Melodyland Christian Center

Melodyland Christian Center was a church in Anaheim, California that was located a short distance east of the Disneyland Resort. The Melodyland Theater and surrounding campus started as a theater in the round and later became an evangelical Christian church. Pastor Ralph Wilkerson took a musical theater and turned it into one of the largest (at the time) and most influential churches in the Evangelical or Charismatic/Pentecostal community.

The Melodyland theater and all the buildings on the church campus were demolished in 2003. Part of the Anaheim GardenWalk was later built on the site. Incidentally, the spot where the main Theater (or Sanctuary for the church) was located is the spot where the movie theaters are located for GardenWalk.

Christian Center Church, Anaheim started in 1960 and for a few years met at the "Anaheim Women's Assistance League" which was on La Palma Ave in Anaheim. Christian Center Church eventually built and occupied the Candlewood Building which was located on Candlewood in Anaheim, cross streets are East and Kenwood right off the 91 Freeway. The building is still there and is now a Nazarene church. The building can be seen from the 91 freeway. It is south of the interstate between East/Raymond and State College Blvd. Christian Center Church, Anaheim started as a congregation of the Assemblies of God denomination. Christian Center Church, Anaheim moved from the Candlewood building to Melodyland and later sold the Candlewood property.

According to the Yesterland website:

The 3,200-seat Melodyland Theater, located across Harbor Boulevard from Disneyland, opened in 1963. Audiences could enjoy Broadway musicals, concerts by popular performers, such as Johnny Carson or the Grateful Dead, and even ice shows. In 1969, Rev. Ralph Wilkerson bought Melodyland for use as a church. Melodyland must have seemed to be a good name for a church too, so they kept the name and even the original Melodyland sign. Melodyland was demolished in 2003. The parcel of land on which Melodyland sat is now part of Anaheim GardenWalk, a lifestyle shopping center. Freedman Way is now called Disney Way.

Melodyland Theatre was built in the 1960s by a Mr. Freedman, and was host to many entertainers. Some of them who appeared there included Don Adams, Pearl Bailey, Lynn Bari, Joan Bennett, Bill Cosby, Pamela Britton, Johnny Carson, James Brown, Bobby Darin, The Dave Clark Five, Don DeFore, Andy Devine, Grateful Dead, Don Ho, Tab Hunter, Betty Hutton, Liza Minnelli, Martin Milner, Robert Paige, Jack Palance, Laurel & Hardy, Connie Stevens, Kaye Stevens and many others.

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