Mainplace 6
2800 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA. 92705
(714) 808 – 0400

Specifications

Operators: AMC/Captain Blood/Picture Show
Status: Open
Opened: 9/25/87
Closed: NA
Current Use: Film/Second Run
Screens: 6
Seating: Slope

Profile

The Mainplace 6 was opened in 1987 as part of a redevelopment of the Mainplace Mall property. AMC’s third entry in to the Orange County market (preceded by the Fashion Square 4 and Orange Mall 6), Mainplace was designed as a district flagship, featuring the “latest and greatest” of the day and an area to house the company’s district offices.

Located on the third floor of the mall, above the food court, the theatre was divided in to two sections, connected by a small glass block bridge. The south side featured a small lobby and concession stand, with four small auditoriums down a side access hallway. Across the glass bridge, a second lobby and concession stand serviced the two large auditoriums (400+ seats). Access to the theatre was gained via an elevator that opened on to the north lobby or an escalator that ran behind the theatre’s second floor box office. At one time, a second box office was operated outside the mall, but, much like the theatre’s second concession stand, use was limited and the satellite facility was discontinued.

Perhaps, the venue’s most unique features stood out of public view. Having been designed to house the Western District headquarters, a series of offices, conference rooms, and storage areas were placed off of the twin projection booths. These areas were utilized by district executives and auditors until the mid 90’s, when AMC realigned the district system in to a more centralized division structure, based out of Century City, CA.(the division offices were later moved to the company’s home office, in Kansas City, MO.). Following the realignment, most of these areas stood dark, with the exception of a large conference room that became a central location for company training seminars.

While Mainplace enjoyed brisk business through the mid 90’s and regularly hosted studio screenings, the venue was unable to stand up to local competition and was all but written off with the opening of AMC’s nearby Block 30 megaplex. Facing the late 90’s megaplex boom and declining mall attendance, AMC closed their Mainplace location in 1999.

Within a year of closing, the theatre was picked up by the small Orange County chain “Captain Blood’s Family Theatres”. Blood’s managed to operate Mainplace as a discount house for another five years, but continued poor attendance and the company’s lack of financial means resulted in the theatre falling in to disrepair. Blood was evicted in the spring of 2006 and the theatre was taken on by Picture Show Entertainment. While still operated as a discount venue, Mainplace received a substantial remodel under Picture Show; including the removal of the seldom used north concession stand, in favor of a party rental area.

Trivia

The two large auditoriums were THX certified, until 1998, when declining business dictated dropping the certification expense.

The two large auditoriums were 70mm capable until 1999.

Auditorium five was the site of numerous studio test screenings during the theatre’s AMC years. Being equipped to show “unmarried” prints (developmental stage that includes sound tracks separate from the film), the auditorium saw movies such as “Far And Away” being shown to test audiences in versions that often differed from the final film. These screenings also regularly included celebrities and studio executives in attendance.

In the early 90’s Mainplace 6 was equipped with Cinema Digital Sound (CDS), an early digital sound format.

Mainplace was the first Orange County theatre to charge $6 for tickets (the previous county high being $5.75)

Seating
Aud 1 – 266
Aud 2 – 228
Aud 3 – 350
Aud 4 – 214
Aud 5 – 430
Aud 6 – 430

Images