You have read enough about live performances in this space. I am sorry to say it also sucks as a movie theater. It smells. Like somebody else's storage unit. The stage curtains can no longer be fully retracted for a widescreen movie. Super Mario Galaxy, of all things, had about 3 feet on each side projected onto the curtains. Abandoning the beautiful entryway and its kiosk is unforgiveable. Instead you are to buy your tickets in the box office, which bears no resemblance to the rest of the building. It looks like a pop-up version of the office at your middle school. It's beautiful inside, and the unpleasant smell is faint enough you'll forget it once your popcorn and red licorice ick int. But be sure you sit in the front 10 to 20 rows if you want to actually feel you are watching a projected film on a big screen. My negativity is here to apply what small share of pressure I can contribute to what should be one of Santa Barbara's iconic landmarks. The theater is worth visiting anyway. On a certain level it is wonderful. But boy does it need a lot of work. read more

Came here last night for the Santa Barbara film festival virtuosos award. I grew up going here for a field trips and it was always a fun time. The building is so beautiful. I had a great time last night. read more

Arlington Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A bit disorganized and hectic when we got to the concert. Lines all over. People buying popcorn and nachos for the concert was a bit odd. Def different than other concert venues. Very old building with much needed repairs . Especially since historic..it has potential. Lighting was nice and the artist we went to see was great. We had fun , however weird set up. They show have a live stream of the artist on big screens, so that everyone can get a close up of the performance. Canned beers are over $8 and cheap bottled water over $5. Our concert ticket was over $80. Far from all the action on State Street , we walked over a mile to get to some sign of life. Pretty dead where Arlington is located:/ read more

Arlington Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Home to the Santa Barbara Symphony and historic movie showings the Arlington Theatre has all the charm and history one can hope for, while acoustics are on par with other similar venues. Unfortunately the Mission-style setup and gentle slope is also prone to plenty of obscured sight lines as the entitled local population stands up recurrently all night making their way to the bar or restroom. Visited 11/8/25 for a stunning performance by Queens of the Stoneage it is almost impossible to comprehend how every single song saw no less than 5 people making their way to or from the lobby, while moronic ushers wander about with flashlights turned on. read more

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My go to for seeing movies in SB it's so unique to sit in this grand theater that's immersive and gorgeous and to watch a summer blockbuster. Paid Parking (first 75 mins free) can be found around the corner and the SB public market is also around the corner so that's great for dinner/drinks/ice cream before or after the movie. The theater is an experience all in itself and makes me so happy every time I get to see a movie here read more

The historic Arlington Theatre! One of the best venues for movies, concerts and other events. The seating is setup so the row I front does not block your view and the screen and stage is setup for a great viewing experience. read more

Arlington Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Booked the marque as a surprise for my fiancé on our wedding day since he is a film buff and it was so worth it! read more

Arlington Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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What a gorgeous setting for the Earth Day Green Car Show! We hustled down to Santa Barbara since we were interested in the new Fiskar Ocean electric powered car! We waded through a bunch of Eco Friendly stalls in the entryway, then wound around the beautiful Mission style building to arrive at the back alleyway and the site of the Green Car Show. Prominently displayed was the new prototype for the Fiskar Ocean, an electric vehicle that features a solar panel on top for added electric power. We had a reservation to check out the inside, but there was a line of about a hundred people waiting to view the vehicle. We examined the new Bolt, by Chevy, which has been rehabbed since a battery SNAFU a few months ago. Then we checked out the Nissan and an electric powered van. It was great to see all the interest in this new and rapidly evolving technology! We had worked up an appetite, so we rambled along the garden lined pathway back to State St. read more

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Beautiful venue, tidy & clean, with kind and perfectly firm enough staff to keep this well run ship intact! Loved the clear sound system as Gregory Alan Isakov always bring supreme acoustics in ever concert he performs at. No disappointments here, seats are comfy, viewing is good all over - although in fairness, it's easy to say when you've snagged front and center seats. Terrific venue and hope to be back for another great pick performance! read more

You're not just watching it; you're a part of it; you're inside it! A live performance, you - and everyone else present - are contributing to the experience! Your reactions, your presence, how the performer/s feel/s with your presence and experiencing your reactions, the way the rest of the audience along with the performers makes you feel, both the group's and your individual reactions, anything different that occurs onstage - each live performance is its own unique living thing while it's happening. Each one individually different even if it's from the same script every night. read more

