Lido Theater Celebrates the Season with Annual Showing of Holiday Classic, It’s a Wonderful Life

The Lido Theater in Newport Beach, which celebrated its 80^th anniversary this year, will have its annual holiday screening of the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, December 14 – 17. (Photo: Bob Hodson Photography)

The Lido Theater’s annual screening of It’s a Wonderful Life, the holiday classic directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, will be shown on Friday, Dec. 14 through Monday, Dec. 17. (Photo: IMDb)

Ring in the holidays by enjoying the classic seasonal film, It’s a Wonderful Life at the landmark Lido Theater in Newport Beach, Friday, December 14 through Monday, December 17, shown at 1pm and 7pm each day. In addition, on Saturday, December 15 at 6pm, movie goers can visit with Santa, and enjoy carolers and complimentary hot cocoa prior to the 7pm movie starting.

Harkening back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, the stunning Lido Theater celebrates its 80^th anniversary this year and is the perfect setting to enjoy the award-winning Frank Capra movie that has become a holiday favorite. Released in 1946, the drama tells the story of an angel sent to help a frustrated businessman by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

The Lido Theater opened in 1938 with Jezebel, the acclaimed movie starring Bette Davis and Henry Fonda. It has been said that Miss Davis, a Corona del Mar resident at the time, drove by the theater daily while it was under construction. She reportedly requested a sitting parlor in the ladies room, which was built and remains today, and also told the original owners of the Lido Theater to open with her movie Jezebel, which they did.

Restored in recent years, the Lido Theater remains one of the few operating single screen theaters in California. It features a new, state-of-the-art projection and sound system, yet maintains an air of Old Hollywood glamour. Movie-goers will notice elegant lobby chandeliers, vintage poster cases, the original box office, art deco architectural details, a balcony, and a magnificent red velvet waterfall curtain on an elevated stage.

The Lido Theater also features some of its original Catalina tilework, revered at the time for its colorful hand painted beauty, and rarely seen in Southern California today. The auditorium walls have stunning murals depicting underwater ocean scenes that appear to glow from black lights illuminating the walls when the house lights dim.

The Lido Theater is located at Via Lido Plaza, 3459 Via Lido Way, off Newport Blvd., in Newport Beach. Tickets for children ages 2-11, and seniors age 61 and better are $9; students and military with ID are $10; while matinee showings are $9.50, and regular adult tickets after 5pm are $11.50. To purchase tickets or for more information visit RegencyMovies.com or call 949.673.8350. Follow the theater on social media at https://www.facebook.com/LidoTheater/ and https://www.instagram.com/lidotheaternewportbeach/.

The interior of the landmark Lido Theater, which celebrates its 80^th anniversary this year. (Photo: Bob Hodson Photography)