edwards, aud #5 was #1, #4 was #2, etc.)  

Typical of early 80’s multiplex design, the manager’s office had a large window overlooking the lobby. This was walled over during the “Captain Blood” era, but the windows remain in the office, opening to a bare wall.

While no longer operative, an auditorium status box remains in place above the box office. At one time, the box displayed red or green lights, activated via a set of toggle switches in the usher closet, to alert the door person of an auditorium’s availability. After converting to an open lobby policy (i.e., allowing patrons in to the building prior to their show), the light box was abandoned and painted over.  

During the theatre’s early years, an experimental “animated” streetside sign was utilized. Similar to a child’s “light bright” toy, a series of pegs were placed in a revolving light drum, to spell out the week’s features. According to those familiar with the sign, it rarely functioned and was quickly abandoned, in favor of more traditional signage. The remnants of the animated sign remain under the theatre’s current streetside light box. 

The Woodbridge 5 was Starplex Cinemas’ third California acquisition and last discount oriented theatre. Shortly after reopening the Woodbridge, Starplex announced a commitment to new builds and first run booking for all future projects. 

Reopening Press Release (6/21/05) 

Starplex Woodbridge Movies 5 to open in Irvine, CA

IRVINE, CA – Starplex Cinemas will celebrate the grand opening of the Woodbridge Movies 5 theatre this Friday, June 24. It is located in Woodbridge Village Center at 4626 Barranca Parkway, between Culver and Jeffrey. The theatre can be reached at (949) 733-0980 or on the web at www.starplexcinemas.com.

The Woodbridge Movies 5 will feature mid-run movies at affordable prices. Ticket prices will be $2.00 all shows before 6 p.m. and $3.00 all shows after 6 p.m. Students and Senior Citizens will be $2.00 at all times. Doors will open daily at 12:30 p.m.

Opening features at Woodbridge Movies 5 will include: Kicking and Screaming with Will Ferrell, rated PG; Hitch with Will Smith, rated PG13; Sahara featuring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, rated PG13; The Interpreter with Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, rated PG13; and Disney’s The Pacifier with Vin Diesel, rated PG13.

Woodbridge Movies 5 has been completely renovated. All seats are brand new and replaced with cup holder arm rests for patron’s convenience. Renovations also include new projection and sound systems (including digital sound in all theaters), new carpeting, and more.

“The revamped theatre will be unique for movie fans in Irvine,” said Nina Robinson, vice president of marketing for The Irvine Company Retail Properties. “We’ve never offered anything like it. It will be a great opportunity for people who didn’t get to the theatre right away to see a film they wanted to see on the big screen.”

Tod Hanna, COO of Starplex Cinemas, stated, “We would like to be known as a family oriented movie theatre.”

Starplex Cinemas currently operates 22 other theatres and 177 screens in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Jersey, Washington, Indiana, Florida and California.

Images

2005 Remodel

Click on images for larger view