Arlington Theatre - Jerrrrrrrryyyyyy! - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Great shows come to the Arlington, but the seats are cramped and uncomfortable, and the audio quality sucks. It is however charming and unique. Desperately needs renovation. read more

Arlington Theatre - Paint falling off the ceiling - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Old time movie theater with old style chairs and a fun decor with Spanish influences. Came to watch top gun! The viewing and sound was excellent. They have a nice snack bar and bathrooms ar clean. Will stop in next time in the area. read more

Arlington Theatre - Entrance - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Just saw Intocable at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara , Intocable is an awesome band BUT our 2 seats (orch right row D seat 32 and 34) were covered 50% by 4 huge subwoofers !So I didnt see the drummer or the bass player oh but i did hear the bass player loud and clear. On the seating chart it clearly showed me how i would be able to see the whole stage but i Paid 280 for 2 seats but saw part of the band ..NOT COOL at all. read more

Awful acoustics for live events. The Arlington is a dated theatre that is in need of modernization. It's a shame, because the theatre is beautiful and really could be a great destination if needed updates were made to bring the facility up to 21st Century standards. read more

Three stars for nostalgia! I was a student at UCSB many moons ago, and loved how the inside of this theater looks like an old Spanish village. They even paint the ceiling to look like a starry night sky. Love it! The Arlington hosts movies, concerts , lectures - you name it. If you are here for a movie it's a mixed bag. On the one hand, there are tons and tons of seats available compared to a "normal" theater. However, the seats are packed together too closely, are uncomfortable, and don't have a cup holder. The concession stand offers the usual mediocre, over-priced fare. All of the workers here were very helpful and nice though. I've also been here for concerts and comedy performances, and I think this venue works better for those types of shows. (Although you will still be packed into uncomfortable seats.) You should try the Arlington out and make up your own mind. In a world of cookie-cutter movie theaters, it really is a unique and interesting theater to visit. read more

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We paid top dollar for orchestra seats for Gregory Alan Isakoff. I'd been waiting to see him for years. The acoustics were so terrible we left after just a few songs. Music sounded like it was pushed through blown speakers; too much bass and rumbly. The mix was terrible. We could barely discern lyrics or other instruments...all drums. That said. It's a beautiful theater. read more

Arlington Theatre - The Arlington theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Historic Arlington theatre in downtown Santa Barbara on State Street is a true gem. If you have never been before and have the opportunity to see a concert her or just a movie you should check it out. Very cool place. Saw the Trey Anastasio Band show here and it was a great time. Hope I'm back sooner than later. read more

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The Arlington theater is a beautiful historical place no doubt and I've been coming here to see movies ever since I was a kid, but there are major issues that need to be addressed when it comes to holding a concert here! I came here on 9.2.17 to see Ja Rule & Ashanti which was a great concert and they deserve 5 stars plus! But the theater itself was extremely hot and claustrophobic as soon as you walked in. They have no air conditioning what so ever so if you plan on attending a concert here be prepared to suffer from heat exhaustion! Unless it's in the colder months then maybe it's ok. Everyone in the theater kept complaining about how hot it was and before the concert even started there were young girls getting sick and throwing up in the isles most likely because they drank too much and didn't keep themselves hydrated but how disgusting to walk by and see these ladies sick in several places of the theater. The restroom was the worst! The water from the sink to wash your hands was scalding hot water. There was no cold water at all and there were nothing but complaints from every single girl that washed their hands. The lines for food and beverage were extremely long. All I wanted was water to keep me hydrated but I couldn't even get that so I asked one of the bartenders on the side for a cup of ice to get me through the night. Without that ice I probably would of passed out from heat exhaustion! So word to the wise get water and ice especially if you're going to be drinking alcohol! This was my first and last time attending a concert here! Until they can invest in AC then I won't be returning for a concert. But that probably won't happen due to the historical factor. At least invest in some fans in the meantime! read more

Arlington Theatre - Ja Rule & Ashanti 9.2.17 - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Drove up from LA for the night to see a concert here the other night. It was an AMAZING show and I feel like there probably isn't a bad seat in the house. We had center seats, row W and they were awesome. One thing to note is that seats are like movie theater seats, which was different for a concert but not bad. It also gets reallllly warm inside after a few hours, so wear layers so you can shed them. My husband and I both had sweaters and needed to get rid of them before long. They sell popcorn and sodas/beer at the concession stands. Plenty of bathrooms and we found free street parking not too far away. The location is right on State Street, so lots to do and see before and after the concert. read more

