‘6161’—A Village Theater Tradition Reclaimed

The Village Theatre, a post World War II cinema that had entertained villagers since 1947, is growing closer to reopening. As construction teams work feverishly to complete the Coronado landmark, everyone has early reason to celebrate.

In 1947, when party lines were in vogue and rotary dial telephones the norm, every child in Coronado had memorized Henley 3-6161 as the telephone number for the Village Theatre.  

When the theater went dark in 2000, the number had evolved to 435-6161, but, again, every child and most adults on the island had that telephone number memorized.

On Friday, May 13, the Village Theatre’s management acquired 437-6161 as their telephone number through AT&T, keeping the tradition of “6161” alive.

“We tried to get the 435 number,” said Lance Alspaugh, CEO of Vintage Cinemas and the man who spearheaded the 10-year courtship with property owners and the city of Coronado to bring back the theater. 

“After the Village Theatre closed in 2000, the number went to a couple of different organizations,” he said. “While it is being used by someone else at present, we are in negotiations to obtain that number as well.”

With a June opening on the horizon, residents and guests will soon be able to enjoy the theater again—this time with three movie screens (two of them 3-D capable), the finest sound system in San Diego County, restored sidewalk Terrazzo and a fresh dedication by Vintage Cinemas to serve Coronado and San Diego with a wide variety of film options.

For more information visit www.vintagecinemas.com.

Submitted by Joe Ditler of Part-time PR in Coronado.