Ken Cinema

Ken Cinema
Interactive map of Ken Cinema
Address4061 Adams Avenue
San Diego, California
U.S.
Owner
  • Robert Burken
  • Tom Frenkel
Capacity575
Construction
Opened1946
Closed2020

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.

History

Robert Burken opened the single-screen theatre in 1946. Marie Maher was manager in 1974 and Landmark Theatres assumed control in 1975. In the 1980s, Eleanor Durham was the manager.

In 2008, the cinema and adjacent video store was known to bring movie goers from around San Diego County. In 2014, Landmark threatened to close the theater but renewed their contract "...because of the outrage to the closing of this beloved theatre."

On February 22, 2020, Landmark announced that it would not be renewing its lease with the Ken. 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. The theater was sold in 2022. 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.

Notable films

References

  1. ↑ Ram, Archana. "Inside the Icon: Ken Cinema". San Diego Magazine. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Accomando, Beth (2023-01-03). "Beloved beacon of indie, foreign films Ken Cinema sold". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
  3. ↑ Braner, Zachary (2025-07-08). "Ken under construction". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. 1 2 "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.
  7. ↑ "History's got style in San Diego". Los Angeles Times. 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
  8. ↑ Stone, Ken (April 24, 2014). "Ken Cinema Is Saved: Owners Respond to Community 'Outrage' on Closure". Times of San Diego.
  9. ↑ Accomando, Beth (15 April 2014). "Ken Cinema Closing As A Landmark Theatre". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  10. ↑ "Will a Landmark ruling save the Ken? | San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  11. ↑ Saunders, Mark (2020-02-25). "Historic Ken Cinema in Kensington to close". KGTV. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  12. ↑ Accomando, Beth (20 March 2020). "Saying Good-Bye To The Ken Cinema". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2020-04-19.
  13. 1 2 Geering, Madison (2025-09-15). "The Ken's Second Act". San Diego Business Journal. Retrieved 2025-11-10.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Accomando, Beth (2020-03-20). "Saying Good-Bye To The Ken Cinema". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Posner, Jay (2014-04-24). "Fans win, Ken Cinema still in business". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  16. 1 2 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.
  17. 1 2 Schoolov, Katie; Accomando, Beth (2012-08-31). "Rants And Raves: The Ken Cinema". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  18. ↑ Accomando, Beth (2018-11-29). "'Mandy' Delivers A Small Dose Of Cage Rage". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  19. ↑ ""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.
  20. ↑ Accomando, Beth. "Ken Screens John Carpenter's Cult Classic 'They Live'". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-06-06.