Arlington Theatre - Arlington Theater - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This venue sucks! Came to a concert and not enough alcohol establishments. Super long lines, could not get ONE drink in a three hour concert. Security sucks!!!! They could not control everything standing in front of my front row PAÍD seats. To top it off they sell $60 tickets to get a picture with the artist after the show, completely unorganized, I left without the picture. read more

Love this theater. It's beautiful and sound is pretty good. The staff are friendly and accommodating. The location is great because it's on the main street in Santa Barbara with so many places to go before or after the concert. It's nice to be able to get a hotel nearby and walk to dinner and concert, maybe a bar afterwards and then walk back to hotel. No need to deal with concert traffic or paid rides. read more

Beautiful theater and lots of pretty architecture! We saw a movie here and it was a nice experience!

I love this place. A beautiful theater inside and out. I have seen films and concerts here and I have enjoyed them all. I enjoy sitting in the front row of the balcony, that has been my preferred seating choice. The staff is wonderful, friendly and helpful. They have always helped me and my friends make arrangements for leaving tickets at the door for friends who were running late. I think this is a wonderful venue for films. I enjoy concerts here because it is large enough for popular musicians but still small enough to feel intimate and personal. read more

Arlington Theatre - December 2015 - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I imagine this was once a beautiful theater... but when I went to the Prince Royce concert I was so disappointed!! It's so ugly and run down. So unorganized, the concert that was suppose to start at 7 didn't even let us go in till 7:15. The venue is so filthy dirty that my feet are stuck to the floor as I sit waiting for the 7:00 concert to start but it's already 7:30. The people that work here are so stressed due to the disorganization of this venue!! Sorry Prince Royce but you are so much better than this old venue. So disappointed for my daughter who is a huge fan of Prince Royce!! Quick Update.... 8:17 and the concert has not even started... how inconsiderate is that??? read more

I saw Cheech and Chong perform at the Arlington Theatre last weekend and it was awesome. The show was good, the venue was great and we had a great time. I loved the way this place is set up, it looks like you are sitting outside watching a show surrounded by Spanish tile covered villas with staircases and such. The ceiling above is painted to look like the sky. I love the design of this place, it was very nice and comfortable. I would love to come back to see another show here some day. read more

Arlington Theatre - Signage - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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As good as a traditional (non luxury) theater is gonna get. Lots of character and are supportive of the film community in general!

A must-visit if you are trying to catch a flick/performance in Santa Barbara! The theater entrance and the theater itself is beautiful. The architecture/decor inside the theater has always reminded me of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland (there's no pirates or anything-- just the lighting and such-- you'll see). Movie tickets are $9 for adults, and showtimes are at 4 and 7 at the time of this review. This is one of my favorite places in Santa Barbara! read more

Unique interior but my goodness it was hot. The guy who took us to the seat said it was an historic building so no air. Everyone was overheated even Sarah McLaughlin made a statement about feeling like a hot flash. There was also a gentleman that passed out in the aisle half way through the show. Really dark when you first come in and my Mom made a statement because it was probably dirty. I didn't believe her until I flipped on phone camera light and checked out the seat stains galore. After the hot evening I'm sure the stains were no doubt sweat. I know it is a historic building but time to add an A/C, make it bearable to watch the show for your guests and even performers. read more

Always fun to visit the Arlington Theatre. It is a large beautiful old theater. Love the starry ceiling, it makes one feel like you are outside viewing a movie. Santa Barbara Arlington also has opportunities for viewing an occasional film free, awesome. When it is a children's free film they throw in popcorn and soda or water. So fun. Plus the theatre is so large there is always seats available. read more

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When the performer (i.e. Sarah MacLachlan) last night has to ask FOUR times when the AIR CONDITIONING will be turned on, you know its HOT in there! I almost fainted. I had to leave halfway through the show to get air because I was dizzy. I asked an employee to turn on the air. The woman replied, " I've worked here 20 years and there is NO air conditioning"!! This is RIDICULOUS! When you have a full house and no air and the temp outside at 10:30 pm is 75, that is NOT good.......a HEALTH HAZARD and no VENTILATION. Nobody had masks on either. I am extremely shocked the Arlington has no air, being a public venue as large as it is. VERY disappointed. read more

