Ramona Theatre
Ramona, CA
Photo courtesy Bill Herzog

Check out the frontage on the Ramona Theatre, found in, where else, Ramona. The entrance gives Main Street a proper movie-house stop, with the facade drawing attention before anyone gets close enough to read the program. A little theater character goes a long way on a downtown block. 07-06

The building dates to 1947, when a single screen and a neighborhood audience were enough to keep an evening moving. Its street-facing entrance still belongs to that older way of going to the movies, with the theater tucked into town instead of sitting beyond acres of parking.

UPDATE: New owners purchased the theater in 2002 and completed extensive restoration by 2003. It later shifted to live entertainment in 2008 and now operates as Ramona Mainstage, hosting concerts, comedy, and other performances. The entertainment has changed, but there’s still a reason to head through those doors. 10-26