With its neon-glowing marquis towering right in the heart of downtown, the Del Mar Theater is located on Pacific Ave. and is something of a cultural institution in Santa Cruz. The historic theater has been around since before 1940. The main theater's auditorium epitomizes the classic style and architecture of the old movie palaces.
The Del Mar Theater is locally owned and operated by the same business that owns the Nickelodeon Theater at 210 Lincoln Street. Together, both movie theaters are reputably known for screening independent, foreign, and documentary features most other movie theaters don't show.
In addition to the regular film screenings, the Del Mar is known for keeping midnight movie culture alive. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is screened at the Del Mar Theater twice a year. It has also hosted the Santa Cruz Film Festival and the Pacific Rim Festival.