A true Santa Barbara masterpiece. In my opinion, the Arlington embodies all of what makes the downtown area an enjoyable place to congregate. It's so beautiful and ornate both inside and out, and you'll find loads of carefully-preserved old Santa Barbara architectural enhancements. From afar, this theater can be seen by the majestic tower which beautifully illuminates at night. If I'm ever on the riviera or the Mesa, this tower is quite prominent amongst the sea of red tile roofing and white stucco. While the outside is impressive, the theater itself is downright remarkable. It's incredibly ample and each seat is a good one. The decor is lovely and unique, making it feel as though you're in the midst of a quaint old Spanish town with outlines of old buildings offering gentle illumination. The stage is beautiful in its own regard, and the ceiling offers the illusion of a starry night sky. This venue attracts all types of headliners and also acts as a movie theater, usually showcasing the best of the latest films. If you have a chance to even just walk by it, you're in for a real treat. read more

Came for the first time to see Brandi Carlile. What a beautiful venue. Seems like a great view from any where inside. The sound could be a little better. I had just seen Brandi the previous two nights and this one had the worst sound of the three. The seats were a little old and could use a rehab. And the restrooms were small so they had long lines. Because it's also a movie theater. The food options are more snacks than meals, so plan ahead. Street parking nearby was easy to find. Overall a nice experience but they could make it better with some refurbishments. read more

Arlington Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Went there 2 weeks ago with my GF too see the Cult play. The Cult were great, but it really sucks when you pay top dollar for seats only to have drunk people walk on down from the nosebleed seats and clog up the isles and hamper everyone's views. I even went up top the lobby with 2 other people in different sections to complain and about all the people clogging up the isles and nothing was being done about it. The guy said I'll tell security, which he didn't because nothing was done at all. Stuff like that wouldn't happen at the Granada or the Fremont in SLO . read more

The interior of the theater is very quaint and interesting but the seats were disgusting. Wife and I felt we needed tetanus shots, a decom shower, and anti-fungal lotion after sitting thru Barbie. Wish they'd either have the seats professionally cleaned or replaced. Just gross. read more

This place is gorgeous, and the hourly salary employees are attentive. Almost saw Ready Player One, we arrived a bit early. When we entered, I was looking for a typical box office, but instead you enter a room through a door, and "pay in advance." or so we thought. I asked if we could hang out in the waiting area, unsure why I asked. It seemed almost forboden It was an "unapproachable" venue, in my opinion. So, I typically ask "to be polite" not because I'm expecting a no answer. There were multiple large sofa seats, around the "bathroom" area. It "looked" like a waiting area, not a "museum" or something like that. I can think of 100's of theaters and restaurant type buildings, I've waited for movies to start, in "waiting areas." My wife also asked "can we take pictures" again unnecessary, but a polite thing to do. The snobby hostess actually said "no" to my wife. Huh? Everyone has phone cameras now, this was an atypical theater, and taking pics would be a normal thing to do. Why the hell would the response "no" ever be said? Cut to chase, about 45 minutes later, after waiting, the same hostess came up, and said "I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." WHAT THE F!!!! We were 30 mins from buying tickets to the nearly empty theater! Are you insane? With the amount of attendance of movies dropping every single year, why would you be chasing paying customers away? Only thing I can fathom, is the dark haired women, must have been spooked by her equally atrocious upper manager. I saw the graying dishwater blond talking to her dark haired counterpart in the back, moments before she approached my family in the waiting area. I'm guessing she was told to tell us to leave. HUH? She stated, I thought you were "on your way out" not waiting for the next show. It was VERY CLEAR what our intentions were, at the beginning. I even stated that by my questions I asked, before we went to the waiting area, so she was full of shit!!!! Wow, what a bitchy "good" time she provided for us. Even the Snack Bar hostess, said "she's kicking you out" after I stated to her "is there something special about that back room, that I'm not aware of?" I got over it pretty fast, but trust me, that type of experience will not happen with a follow up Yelp! review! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! read more

More important than the last movie or concert one has taken in at the Arlington Theatre...and the references to the service & comforts provided or not, let's look to the illustrious history of this gorgeous landmark. This was the site of the greatest and most grand, The Arlington Hotel, circa 1876. I've searched old books, postcards, library and internet for relics on this hotel, the Potter, Boyland II which was created by Dr. Prynce Hopkins which later became the Samarkand Persian Hotel, Flying A Studio and many other magical incarnations that have graced this superlative bubble that we call Santa Barbara. You're welcome to the fun research I've laid before you ic you aren't a local history buff. ;) If you take the time to get your mind out of the gutter of marketing and the current products being stuffed down your throat and bombarding your mind, you might just be able to take a fleeting second to experience the beauty, character & uniqueness this building holds...you will be forever changed in a exponentially good way...or you can just do you, either way I'm pleased and unaffected, enjoy. read more

