Want to add more to your moviegoing experience?

Instead of going to the same theater you always do, or even some of Southern California’s best-known movie landmarks, you might like to try some place a little different. We’ve rounded up a selection of cinemas that stand out, whether it’s for their decor, history or some other reason, and are worth their ticket price.

BEACH CITIES

Lido Theater: Art deco is the rule here, inside and out. You may want to show up before the lights are dimmed, so you can soak in the murals of sea creatures swimming along the theater’s walls. The women’s restroom features a lush parlor area, thanks to Bette Davis. According to the venue’s lore, the star drove by the theater in 1938 as it was being built and told the owner that it “had better open with my picture,” referring to her upcoming film, that year’s “Jezebel.” It did. 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach, 949-673-8350, https://regencymovies.com.

INLAND EMPIRE

Mission Tiki Theatre: This venue is a four-screen drive-in transformed in 2006 to boast ticket booths that look like tiki huts, a tiki-themed concession stand and a Maui statue garden. While the menu isn’t Polynesian, the venue brags about its pizza and Mexican food. Tickets cover 2 films and are $9 for those age 10 and up and kids 5-9 are $1.10798 Ramona Ave., Montclair, 909-628-0511, https://missiontiki.com/.

The Frida Cinema on E 4th Street in Santa Ana ///ADDITIONAL INFO: OCmovies.0402 – 4/1/16 – PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER – Picture made at The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California on Friday, April 1, 2016.

A historical file photo of the Lido Theater in Newport Beach. FILE PHOTO 8/29/46

The Old Towne Music Hall in El Segundo in noted for screening silent films with accompaniment on a 1925 Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. (Photo courtesy of Old Town Music Hall).

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Ticket booths at the Mission Tiki Theatre.

ORG XMIT: FILMFEST18–(Neg)– Film enthusiasts go to the opening of the Temecula Valley International Film Festival at the Temeku Cinemas Thursday. 6-17-99.



A staff of LACMA gazes at an art work of John McLaughlin during a private viewing of John McLaughlin Paintings: Total Abstraction exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 10, 2016. (Photo by Ed Crisostom

ORG XMIT: XLA102 Guests wait outside for the grand re-opening of Grauman’s 1922 Egyptian Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Friday, Dec. 4, 1998. The Egyptian celebrated with a 75th anniversary vintage premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s silent cl

The sculpture garden at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.

Reading Cinemas Cal Oaks with Titan Luxe: Just finishing up a multi-million dollar revamp, this theater has 17 screens, including two Titan Luxe premium auditoriums with Dolby Atmos sound. The box office has been replaced with a reception desk and there is recliner seating in all its theaters. Six of the auditoriums also have seat-side waiter service and craft food and drink menus. 41090 California Oaks Road, Murrieta, 951-696-7045, http://caloaks.readingcinemasus.com/the-reading-experience/

Temeku Cinemas: What makes this theater stand out is its popularity. If you check the reviews on its Facebook page, you will be surprised by the miles people drive to come here. It’s an older venue, but clean and well-kept and it screens recent films for $3.75-$4.50, add $2 for 3D. It also regularly screens throwback movies and offers raffles and giveaways for free tickets. 26463 Ynez Road, Temecula, 951-296-9728, http://temecula.tristonecinemas.com.

LONG BEACH

Old Towne Music Hall: Classic movies and silent films are screened here with the accompaniment of a 1925 Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ as needed. The organ’s components have fluorescent paint on them so they shine in black light and there is a sing-along before every movie. Tickets are $10 general and $8 seniors, but note that they are only available at the theater’s box office 30 minutes before each show time and may be purchased only with cash or by check. 140 Richmond St., El Segundo, 310-322-2592, www.oldtownmusichall.com.

Regency Theatres Norwalk 8: Located in the back of a shopping center, this cinema appears mundane until you step inside. The lobby walls are painted black and there is an eye-poppingamount of neon and other colorful lighting, so you feel as if you are on the deck of an alien spaceship or should have worn your disco duds. There is no disco ball, but tickets are $2-$3 for recent films, except on Tuesdays when all seats are $1.50. If you want to see a 3D movie add $2. 13917 Pioneer Blvd., Norwalk, 562-804-5615, https://regencymovies.com.

LOS ANGELES

Egyptian Theatre: A courtyard with two rows of tall trees leads the way into this cinema filled with Egyptian motifs, including a bold sunburst-emblazoned ceiling in its auditorium. An interesting note is that it opened in 1922 a month before the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, which sparked a craze for Egyptian art and architecture. It was renovated in 1998 when the non-profit cultural organization American Cinematheque took it over. The theater screens classic films with live talks by filmmakers and actors. 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323-466-3456, http://www.americancinematheque.com/ .

