Top

music

Stories

 

The Galaxy Concert Theatre's Previous Incarnations

A history, 1974-2011

HARLEQUIN DINNER PLAYHOUSE, 1974-1989
Orange County was the epicenter of dinner theater in the 1980s, and the Harlequin Dinner Playhouse in Santa Ana was one of its main players. The 450-seater hosted Broadway plays such as Annie Get Your Gun.

Details

Related Content

More About

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Privacy Policy

HAMPTONS, 1989-1990
When dinner theater went out of vogue, the venue's owners relaunched the space as a restaurant and concert venue with the appearance of Buster Poindexter, the alter ego of rocker David Johansen, and his group the Banshees of Blue; Blood, Sweat & Tears; and Gary Puckett. It shut down after six months in the wake of booking problems.

RHYTHM CAFE, 1992-1993
Rhythm Cafe was going to be a national chain of concert clubs, at a time when the likes of the House of Blues didn't exist. The permit applications said acts who would play there "may include" America, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Gallagher, Kenny G., Natalie Cole, Pat Benatar, Waylon Jennings, and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

GALAXY CONCERT THEATRE, 1993-2008
Gary Folgner, who still owns the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, would be the venue's longest tenant after the Harlequin Dinner Playhouse—and the most successful at booking musical acts. Under his management, stars such as Beck, Lucinda Williams, Mos Def and Jimmy Cliff appeared. He lost his lease in 2008 and was replaced by a higher-paying tenant.

REVOLVER, 2008-ISH
It was supposed to be a 25,000-square-foot, high-end restaurant/nightclub managed by Anton Posniak and company. Reportedly, plans were for its interior to change every six months, each time with a different theme. Santa Ana wouldn't allow a nightclub, so it never opened.

GALAXY CONCERT THEATRE, 2009-2011
Folgner was offered the lease after Revolver didn't pan out, and he had to work to get the dormant-for-a-year building back up to code.

 
 

Most Popular Stories

Find a Concert

Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places

    Voice Places

    Discover restaurants, nightlife, travel, shopping...

  • VOICE Daily Deals

    VOICE Daily Deals

    Get 50 to 90% off every day on restaurants, movies, massages...

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    More than 10,000 of the BEST things to eat, drink, and experience

  • My Voice Nation

    My Voice Nation

    Join the Village Voice community and get exclusive deals and info

  • Happy Hour

    Happy Hour

    Your local Happy Hour guide at your fingertips

or

Log in or Sign up

Social Connect:

Use your favorite account to access My Voice Nation.


Use your My Voice Nation account to log in:





Forgot password?
or

Sign Up or Log in

Social Connect:

Sign up for My Voice Nation with your preferred network.


Sign up for a My Voice Nation account:



Privacy policy