 | |
 Interactive map of Ken Cinema | |
| Address | 4061 Adams Avenue San Diego, California U.S. |
|---|---|
| Owner |
|
| Capacity | 575 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1946 |
| Closed | 2020 |
The Ken Cinema, also known as Ken Theater and The Ken, was a one-screen movie theater, operated on Adams Avenue in Kensington, San Diego between 1946 and 2020. It specialized in art house, classic-film revivals, foreign films and cult classic midnight movies like Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Room.[1][2][3]
History
Robert Burken opened the single-screen theatre in 1946.[2][4] Marie Maher was manager in 1974[5] and Landmark Theatres assumed control in 1975.[2] In the 1980s, Eleanor Durham was the manager.[6]
In 2008, the cinema and adjacent video store was known to bring movie goers from around San Diego County.[7] In 2014, Landmark threatened to close the theater but renewed their contract "...because of the outrage to the closing of this beloved theatre."[8][9]
On February 22, 2020, Landmark announced that it would not be renewing its lease with the Ken.[10][11] It was scheduled to screen its final "classic-films week" on March 22, but was forced to close a week early due to Governor Newsom's order to close all non-essential businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] The theater was sold in 2022.[2][13] Tom Frenkel became the new owner and reconstructed the interior for community business suites, while preserving the exterior appearance with the marquee and ticket booth.[2][13]
Notable films
- Antonio Gaudi[2]
- Anvil (with live band performance)[14]
- Attack of the Killer Tomatoes[6]
- The Big Lebowski[15]
- Breakfast at Tiffany's
- Casablanca[16]
- Charade[14]
- Dance Craze[14]
- Godzilla[14]
- A Hard Day’s Night[14]
- House/Hausu[14]
- Intolerance (1916)[17]
- Jaws[14]
- Last Days in Vietnam[14]
- Last Tango in Paris[16]
- Lawrence of Arabia[15]
- Liquid Sky[14]
- Mandy[18]
- Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera (featuring a performance of the 'Anvil Chorus' from Giuseppe Verdi's 'Il trovatore' by members of the San Diego Opera).
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail[15]
- Nymphomaniac[15]
- Quadrophenia[14]
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show[17]
- The Room[19]
- The Seven Samurai[14]
- Singin’ in the Rain[15]
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- They Live[20]
- Urgh! A Music War[14]
References
- Ram, Archana. "Inside the Icon: Ken Cinema". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- Accomando, Beth (2023-01-03). "Beloved beacon of indie, foreign films Ken Cinema sold". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- Braner, Zachary (2025-07-08). "Ken under construction". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- Marks, Scott (2014-04-23). "Ken Cinema remains a Landmark in every sense". San Diego Reader. Archived from the original on 2014-04-26. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
- "Whatever happened to San Diego's art theatres?". San Diego Reader. 1974-11-28. Archived from the original on 2019-10-14. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
- "Hey, Wanta' See A Really Bad Movie? Here's The Place". North County Times. 1980-10-30. p. 57. Retrieved 2025-11-10 – via Newspapers.com.
- "History's got style in San Diego". Los Angeles Times. 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- Stone, Ken (April 24, 2014). "Ken Cinema Is Saved: Owners Respond to Community 'Outrage' on Closure". Times of San Diego.
- Accomando, Beth (15 April 2014). "Ken Cinema Closing As A Landmark Theatre". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- "Will a Landmark ruling save the Ken? | San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- Saunders, Mark (2020-02-25). "Historic Ken Cinema in Kensington to close". KGTV. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- Accomando, Beth (20 March 2020). "Saying Good-Bye To The Ken Cinema". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
- Geering, Madison (2025-09-15). "The Ken's Second Act". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- Accomando, Beth (2020-03-20). "Saying Good-Bye To The Ken Cinema". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
- Posner, Jay (2014-04-24). "Fans win, Ken Cinema still in business". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
- Peterson, Karla (2020-03-16). "A fond farewell to the Ken Cinema as its closing credits roll". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
- Schoolov, Katie; Accomando, Beth (2012-08-31). "Rants And Raves: The Ken Cinema". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
- Accomando, Beth (2018-11-29). "'Mandy' Delivers A Small Dose Of Cage Rage". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
- ""THE ROOM" CELEBRATES TEN YEARS AT THE KEN CINEMA AT MIDNIGHT OCT. 11 AND 12". East County Magazine. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
- Accomando, Beth. "Ken Screens John Carpenter's Cult Classic 'They Live'". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-06.