Plans for a Plaza With Special Effects Theater Scrapped in Fullerton

Plans for a giant-screen, special effects theater and a plaza in downtown Fullerton have been scrapped because City Council members weren’t convinced that it would be financially feasible.

The council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday against building the Fullerton/IMAX Museum Plaza. Councilman Allen B. (Buck) Catlin cast the only vote in favor.

More than 200 residents packed the council chambers Tuesday night, many voicing their disapproval of the project. “I feel that we, the citizens of Fullerton, should not get into the movie business. I do not think that we can sell enough tickets to break even,” said Paul Bush, echoing most of the residents who spoke.

Catalyst to Bring People

However, Catlin and a few others argued that the project would have educational, cultural and economic value. Catlin has said the Fullerton IMAX/Museum Plaza would have served as a catalyst to bring people downtown and to make a “center core” for the city.

The city now has no alternative plans for revitalizing that area of the city, said Ronald E. Hagan, director of community services. “The whole project was voted down,” he said Wednesday.

The idea for the Fullerton IMAX/Museum Plaza first surfaced in 1984 when city officials met with Economic Development Committee members, the Fullerton Museum Center board and various downtown business leaders to discuss ways of revitalizing the downtown area.

The plaza was to be built around the existing Fullerton Museum and would have included a specialty retail center. But the major draw, supporters say, would have been the 346-seat IMAX giant-screen, special-effects theater.

The city had failed to win an agreement with Canadian-based IMAX Systems Corp. that the company would not build another IMAX theater in any of 17 cities surrounding Fullerton for about 10 years. Exceptions would include the company’s option to build a theater inside Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm.

The attendance projections were based on exclusivity, and “that is a problem,” Councilman Chris Norby said.

‘Lack of Exclusivity’

“Common sense tells me that the lack of exclusivity will make a difference,” said Councilwoman Linda LeQuire.

The Fullerton-based IMAX theater would have been the first of its kind in Orange County. Presently there are 58 IMAX theaters worldwide, including one each in Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Clara counties, said Peter Crane, an IMAX consultant.

The plaza would have been located within the area bounded by Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire, Pomona and Chapman avenues and within walking distance of the Aboretum at Cal State Fullerton, Plummer Auditorium, Wilshire Theatre and the Muckenthaler Cultural Center.

The plaza was scheduled to open in 1988 and projected to generate $1.3 million in revenue with $386,000 in net operational income the first year. By 1997 annual revenue was estimated at $1.8 million with a net operational income of $652,000, according to a study by Economic Research Associates.

But that study was based on the inclusion of the plaza’s exclusive rights to the IMAX theater.

The Fullerton IMAX/Museum plaza would have cost $7 million. The city would have paid $1.75 million in cash and the rest would have come from a bond issue.