Joseph McGinty Nichol, a Hollywood film producer and director professionally known as McG, well remembers his days as a “theater kid” growing up in Newport Beach and the impact the town’s movie houses had on him then.
“I grew up in the Balboa Cinema seeing the art films there, going to Lido Cinema, and spent the night out in front of Big Newport to see the ‘Star Wars’ movie; I’m just that kid,” said McG, known for “Charlies Angels,” “Terminator Salvation” and most recently “UGLIES” on Netflix. “It’s fundamentally my thing.”
So when he saw the Lido Theater being restored – and wanting to give back to the hometown that inspired his love for the arts and where he first began his career as a music producer and video director – he took the opportunity to get involved.
Together with Fritz Duda, who owns the theater and surrounding Via Lido Plaza, McG had a vision for the 1939-era theater as more than just a cool historic, single-screen movie place. Sharing similar passions for its historical significance and its tie to the Golden Era of Hollywood, McG and Duda agreed the space could be the perfect venue for live entertainment, charity fundraisers and lectures, as well.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, the theater – a two-and-a-half level, almost 9,000-square-foot venue with room for 520 people to sit in its blue and burgundy seats – opened its doors for the first time since the renovation, which started in 2019, was finished.
“For anyone who ever pressed their nose up against the glass to see what was going on inside, they could come on in and have a look and have some fun,” McG said of the debut.
Those who came saw that the original box office, marquee, movie poster cases, lobby, concession stand and restrooms are all preserved in their old style, but better.
Real brass and copper finishes have been added here and there, the lobby and staircase walls are painted in an orangy cream color with some added silver sparkles, and the multi-colored carpet throughout is also a nod to the 1930s, reflecting colors from nearby lit-up murals. The Lido was designed by acclaimed Art Deco architect Clifford A. Balch.
The Lido will show its first full movies during the 25th annual Newport Beach Film Festival, which starts on Oct. 17, and will close the festival with “A Real Pain,” starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, on Oct. 24.
Duda spared no expense getting the theater ready for showtime, McG said.
“It truly shows better than the day it opened,” he said. “Now there’s heating, air conditioning, a state-of-the-art Dolby sound, and a state-of-art- projection. It’s a first-rate experience in every capacity, but you get the vintage vibe, too.”
The theater is among the oldest in Orange County, costing $110,00 to construct at the time. It opened just before Halloween in 1939 with a screening of “Hollywood Cavalcade” starring Don Ameche and Alice Faye.
The first regular showing that weekend was the Pulitzer Prize-winning adaptation of “The Old Maid,” starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins – at Davis’ request. Then a Corona del Mar resident, Davis is rumored to have had an interest in what was being done during the theater’s construction and is said to have requested the sitting parlor added to the ladies’ room. Restored to its original splendor, complete with puffy pink stools and glass countertops, the Bette Davis Lounge gives a nod to the Oscar-winning actress.
For Duda, it was important to renovate the Art Deco theater perfectly. He purchased the theater and surrounding plaza from the Griffith family in 1986.
“I’m passionate about the theatre and I love good architecture,” Duda said, adding that he “fiddled around” with some improvements to the theater before taking the plunge in 2019.
“It’s taken us five years, but I made the decision, ‘Let’s do it right,’” he said, adding that among the most difficult undertakings was putting in heating and airconditioning.
What cemented his decision to invest “millions and millions” into it, was his recognition of what theaters can mean now, he said. Instead of just a movie house, he said they have the potential as a space for other entertainment with more and more artists now wanting to perform live shows in the last 15 years or so.
“All of a sudden, a live theater became viable,” he said. “It’s a great entertainment venue.”
Duda said that once construction was underway, it took woodworkers two years to scrape the paint off the original mahogany wood pillar in the lobby and doors to the auditorium. The Terrazzo floors made from white, peach, and turquoise tile were covered with another set of tiles that had to be pried loose. Workers removed the adhesive base and cleaned and shined up the original tiles.
They also scraped the paint down to the original master coat to find the right color. To make sure they were historically accurate with what was being done in the space, Duda said research was done at the Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar, looking at old photographs.
“We wanted to restore this as a great Art Deco piece,” he said. “The murals on the walls are restored with black lights that light them up at night.”
The 190-foot classic balcony also remains a unique feature not found in modern theaters.
Creating the new stage, which is framed by red velvet waterfall curtains, was his favorite addition, Duda said. “You walk in, and it looks like a movie theater, but there’s enough (space) for live entertainment.”
In the end, though, it’s the feeling and vibe from the theater that Duda hopes will leave those who visit with either nostalgia or admiration for what came before.
“The older generation will walk away with memories; some will remember sitting in the balcony dating,” he said. “The younger ones will admire the artwork and will see the high-end quality of things built in the 1930s, which is different than what you see in new construction now.”
Duda is also really happy with finding McG, who, in addition to his Hollywood job, said that operating the theater is a “perfect intersection” of his passions: movies, music and hospitality. McG is also co-owner of the River Restaurant Group, which is behind A Restaurant (the former Arches Restaurant) and A Market in Newport Beach, among others.
“We got lucky,” Duda said. “McG loves the theater and Newport like I do. He’s really the topper on this thing.”
McG said his goal is to create the “premiere experience,” and he will use his restaurant know-how to create that while adding technology to make the movie-going experience first-rate.
“If you’re going to the theater, you’re going to have the absolute best food, the absolute finest picture, and the absolute finest sound,” McG said, adding he is buying a 35 mm projector to share prints with Quentin Tarantino, who he said, “started me and has an extraordinary print collection.”
“We can advertise things as being projected on film, which is kind of a signature thing,” he said.
Keeping with the nicer things, he said his restaurant group will provide the food and beverages, which will include an extensive selection of wine, beer and mixed drinks.
“I want people to associate a night out at the Lido Theater with, ‘Oh, that was fun, honey, let’s do it again,’” he said, but added he isn’t forgetting the “theater kids,” the ones who want Red Vines and popcorn.
Ultimately, he’d like to see the venue become like what he describes as a European gathering place that promotes the arts generally and the exchange of ideas.
“I’m in this to give back to the community,” he said. “I’m a kid from Newport who grew up seeing ‘Midnight Run’ five times in one week and ‘Trainspotting’ three or four times a week at the Lido Cinema. I don’t have a rich uncle in Hollywood, and I had to bite, scratch and dig to make my mark in Hollywood, but when this became available. I leaped at the chance, and I want to give back to the community.”
He hopes it becomes a spot for discussions and first-runs for young film students at Chapman University and UCI or as a place to put on a gala or fundraiser for local organizations.
“Most importantly, you’re going to have a community experience,” he said. “If you go see a comedy or a scary movie or any movie, it’s infinitely more enjoyable when you experience it with other people.”
