Developer Stages Comeback for Theater

When bankruptcy forced the closure of Moorpark Playhouse in 1999, the city’s downtown was left without an arts venue.

But it wasn’t long before Thousand Oaks developer Larry Janss came to the rescue. The longtime playhouse patron and chairman of the Gold Coast Performing Arts Assn. was determined to again raise the curtain at the 1928 theater, formerly known as Moorpark Melodrama.

“When it went into abandonment, my dream machine got going, and I thought of all the things I could do with it,” said Janss, 52, who ran the Fox Venice Theater in Venice, Calif., from 1970 to 1976.

A year after the playhouse shut its doors, Janss purchased the Moorpark property at 45 E. High St. for $275,000 and embarked on a $1.2-million renovation. He renamed it the Theater On High Street.

Now Janss and the city are preparing for the Feb. 21 grand opening of the 292-seat theater, which plans to offer first-run and classic movies as well as concerts and plays.

Providing a broad range of entertainment will help attract more patrons, said Janss, who developed Gold Coast Plaza and Janss Village in Thousand Oaks.

“I really analyzed the demographics for this area, and if you believe the formula, then the theater should succeed,” he said.

The newly designed building will include a rebuilt lobby and a concession area. The theater’s seats are being restored, along with its hand-cut tin chandeliers dating back to the 1920s when the building first opened as the Simi Valley Egyptian Theater.

City officials hope the theater will provide an economic boost to the old downtown and attract other businesses to High Street.

“This is one of the ingredients needed to get people back downtown,” said Hugh Riley, Moorpark’s assistant city manager. “We already have some good restaurants, and this will be an incentive for the smaller establishments to expand.”

He said there are plans to move the police station and City Hall to High Street. Conceptual designs are already in the works for the two new buildings, which are expected to be built in the next four years.

“Our goal is to make High Street a destination,” Riley said. “The city’s growth has really picked up, with the new populace buying $400,000 and $500,000 homes. These are people who can afford to drive to Thousand Oaks for movies and haircuts, so there’s got to be something more, something unique we offer to keep them here.”

The area lacks a hotel or bed and breakfast, he said, adding that having more housing near downtown would also stimulate the area. “I think the theater will help with the area’s economic vitality,” Riley said, “but we need more reasons for people to come downtown.”

Local business owner Kevin Baer said he has seen many improvements in the four years since he opened Moorpark Bicycles, two doors down from the theater.

“There was a lot of vacancies on High Street when I came in, but I decided to take a chance and business has been good,” Baer said. “I think that any business coming into the area will add to the vitality.”

He said the theater would be good for surrounding businesses, which include a handful of restaurants and specialty shops. Steve Carlson, who operates a record store, is also the theater’s general manager.

“One of the reasons I decided to open the shop next to the theater is because I knew of Larry’s plans,” Carlson said. “I can set up displays that will entice concertgoers to come to my shop and that will be good for my business as well.”

Members of the community were asked what they would like to see at the theater, he said. Suggestions included classic movies, Latin jazz concerts and kids programs.

“We are still tossing around a number of projects at this point, but I can guarantee that they are going to excite and refresh people,” Carlson said. “Old town is going to regain a posture of charm.”