Guest Book

Welcome --

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this particular vision and PLEASE feel free to add to it.  My vision, which you will read throughout this website, has taken over a decade to articulate but I have no illusions of it being the final word. 

When you first visit this site PLEASE leave a note in the guest book - be it pro or con on the theatre topic or just a comment about arts, preservation, the site, etc.  Let visitors know that a discussion is being hosted here.

Your input is essential and appreciated.  Also let me know if you would like to help and how you might see yourself contributing. 

Scroll down to view or add comments.

Thank you.  Fred

 

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Stephanie Dougherty on July 20, 2010 at 06:09 PM said:

I'd love to see the old theatre building up and running again- be it a theatre or some other form of adaptive reuse! It's a great old building and deserves a new lease on life.

Brian Vaughan on June 26, 2010 at 10:12 AM said:

Thought I would Google the old theatre I used to frequent back in the early 70's and 80's. Lot of good memories. Please keep the theatre as was originally intended and don't turn into a mini-Walmart. Thank you.

Brian Vaughan SCHS - '82

Fred Divel on June 9, 2010 at 03:21 PM said:

Thanks Jeff, for joining the chorus. I, too, hope we have a new owner with the city and the community at heart. I believe we have a winner, however, because I have been receiving calls letting me know that work is going on down at the old Miramar. Not heavy machinery - as in bulldozers and lead wrecking balls - but paint swatches and fumigation. Look on the bright side and thanks again.

Jeff Jenkins on June 7, 2010 at 03:13 AM said:

The Miramar Theatre has always possesed an important part of my life. I grow up attending and in my early 20's helped build a stage in the theatre and put on some great concerts. I hope the plans for the reclamation of such a wonderful building come to pass. And to those who are attempting this awesome task . . . A big thank you for the bottom of my heart.

Dave Kirby on March 1, 2010 at 11:50 AM said:

Much empathy from another pasty white kid who spent waaaay too many hours at Saturday matinees at the Fox Fullerton in Manhattan Beach during the '50s (today's it's sadly a Sketchers teen fashion spot). I too was up to my eyeballs in RKO Pictures, Movietone newsreels, color cartoons and those ever-loving cliffhanger serials. It was a great time to be value programming. Spielberg, George Lucas and countless others went through the same experiences and you know what their priceless legacies have been to the film industry. The buildings may be going or gone (like the lives of friends and acquaintances) but that does not prevent us from recreating the experiences with fresh screenings of the Golden Age of Films and television. Thanks to sources like Amazon and Netflix and modern technology resources we can reproduce those thrilling days of yesteryear for our grandkids and others who crave another fix of "Leave It to Beaver", Randolph Scott, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby "Road" pictures and Charlie Chan! There is a treasure trove in public domain! I have 70 attending monthly showings for Saddleback Church in Laguna Woods (with a boxed lunch) and stay tuned for a new start-up in San Clemente coming soon! kirbside@dslextreme.com

tikidaddy on January 22, 2010 at 09:44 AM said:

anyone who has lived in san clemente for more than a couple years knows the theatre is a work of art and should be restored and used in a multitude of ways,it is the very last 99 seat theatre left in california!they dont tear down heritage in boston or new york or in europe!it would californicate north beach to let "johnny come lately"erase this awesome architecture!!

tikidaddy

Fred on November 2, 2009 at 03:43 PM said:

Terry has not owned the theatre for a couple of years now. The man to contact would be the owner of Family Toyota in San Juan Capistrano. He is the owner. BTW, there is no lack of good ideas for the use of the building, just a lack of ownership vision. A whole generation has grown up in SC only knowing the theatre as an eyesore because the council and the string of owners are never on the same page. I tried to purchase from Terry H. but another guy made a better offer but still has not made his move. And we wait.

Thanks for your comment on the theatre watchdog page and for having an idea. I've been on the case for 20 years.

James Mulford on September 28, 2009 at 12:25 PM said:

wfnco1@yahoo.com

James Mulford on September 28, 2009 at 12:24 PM said:

I have a concept Ideal for the use of those buildings so if anybody knows how to get in contact with Terry I would appreciate being able to talk to him so that something can be done with that property. wfnco12yahoo.com

Thanks Jim

James Mulford on September 28, 2009 at 12:24 PM said:

I have a concept Ideal for the use of those buildings so if anybody knows how to get in contact with Terry I would appreciate being able to talk to him so that something can be done with that property. wfnco12yahoo.com

Thanks Jim

Robert McDonald on September 14, 2009 at 05:38 PM said:

My first concert ever, I'm proud to say, was seeing THE Chuck Berry at the Miramar Theatre in San Clemente. I was un junior high school, and didn't know who he was, but my music teacher encouraged our class members to go if they could. Thanks to my parents, I did go.

It was amazing to see this legend of Rock and Roll in such an intimate setting. As the years go by, I am amazed that I was fortunate enough to have that experience. It will remain with me forever, thanks to the Miramar.

John & Jeannie McKinley on August 13, 2009 at 11:36 AM said:

If you have not already checked out the Moonlight Ampitheater and Avo Playhouse concept in Vista, you should. They also have an adjacent restaurant, but it is leased out - the City is the landlord in both cases. Also note the Broady and Off Broadway theaters that have opned since the Avo was restored - they stage some of their shows in the Avo. Used by schools etc.

Hope you can get it to work!

Anthony Palazzo on June 23, 2009 at 05:19 PM said:

Mr. Divel: My name is Anthony Palazzo and I am an architect on the Central Coast of California. I am a San Clemente Triton that relocated to the Central Coast after attending architecture school at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. I was visiting my folks and my in-laws over the weekend and happened to drive by the Miramar theater. I was saddened by the fact that the theater still looks vacant and has been sitting for so long. Our firm specializes in theater renovations and we have just completed the renovation of the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara. My associate, Monisha Adnani, and I would love to speak with you further about the possibility of becoming involved in the project. If you are able, I would like to speak with you in person. Do you have a phone number where I can reach you, or if you wish you can reach me at the number below. I look forward to hearing from you. Regards,

Fred on June 14, 2009 at 01:46 PM said:

Thank you Max so much for adding to the conversation regarding the theatre. It is a tough job trying to save it but one day we hope it will be reborn. I remember, well, all of the people you have mentioned. If you have anything in the way of interior photos or memorabilia of the theatre we can share with the community I hope you can lend it or copy it for us. I was sorry I didn't get your email address. Please stay in touch. I remember my class at Las Palmas took a field trip to the projection booth and saw those projectors, the cot the projectionist slept on while running the shows, and the big drawing of Bugs Bunny painted on the wall. Was that your work? Take care and thanks. Fred

MAX K. HURLBUT on June 10, 2009 at 02:08 PM said:

Hi, FRED---I live on the Canadian border (Bellingham, WA) but was a resident of San Clemente from 1947 through 1959. FRANK MAXEY, owner of the San Clemente Theatre, also arrived in '47. I worked for him (& ELMER V. "BUDDY" BAIRD) as a projectionist in the late 1940s & early '50s. You'll recall BUDDY had polio and ran his little red scooter through town advertising coming attractions. (He died in May 2002). The projectionist booth housed two Simplex carbon arc projectors. So little remains of the town from these years, hope the old theatre building can be retained....

Cheers,

MAX

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