Save the Port Theater

I moved to Corona del Mar in 1958 at the age of 9. I didn’t move

on until 1972, when I graduated from college and married. In those

days, the Port Theater was a major player in the dating game, and a

weekend hangout for young adults wanting to see the latest film

releases from Hollywood. Dan the barber used to cut my hair in the

lower right corner of the building. That was an era when Little

League was the biggest game in town, instead of Playstation or Game

Boy. Why, my class at Corona del Mar High School actually drove Fords

and Chevies instead of Beemers and Mercedes.

There seems to be a loud group cheering for the demise of this

hallowed theater building. It’s a shame they can’t sympathize with

those of us who find beauty in historic places. They would have us

tear this building down, only to be replaced by another oriental rug

merchant with sale posters in his windows, or an additional

unnecessary nail salon, or another car wash that serves cappuccino

while you wait. I still wash my own car on the weekends and

frequently brew my own coffee, as well. Try it. It can be quite

rewarding.

I live in a nice neighborhood in Costa Mesa now, primarily because

these same yuppies and “Dot-commers” have driven the coastal real

estate values beyond all sensible levels. There are a number of us

natives who still enjoy seeing spots like the Balboa Theater, the

Pavilion, the Port Theater and the footbridge over Bayside Drive when

we walk the cities we grew up in. There are even a few original

residents still holding out. You can spot them by their small, quaint

houses on large lots. They haven’t felt the call to “maximize their

living space” at the expense of their quality of living. If you see

one of them, ask them to tell you about the sleepy little town that

Corona del Mar used to be. Like our own Judge Gardner, they can be

very entertaining.

I’ve had the good fortune to visit the Roman Coliseum, the walled

city of Rothensburg, Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and other historic

places of antiquity, both here and abroad. That trip taught me that

it isn’t necessary to tear a house down just because it was built

nearly a decade ago. This is a mind-set unique to those with either

too much money or too little interest in how we all got to where we

are today.

Old places can be great places. For all of us who care about our

past, please consider saving the Port Theater. These buildings house

more than old furniture and wallcoverings. They hold memories, too.

For those of us who spent our youth there, and still get a charge out

of seeing and using these wonderful buildings, let’s try to find a

happy balance.

PATRICK AYRES

Costa Mesa