Aztec Theatre
665 5th Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92101
665 5th Avenue,
San Diego,
CA
92101
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In the new book “THE BLACK DAHILA FILES” (2006 ReganBooks) by Donald H. Wolfe, the author reports that on December 9, 1946 Aztec cashier Dorothy French found a sleeping Elizabeth Short following the last showing of “The Jolson Story”. Ms. Short said had just arrived in San Diego from Hollywood, was broke, and had no place to sleep for the night. She said she had worked as an usherette at the Tremont in Boston (in 1942). Dorothy took her home and she became a house guest for “a few days” which in fact turned out to be until January 8, 1947. Elizabeth then went back to L.A. to meet her fate. Her body was found on the morning of January 15, 1947.
FYI — The building is now used by an Urban Outfitter’s store. This was one of the three “A, B, C” theaters because of their names. Next to the Aztec was the Casino (now a Ghiradelli store) and across the street was the Bijou (now a steakhouse).
An expanded view of the above photo, from the San Diego Historical Society:
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Does anyone know if this theatre had a small Wurlitzer pipe organ circa 1924?
I own a tiny 3 rank style 109-C Wurlitzer that had been in a San Diego theatre. The relay is stamped with “Hatta Theatre, San Diego”, while the single air regulator has, written in blue grease pencil “San Diega” (sic). The organ was repossessed and sent to an LA suberb theatre. The organ was removed by 1930 to a mortuary in Los Angeles
The exterior and lobby of the Aztec Theatre were remodeled by Fox-West Coast in 1936, with the plans done by Clifford Balch. The photo above must be pre-remodel, as that front certainly doesn’t look like a Balch design.
The Aztec Theatre was located at 665 5th Ave..