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
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