Village Theater: A Precious Part of Coronado's Tapestry

After more than 10 years of complex negotiations, asbestos abatement, financing concerns and tremendous labor, the newly renovated Village Theater is on offer as a new date-night option for all of San Diego.

But for Coronado, the return of local cinema means more than experiencing a flickering film and surround sound.

When the theater closed 11 years ago and the marquee went dark, residents lost something more vital. Like the worn seats and the torn curtains in the old theater, part of the fabric of the community was frayed by the landmark closure.

The city longed for a revival of the old jewel, but few people knew that a plan was being stitched together almost from the moment the Village Theater closed.

Once an operator, investors and the city's redevelopment agency were in agreement, artisans were brought in, including a renowned theater designer, the late Joseph Musil, who also shaped the legendary El Capitan Theater in Hollywood.

As Musil’s design emerged, Disney artist Bill Anderson painted stunning murals on scrim, a natural textile, for the screening room walls. Sound permeable, the murals depict local scenery, including the Hotel del Coronado, the Coronado Bridge, Balboa Park and San Diego's skyline, complete with an opalescent moon. His vision for the theater was clear: he wanted to convey a sense of “atmosphere extending (beyond) the walls.”

With the renovations and design work complete, the marquee is lit up once again.

For residents of Crown City, the Village Theater is worth more than the price of admission. It’s a rekindled memory that offers the promise of revitalization in the present: economic renewal, community pride and more options in the arts.

Sitting in the plush chairs, eyeing the heavy and rich velveteen curtains, and then the screen behind them, Coronado can once again feel as though it is a part of the fabric of Hollywood.