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Step Inside the Finished Coronado Village Theatre (Exclusive Photos & Video)

UPDATE: SEE MOVIE TIMES HERE.

eCoronado.com got an exclusive 'final sneak peek' at the restored Coronado Village Theatre. O-M-P (Oh My Popcorn)!

We were absolutely blown away by the remodel and the attention to every detail from top to bottom. Words cannot describe the beauty inside and you must come down to the theatre to experience it yourself. It is an Art Deco masterpiece!

We have to imagine that this excitement is similar to what folks felt when it first opened in 1947.

Congratulations to all of those involved in the project - especially Joseph Musil (original designer), Lance Alspaugh (Vintage Cinemas), Davis Reed Construction, JP&K Construction Management, Ronald Wright (RAWDESIGN), CITY CONSTRUCTION REPRESENTATIVE; Jon McMillen (Rosenow, Spevacek Group, Inc.), STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS; Helmand Kushkaki, P.E. & Steve Smith, P.E. (Horowitz, Taylor, Kushkaki (HTK)), LIGHTING DESIGNER; Tom Ruzika (The Ruzika Company, Inc.), ARCHITECTS, MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS; Eric J. Hugger, AIA Principal in Charge, Jeffrey Chick, AIA Project Architect, Ted Perron, P.E. HVAC, Jeff McCoy Plumbing and Roger Maddox, P.E. Electrical all from (Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. (FTC&H)), the Graham Family and the City of Coronado (huge thanks to the Community Development Agency).

Tickets go on sale at 7pm tonight at the ticket booth outside the theatre at 820 Orange Avenue. The first movie showing is Cars 2 at 12:01am Friday. For more information, visit Vintage Cinemas or call 619-437-6161.

General Admission tickets are $10.50, children under 12 and seniors 62 and over are $7.50 with Bargain Shows before 6 p.m. $8.50. Special 3D showings are an additional $2 per ticket. Vintage Cinemas Gift Books will be available at the box office.

Enjoy the photo and video tour of the Coronado Village Theatre:

They are putting on the final 'polish' for the opening ceremonies tonight!

Snack bar will include popcorn, soda, candy, hot dogs as well as some gourmet items.

Emerald 'Aisle' will showcase movie memorabilia. Note how the sign changes colors.

There are three screening rooms. The main theatre holds 215 while the two smaller ones hold 40 each. The original theatre had one screening room that held roughly 600.

Each of the three screening rooms have beautiful murals. They light up and change colors and have other 'light' features that you will have to see for yourself in person. We love the concept of sitting in the 'Bay of Seats' between Coronado and Downtown San Diego. A fantastic concept that came together perfectly.

The Coronado Bridge, Coronado Boathouse, Hotel del Coronado and Downtown Coronado on the left.

Downtown San Diego and Coronado Ferry Landing shine under the moon and stars on the right.

The Exposition Room which is one of the two smaller screening rooms. It holds 40 people. For a history of the Ford building in Balboa Park and the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, click here.

The Balboa Room holds 40 people and has an amazing mural of the buildings found at Balboa Park. Click here to learn more about the history of this famed park just over the bridge from Coronado.

Even the carpet ties into the entire experience.

Lance Alspaugh thanking Will Graham (age 12) for helping land the necessary funding (from his dad) to help complete the theatre.

Tickets go on sale at 7pm tonight at the ticket booth outside the theatre at 820 Orange Avenue. The first movie showing is Cars 2 at 12:01am Friday. For more information, visit Vintage Cinemas or call 619-437-6161.

Related articles:

Coronado Village Theatre Restoration Ever So Close
"6161" - A Village Theatre Tradition Reclaimed
Village Theatre Sneak Peek (July 2010)

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Tags: business, community, theatre

17 members like this

Comment by Lynnda Shepherd on June 23, 2011 at 3:11pm: I am stunned at how beautiful it all is. I might just go sit in the theaters and not even care about the movie playing. AWESOME!

Comment by Jeffrey Atencio on June 23, 2011 at 3:22pm: I wasn't sure what I would feel when they were "restoring it" after all of the terrible things that have happened to Coronado in the last twenty years. That being said, this is the first improvement that I truly sat in awe over. Simply beautiful - they exceeded my wildest expectations and somewhere, the old manager from the seventies is sitting on his cloud marveling at the work of art his old theater has turned into.

One word... Wow!

Comment by Joe Mullins on June 23, 2011 at 3:33pm: Thanks for the great pics ecoronado. What a great thing for all our kids!

Comment by Yvonne Knein on June 23, 2011 at 3:39pm: I admit, I was quite skeptical about the Village Theater becoming a multi-plex, but this is truly stunning! I spent many evenings in the old Village Theater over the years watching movies - even in later pegnancy watching Aliens (complete with braxton hicks contractions through the entire film!). And my children grew up watching movies there. Yes...even though the price is typical of many theaters now, I would love to bring my family there to see a top rated film. Amazing job well done!

Comment by Erin Grady Brown on June 23, 2011 at 4:04pm: Is there a schedule online somewhere? I've been checking the parent company's website, but it still lists the Coronado theater as "coming soon".

Comment by Aleene Sexton Queen on June 23, 2011 at 4:45pm: Looks beautiful .. can't wait to see it in person! Oh, the memories from the late 40's, early 50's!

Comment by Lala Chappell on June 23, 2011 at 5:06pm: It's come a long way! Beautiful!!! Not the same as when I was a kid.... 25 cents to see a movie, with a cartoon and previews! I would certainly be there for the festivities if it weren't so far away! Enjoy your new theater Coronado!

Comment by Lynnda Shepherd on June 23, 2011 at 5:14pm: I can't stop looking at the pictures.. as a lover of all things vintage (especially clothing) I am absolutely dying to get in there and see it all in person. Wow.. :-)

Comment by Christine Kelly on June 23, 2011 at 5:51pm: I was able to stick my head in this morning after KUSI got done filming out front and it is truly more beautiful and amazing then the photos show. I can't wait to take my grand daughter to see Cars 2 here. I don't care what it costs. It is worth every penny.

Comment by Kevin Queen on June 23, 2011 at 7:00pm: American Graffiti in the summer of 1973 was the last movie I saw at the Village Theatre, hole in the screen and all. It's great to have a remodeled classic theatre in town and it looks beautiful. Thank you to Lance, the CDA, and also Steve at eCoronado.com and Joe Ditler for all the updates and progress reports on the reconstruction of the Coronado Village Theatre!!