A MUST DO! Goldstar had Discount Tickets for The Kansas Concert @ The Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara CA. A lot of classic movie theaters were torn down all over the country over the years. Now there is s Huge Revival of these one of a kind Old Movie Theaters that are now being preserved & brought back to life once again like they were in their heyday. Instead of being just a Movie Theater they are now being transformed into a mixed use space with Concerts, Plays, Comedy & Bands. The Arlington Historic Mission Style Theater is a Stunning Classic Architectural Gem from the 1930s located on State Street in Beautiful Santa Barbara. Be sure to come to your event early & scope out this whole place. It's a beautiful building. There was Discount Tickets from Goldstar for Kansas & Free Parking. There are multiple side streets surrounding the movie theater so you can find FREE Street Parking here, which is always a Big Plus. Kansas put on a 2 & 1/2 Hour Non Stop Show & the Sound of their Music is Fantastic. The Band is really Tight. Kansas Showcased their Journey of Music from the 70s through Today. They played Instrumental Tracks, as well as Deep Album Cuts & some of their Biggest Top 40 Hits too. They sang The Upbeat & Danceable How Long - The Point of Know Return. They also performed Dust in The Wind & were accompanied by a pair of Ballet Dancers. That was Beautiful. They closed the evening with Carrie on Wayward Son. They had the whole audience singing & clapping along. It used to be, you had to have mega bucks & be really rich to have the Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like a King on a Limited Budget! read more

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Came here to see a concert on Saturday, which was listed as 7:30 p.m. start time. We got in line about 7:15 which wrapped around the block and moving very slowly. As we got closer to the entrance we noticed they were literally wanding everyone one-by-one. By the time we got into the theatre and to our seats, the show had already started and we missed the first two songs. It's a nice old theatre, but the seats were very old and absolutely no ventilation or air conditioning at all. There were many people smoking in the theatre, which security was totally ignoring. Don't think I'll be attending a concert here again. I can understand the pot thing during a concert, but if you're gonna allow people to smoke at least have some ventilation for those of us that are not interested in getting a contact high. read more

Almost everything about this place makes me happy. If the seats weren't so uncomfortable, they'd get all 5 stars. Definitely. It's hard to describe being inside The Arlington, it's just that magical and unique. You'll have to check it out for yourself. One of my favorite features is how the ceiling looks like the night sky with tiny little lights as stars. My first time here was for the closing night of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February. We saw McFarland, USA. Kevin Costner and the rest of the main cast was in attendance. The red carpet and the step and repeat really transformed the entrance area. It was a great film, and I can't imaging having a better first experience at a movie theatre. My second time was just last Saturday. We saw Focus with Will Smith. The film was ok, probably wouldn't watch it again. We went in the afternoon and it was a whole different feel to be there with only about a dozen other patrons as opposed to a full house last month. It was definitely nice to be able to sit anywhere we wanted. The bathrooms are certainly old school, but nonetheless they have plenty of their own charming personality and are kept clean and tidy. Can't wait to return:) read more

Arlington Theatre - Closing Night of the SBIFF 2015 McFarland, USA - Performing Arts Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

The Arlington is more than just a venue where you can catch a flick. The theater itself has character and charm, and I'd go out of my way to watch a movie here over a more convenient place with less of the above. I watched Avatar in 3D at the Arlington and it was a very pleasant experience. Because the theater is old, it only has one screen and a whole lot of seating, including a balcony, and this set-up gives the place a wide-open opulent feel. The inside walls are built to mimic a quaint village and the ceiling is painted with stars. The result, instead of being cheesy, is really just pretty. The screen isn't the largest and the seats aren't the most comfortable around, but nothing is substandard and the loveliness of the place more than makes up for anything lost in the way of modern convenience. The lobby and exterior are beautiful as well, with cute hand-painted signs, a courtyard, and a free-standing ticket booth. If you're strolling through downtown Santa Barbara without the time to stop for a movie, the theater is still worth a peek. It's a wonderful place, gorgeous and unique, and I'd love to come back and catch another movie under the stars. read more