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: Film is a vital part to this venue, which screens classics, documentaries, exhibit-related movies and more, as well as hosts conversations on film and filmmaking and other programs. Take a break from the museum’s exhibits with the ongoing Tuesday matinee series, focused on classic films at 1 p.m. for $2-$4 in addition to the museum’s entrance fee, free-$25. Evening movies are $10. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, 323 857-6010, www.lacma.org.

New Beverly Cinema: The building is one of the oldest revival houses in Southern California. It opened in the 1920 as a vaudeville theater and underwent a number of incarnations until it was purchased by Quentin Tarantino in 2007. Tarantino curates its selection of 35mm and vintage movies, shorts and animated films. It is currently closed for upgrades, but will be reopening later this year. 7165 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, 323-938-4038, www.thenewbev.com.

Vintage Cinemas Los Feliz 3: The art deco theme yells retro, but this theater plays first-run films. The auditoriums are on the cozy side with only 5 or so rows across, but fans of the venue like the intimacy over more modern arena-style cinemas. 1822 N Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, 323-664-2169, www.vintagecinemas.com/losfeliz/.

Vintage Cinemas Vista Theatre: This venue, designed by theater architect Lewis A. Smith, began its life as the Lou Bard Playhouse in 1923. Its forecourt is graced with celebrity footprints and it has a Spanish revival style exterior while inside it boasts an ancient Egyptian theme. The single auditorium has a 50-foot screen and JBL sound and the theater brags that it has “the most legroom in Hollywood.” It screens classics in 35mm film and new movies in digital. 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, 323-660-6639, http://vintagecinemas.com/vista/.

ORANGE COUNTY

The Frida Cinema: Owned by a non-profit arts organization, this old-school styled theater has volunteers in the ticket booth and concessions. The auditorium’s former seats have been recently replaced by cushy, high-backed ones. The venue touts itself as “Orange County’s year-round film festival” and screens independent, classic, short, anime and avant garde films, along with current movies. And as a bonus, each ticket comes with a discount offer for a local restaurant. 305 E. 4th St. #100, Santa Ana, 714-285-9422, www.thefridacinema.org.

Related: Whether swanky or cheap, here are the best places to watch a movie in Orange County

CGV Cinemas Buena Park 8 and Los Angeles: These state-of-the-art theatera offer select current movies in 4DX and ScreenX. Films shown in 4DX give your senses a complete experience, as the seats move in three dimensions and vibrate, there is wind, rain, fog, bubbles, snow and storm lighting and sounds, plus scents. ScreenX films are expanded onto the auditorium’s side walls for a 270-degree view. The venues also have curved screens, fully reclining chairs, personal cell phone charging stations and storage areas and serves signature popcorn, beer and wine. 6988 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, 714-252-6826, and 621 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, 213-388-9000, www.cgvcinemas.com. You can also find films screened in 4DX and ScreenX at Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center: 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, 844-462-7342, Ext. 4046, https://www.regmovies.com and movies shown in 4DX at Cinépolis: 8540 Whittier Blvd., Pico Rivera, 562-205-3456, https://www.cinepolisusa.com.

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

Norton Simon Museum: Film series are offered occasionally throughout the year in the venue’s theater. They usually feature a different movie at 5:30 p.m. every Friday for a month or more, all centered around a theme. The best part is that the screenings are free with museum admission, $15 adults, $12 seniors and free for children 18 and under, students and active military, and no reservations are required, so you can take in some art before or after the show. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 626-449-6840, www.nortonsimon.org.

Regency Academy Cinemas: It opened in 1925 as Bard’s Egyptian (yes, another Lou Bard theater) with appropriately themed decor before being sold in 1942 to Fox, which covered the statuary with murals of mermaids and underwater scenes. The venue presented star-studded premieres through the 1950s. It eventually evolved into the Academy and its past grandeur was buried under flat plaster. Its large auditorium was divided up with the main floor becoming four theaters and the balcony split into two. The result is some very strange seating configurations that remain to this day at this decidedly unfancy theater. Some seats might need replacing and sections are sometimes roped off when it rains, but it’s fairly clean and screens recent films for budget prices, which is why the crowds come. Tickets are $2.50-$3.50 and Wednesdays after 6 p.m. is Date Night with 2 tickets, 2 popcorns and 2 sodas for $10. 1003 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, 626-229-9400, https://regencymovies.com.

Related: This man has watched over San Gabriel Mission Playhouse’s Wurlitzer organ for 40 years

San Gabriel Mission Playhouse: This stunning venue typically presents ballet and theatrical productions, but it also has a Silent Sundays series in August and occasionally other times of the year. A wide selection of silent films are screened, from comedies to science fiction, all accompanied by an American Theatre Organ Society’s “Organist of the Year” winner on the venue’s 1924 Mighty Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, 626-308-2868, www.missionplayhouse.org.