In 1913, Mr. J.P. Greeley built the first Balboa Theater at 111 Main Street in Newport Beach, CA. It presented musicals, small plays, comedy and vaudeville for around 15 years until it was transformed into an amusement arcade.
In 1928, Mr. Greeley then built a second performing arts facility, the Ritz Theater, at 707 E. Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach. The Ritz was built on the site of the famed Rendezvous Ballroom, which had recently been destroyed by fire.
When the Ritz Theater opened its doors, it was considered one of the most advanced, state-of-the-art theatrical facilities for vaudeville and small theater productions. The Ritz, which housed an infamous speakeasy during Prohibition, became a well-known meeting spot for local society and Hollywood celebrities.
In 1939, the Ritz was renamed the Balboa Theater and its emphasis turned to film. A new Ritz Theater was built on neighboring Lido Peninsula, site of the present-day Lido Theater.
Throughout the 1960s, the Balboa Theater acquired a reputation as a valued and charming cultural resource and established itself as an important entertainment hub of Newport Beach.
In the early 1970s, the Balboa Theater survived several different proprietors who experimented with a variety of entertainment options.
By the mid 1970s, the Theater had become popular as a revival film house, featuring such classics as "Casablanca" and "Citizen Kane."
During this period the Theater showcased midnight runs of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" movie. This type of programming continued until the Theater closed in 1992.
In 1996, The Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation was formed as a 501 © (3) organization. Its mission is to design a new facility, raise the funds needed to build the multi-use venue, and to manage its daily operation once construction is complete.
