New Port Theatre, Corona Del Mar

By Tina Thongsarn

If you find yourself tired of Netflix but not too keen on the local gigantic cineplex,

perhaps you are in need of an entirely different movie watching experience. Consider

the beautifully restored Port Theater in off Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, CA. Rich

historical significance? Check. Equal parts new and old? Check. Cushy leather seats

and bar? Check and check!

 

The Port first opened in 1951. The theater served its early days as a Landmark Theater,

offering the locals a healthy dose of art house cinema, foreign films, and even doubling

as a church on Sundays. Lassie even paid a visit when one of the collie's movies was

showing. But unfortunate times and poor profits fell upon the establishment, causing it

to close in 1998. Fans gathered petition signatures but the theater was in need of costly

repairs with no funding in sight. After a slew of owners and a general state of disarray, a

benefactor stepped forward right before its scheduled 2007 demolition. After 14 years in

the dark, the Port theater reopened its doors for last yearʼs 2012 Newport Beach Film

Festival.

The eight year renovation of the theater was a huge undertaking. Only three walls and

the original neon signage (rebuilt with LED lighting) were kept. Outside, the art deco

stepped facade is updated with new materials. Vertical steel beams and a new

sculptured metal facade adorn the upper half of the exterior. On the lower half, the left

side of the building features punched metal panels while the right side is punched out all

together. The lobby is fully displayed to the public, with all glass windows and entryway.

I found this striking departure from the traditional theater front inviting and new. The

punched metal panels give a fun dimensional quality, painted purple on the front and

magenta on the back, followed by a mirrored wall. Very fitting for a theater to invite

those passing by to see flickering reflections of themselves in the spirit of cinema!

 

Inside, I found the interiors richly juxtaposed against each other. The countertops were

made of a soft blue-gray faux marble with lots of gorgeous veining, the floors were

polished concrete, and there were nautical portholes along the zebra-striped wood

paneling. The condiment/napkin counter had the same faux marble top, with a stainless

steel cabinet. Large leather chairs and cafe seating was scattered throughout the lobby.

Reclaimed wood side tables and a color palette of light blue, soft gray, white, and pale

golden yellow reminded me that the beach was not far away. The punched out purple

metal panels from outside flowed inside covering the walls to the kitchen. Portholes

were everywhere! There was plenty of natural light during the day. Cove lighting on the

ceiling and backlighting gave the space a nice subtle lighting effect at night.

 

Moving onwards to the theater floor, a variety of seating options are available from

leather club chairs with tables to sofas and chaise lounges. The sofa and sectional

would be perfected for a double date! The club chairs in the middle looked cool, but just

didn'toffer the neck/head support to comfortably watch a movie. The recliners and

theater seats with the high backs were the clear winner. Purple acoustical panels line

the side walls. While the stairs and theater room entryway were carpeted, the theater

floors were polished concrete, which was odd at first since one would expect carpet

inside the theater. Some may find concrete flooring a bit cold but I think the Port's goals

in being an intimate multipurpose venue call for it. There were no more than 130 seats,

all movable.

Upstairs on the mezzanine level, I was greeted to a sleek bar with dark blue granite

countertops and ambient backlighting. The bar offerings include a selection of cocktails,

wine, beer, and entrees from the kitchen. The mezzanine level seats 34, with barstools

at the long counter in front of the bar, and theater seating on the balcony. On my way

down however, I found the step lighting to be a bit confusing as only some of the steps

were lit.

 

Last but not least, the restroom! The doors to the stalls were sleek smoked glass. I

especially enjoyed the door hardware, which played more with the reoccurring porthole

shape and was reminiscent of a shipʼs wheel. The counters were yet another granite

(counting three different stone materials in this project), this time a speckled gray. At the

vanity, the backlit mirrors hung over one giant trough sink, and the whole vanity was

skirted with shiny beaded curtains seen throughout.

To put in perspective, there is a consistency in the theater

ʼs materials and products.

Where ever there was wood, it was always zebra-striped. Almost all of the seats were

leather. While it was quite dark throughout the space, by installing beaded curtains on

accent walls, light was being reflected from the beads. I thought the beads were another

clever way in making the design of the space more interactive. From the porthole details

to the style of lighting, it was the consistency in materials that made the mix of all these

materials work together simply rather than becoming sensory overload!

The architects, Laidlaw Shultz Architects, received No. 27 for the design of this project

in

Interior Designʼs Top 100 Big Ideas, featured in its March 2013 issue, noted for its

cultural contributions to the community. This project also won a Design Award from AIA

Orange County in 2012. The new Port Theater is located on 2905 E. Coast Highway,

Corona del Mar, CA.

Sources:

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/23/local/la-me-port-theater-20120423

http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/19/business/fi-23868

http://articles.latimes.com/1998/oct/01/local/me-28126

http://www.aia-awards.com/AIAOC//gallery/projDisplayTxt.php?

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/theater-364045-maseeh-corona.html

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3114

http://www.interiordesign.net/slideshow/3097-100_Big_Ideas_Cultural.php?

photoId=421099&photoUrl=/photo/421/421099-

No_27_Firm_Laidlaw_Shultz_Architects_Site_Corona_Del_Mar_CA_Idea_The_1949_P

ort_Theater_was_reopened_and_renovated_with_steel.jpg

http://portnewport.com
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