The Funner Side of Oceanside...
How can we not love a town whose motto once was, "Tan your hide in Oceanside!" Right?
In the past, we have attended live theater in this very groovy space. Built as a movie palace, the Star Theatre opened the 18th of August 1956 with the movie Moby Dick starring Gregory Peck. It was originally designed for a seating capacity of 986; 546 seats in the orchestra and 440 in the stepped loge section at the rear. Behind the loge seating area was a cry room equipped with electric fixtures for bottle warmers. The auditorium was fitted with surround speakers built into the ceiling of the theater, for the 'then new' stereophonic movies.
Designed by architect William Glenn Balch, the Star was from an era when neon was king and every city was building a drive-in or walk-in theater. The Star is the largest of Balch's 17 theaters that were located in the state of California and the last one that is still open. The marquee boasted being the largest in San Diego County and has been noted for its spectacular animation. It is one of the few remaining examples from its era. In addition, it is a lasting example of Googie architecture, a type of futurist architecture influenced by car culture, jets, the Space Age, and the Atomic Age. Fun stuff.
Not everything awesome here is found in the form of a building. I like this new kinetic sculpture by artist Andrew Carson, conveniently located by our new fav Parlor Doughnuts (yes, we had some and yes, they are still swoon-worthy). About his work, Carson says he “creates sculpture to interact with people and solve riddles of landscape both interior and exterior. Using a varied palette—electronics, illustration, the camera and mechanical systems, I work very hard for elegant solutions for demanding problems of space.”
Oceanside’s makeup goes far beyond just beautiful sandy beaches, O’side is an inventive town whose community thrives on a unique combination of creativity and flair. Oceanside has been propelled into being one of fourteen state-recognized cultural districts as defined by the California Arts Council. The manifestation of this strong creative foundation built by its local art institutions, talented local artists, and supportive local community culminates in the stunning and vibrant murals painted up and down Oceanside’s downtown streets.
Due to its ease, proximity to Steve's mom, and its eclectic treasures, we will be returning here soon. I don't think we will tire of Oceanside anytime soon. I hope the same can be said for you.
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