The UA Santa Ana opened on July 14, 1965 at the Honer Plaza shopping center on 17^th Street.  Its first feature was “In Harm’s Way.”  This large theatre, though equipped to run 70mm, only showed two 70mm engagements: “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and “The Concert For Bangladesh.”

Perhaps the most famous aspect of the theatre was the eventual ownership by Jim and Arnie Mitchell, producers of the pornographic film, “Behind The Green Door.”  The brothers owned a chain of theatres, and this once luxurious theatre was turned into a controversial place.  They took over the theatre on September 3, 1975 with the engagement of their own film, “Sodam and Gomorrah.”

For years, city officials, residents and Charles Keating tried to close the theatre, having seen it as a blight on the neighborhood.  Who was Charles Keating?  He was charged with swindling money out of Lincoln Savings and Loan.  He was a “moral crusader” and made many public attempts at shutting down the Mitchell Bros. Santa Ana Theatre.  He finally succeeded, and by 1992, the theatre was demolished.

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UA Santa Ana opening ad (July 14, 1965)

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UA Santa Ana grand opening ad

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UA Santa Ana

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Ad for Mitchell Bros. chain, which took over the UA Santa Ana in 1975