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Movies at San Diego’s Classic North Park Theatre!

July 10th, 2007 by Scott Marks

The North Park Theatre in 1929…

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…1935…

The North Park Theatre in 1935

…and today!

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Suffice it to say that San Diego is not the easiest town to peddle classic films in. The AMC Mission Valley may be one of the most successful multiplexes in North America, but when it comes to something produced before last week, the sun-worshipping locals want nothing to do with it.

When I opened my inaugural film series at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) you could have counted the audience members on one hand and still have had the thumb left over. Imagine my surprise when last year’s opening series at the Stephen and Mary Birch North Park Theatre was met with such an overwhelming response. The North Park draws more in one week, and in some instances one day, than MoPA did in a month. And this time there’s concessions!!!

Built in 1928, the 730 seat North Park is the only theater of its size left in San Diego County. In 1974, the North Park screened its last feature before taking a 32-year vacation from cinema. Even when I first arrived in San Diego in 2000, Lyric Opera Director Leon Natker was touting the theatre’s renovation.

It was a hellhole: the booth sat empty, stripped of equipment, not one seat was left bolted to the floor and it smelled like a giant cat box. Ostensibly refurbished to house the Lyric Opera, movie nut Natker always wanted to bring films back to the neighborhood theatre. Six years late, Leon made good on his promise and the locals couldn’t be happier!

Along with my partner and pal, the Cinema Society’s Andy Friedenberg, we were called into action to put together a film series. Each week we show a classic film complete with featurettes, trailers and cartoons, everything short of giving out plates. I’m always on hand to introduce the films and hold a back-end Q&A.

The North Park Classic Film Series runs through the end of August with a Thursday evening show (except for A Place in the Sun, and a Sunday afternoon matinee. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop in and enjoy a movie. Did I mention that we have the best popcorn in town?

July
12th - GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953) - 7 pm
15th - GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1953) - 2 pm
19th - ADAM’S RIB (1949) - 7 pm
22nd -ADAM’S RIB (1949) - 2 pm
26th - NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) - 7 pm
29th - NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (1955) - 2 pm

August
2nd - SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933) & IT’S A GIFT (1934) - 7 pm
5th - SHE DONE HIM WRONG (1933) & IT’S A GIFT (1934) - 2 pm
8th - A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951) - 7 pm
12th -A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951) - 2 pm
16th -RED RIVER (1948) 7 pm
19th - RED RIVER (1948) 2 pm

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