Closing Reduces Number of O.C. Specialty Film Houses

What does the apparent demise of the Balboa--at least as an art house--mean for Orange County movie-goers?

The owners of the building will say only that they plan a “major upgrade,” which would appear to indicate that even if they keep it open as a movie house, they do not intend to maintain the Balboa’s adventurous booking policy. The theater, somewhat torn and frayed, could use a face lift, but specialty film houses generally just don’t bring in the kind of money to justify a big investment in remodeling.

That would leave only a few outlets for people seeking alternates to the likes of “The Addams Family” and “Curly Sue.”

* The Port Theatre in Corona del Mar, operated by the same corporation that had been leasing the Balboa (Landmark Theatres), will continue booking foreign and art films. It is currently the only theater in the county showing “Prospero’s Books,” Peter Greenaway’s controversial new take on Shakespeare’s “Tempest.”

* The Bay Theatre in Seal Beach, which matches the Balboa’s old-time ambience, books art and foreign films but only occasionally. The management says there simply isn’t enough of an audience to support a full-time specialty house.

However, the Newport Beach-based Edwards Theatres chain, which has a virtual monopoly on movie houses in much of the county, recently has been lending some of its screens to offbeat releases. The Edwards complex in South Coast Village, especially, has become a home to small-budget, independent films not likely to be seen elsewhere in the county.

Plans to renovate the Fox Theatre in Fullerton remain on hold. Landmark is a partner in the long-delayed project, which has been held up over funding.