Michele StuevenAwards season is in full swing, kicking off this week with the 31st Critics’ Choice Awards and the 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. With the future of theaters hanging in the balance and the pending sale of Warner Bros., there’s no better time to rediscover some of Southern California’s historic theaters.
Perhaps the most elegant and beautifully restored example is the Art Deco Lido Theater in Newport Beach, which opened in 1939 with the premiere of The Old Maid with Bette Davis.
The renovation of the landmark theater, which is operated by Joseph McGinty Nichol and his company River Jetty Restaurant Group, meticulously restored the building to its original Art Deco design, adding air conditioning and heating without affecting the structure and interior of the building.
Balcony view (Courtesy Lido Theater Newport Beach)
The Lido also has a new, state-of-the-art digital projection and sound system, a new exterior color palette, new seating, lighting, and carpet reminiscent of Hollywood’s Golden era, as well as a larger stage framed by a new red velvet waterfall curtain. The exterior color palette was uncovered as the original shade of the stucco when the theater was built.
The original box office, marquee, movie poster cases, lobby, concession stand, and restrooms have been restored, and new men’s and family/ADA restrooms were built. Real brass and copper finishes were also added, as well as cream-colored paint with subtle silver sparkles that can be seen in the lobby and staircase.
The Catalina-style tile, popular at the time for its colorful hand-painted designs, has been restored and can be seen in the lobby and restrooms. The Lido’s auditorium walls were also refreshed, with its murals depicting underwater ocean scenes that appear to glow from black lights illuminating the walls when the house lights dim. The classic balcony also remains a unique feature not found in modern theaters.
Goddess seat panels (Courtesy Lido Theater Newport Beach)
Upcoming screenings include Pretty Woman, His Girl Friday, Philadelphia Story, and music events. The Newport Beach Film Festival, featuring Blue Zeus, was held at the Lido last October.
The historic Ojai Playhouse, which opened in 1914, has reopened after a decade-long closure and reported $10 million renovation. The newly revitalized 5,500-square-foot theater features a diverse lineup of first-run arthouse films, nostalgic classics, and live events—including comedy shows, notable speakers, podcasts, and music performances.
Restroom at the Lido Theater (Michele Stueven)
Under new ownership since 2020, Ojai Playhouse has undergone complete structural and interior renovation. The revamped 200-seat theater now features state-of-the-art film and audio technology, a live performance stage, and upgraded audience amenities.
The 1914 building’s original interior beauty and facade have been carefully restored using original materials, framed in a contemporary, minimalist design, reflecting the elegance of a high-end screening room punctuated by a James Turrell art piece at MoMA. As one of California’s oldest single-screen cinemas, Ojai Playhouse now offers a green room, front lobby refreshments, a rear box office, an outdoor garden, a microcinema, private event space, and a café and bar.
The four-year restoration project was led by principal architect Bob Kupiec and local builder Kerry Miller, who has been involved in the restoration since a water main break closed the theater in 2014. The construction team, Holwick Constructors, is known for its experience in building theaters and professional screening rooms. The building was designated an Ojai Historic Landmark in 2020.
Ladies’ powder room (Courtesy Lido Theater)
The Playhouse has partnered with independent studio NEON to present special screenings celebrating awards-season cinema, running from Friday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 11, during Golden Globes Weekend. The three-day program will showcase a curated lineup of NEON films in the newly reopened theater. The weekend features six Golden Globe–nominated films, recognized across picture, directing, writing, and performance categories.
Highlights from the Golden Globes Weekend include Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, an eight-time Golden Globe nominee; Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, a thriller that earned Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay; Park Chan-wook’s black comedy No Other Choice; and Raoul Peck’s documentary Orwell: 2+2=5.
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore will be performing on Saturday, Feb 21, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Thursday, Feb 26. The full list of programming can be found here.
No doubt one of the longest and most anticipated reopenings of historic theaters in Southern California is the Plaza Theater in Palm Springs. Located in the heart of the desert resort town on the main drag and not far from the Movie Colony, it originally opened in 1936 with the Greta Garbo and Robert Taylor premiere of Camille and reopened last December. For years, it was home to the campy Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, featuring the oldest still-performing showgirl at the time, 87-year-old Beverly Allen.
Courtesy Ojai Playhouse
Courtesy Ojai Playhouse
Architectural and restoration experts have artfully combined preservation with contemporary innovation and technology. Each detail tells a story, like the newly uncovered 1936 decorative stenciling across the storied stage, which used to feature acts like Bob Hope and numerous world film premieres, including My Fair Lady and The Music Man. The transformation includes a state-of-the-art cooling system for the hotter months, modernized dressing rooms, an expanded lobby, and more comfortable seating.
Currently devoted to Palm Springs Film Festival programming (tickets still available for screenings at the Plaza), other January events include musical acts like Don McLean and stand-up comedy from Matteo Lane and Janine Garofalo.