It’s now operating as another arm of the monotheistically octopoid known as Iglesia Universal, which operates out of the State Theatre on Broadway in Los Angeles and the Granada Theatre on Avalon in Wilmington.
At least they’re still standing – most of the 20 or so theatres dotting Main Street are completely gone, except for the Linda Lea, Regent and possibly one or two others.
This theatre can be glimpsed briefly in the film “Black Belt Jones” (1974) as Sydney is driven from the funeral. The car travels north up Main Street; the Jade is on the left side, just before 3rd Street – the Linda Lea can be seen at the end of the scene as they continue driving.
Actually, I’ll amend that “two theatres” estimate by adding that the SeaBee base has a largish cinema called the Needham Theatre, at which I saw a double-bill of “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back” in the early 1980s. Some photographs of the Needham can be found here:
The San Buenaventura Artists' Union (300 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura CA 93001) sez:
“To donate to the fund to preserve parts of the Mayfair Theatre from destruction such as the marquee and ticket booth, send a tax deductible check to the Ventura Artists' Union (a 501.c3 non-profit). Note on the check: "Mayfair Fund”. Send checks to the above address, or for more information check the Artists' Union website:
When I worked (briefly) at Landmark, I was told that it was nearly impossible to break up the screen into several smaller screens (i.e. along the lines of the Mission / Metro 4 in Santa Barbara or the AMC Avco in Westwood) because of the projector throw.
Taking photographs today – the marquee was trisected and removed by flatbed truck and crane about an hour ago – I noticed the metal supports on the wall for that vertical sign are still there. Final(?) demolition commences tomorrow.
When I visited the address, the only evidence I could find of its existence was a double driveway possibly near the former entrance (much like the old Santa Paula Drive-In’s only possible remains).
Wow! “Friday that 13th” in a drive-in – that must’ve been great! Drove past it the other evening but you couldn’t catch a glimpse of what was playing from the freeway.
Incredibly beautiful at night – “The Village” was playing and the wildly flashing marquee was a sight to behold. Possibly even more inspired a vision than the Academy in Inglewood or the Alex in Glendale…
Oh, and during its last days as a movie theatre, it showed second-run and classic films (“The Conversation”, “Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind”, etc.). It had ceased to be a Pussycat long before that (although there were still popcorn cups emblazoned with the Pussycat girl and their “It’s Cool Inside” logo).
This listing duplicates the Alvarado Theatre listing found here:
/theaters/2339/
The Park was the theatre in which Jack Smith’s famous gay underground film “Flaming Creatures” premiered.
It’s now operating as another arm of the monotheistically octopoid known as Iglesia Universal, which operates out of the State Theatre on Broadway in Los Angeles and the Granada Theatre on Avalon in Wilmington.
An “expresso bar”…groan…this makes two theatres demolished in the last couple of years in Century City…
This theatre can also be seen at the end of “Daredevil”, but the film is set in New York City(!).
At least they’re still standing – most of the 20 or so theatres dotting Main Street are completely gone, except for the Linda Lea, Regent and possibly one or two others.
This theatre can be glimpsed briefly in the film “Black Belt Jones” (1974) as Sydney is driven from the funeral. The car travels north up Main Street; the Jade is on the left side, just before 3rd Street – the Linda Lea can be seen at the end of the scene as they continue driving.
Actually, I’ll amend that “two theatres” estimate by adding that the SeaBee base has a largish cinema called the Needham Theatre, at which I saw a double-bill of “Star Wars” and “The Empire Strikes Back” in the early 1980s. Some photographs of the Needham can be found here:
http://www.film-tech.com/pics/needham/needham.html
and there’s another one called the Station Theatre at Point Mugu, information on which can be found here:
http://www.militarynewcomers.com/Theater.html
Totally demolished as of August 13, 2004.
That “Collateral” premiere was supposed to have been at the Pacific 1-2-3 on Hollywood Boulevard, wasn’t it?
Some people are so touchy.
The Vagabond marquee over on Wilshire is just as small if not smaller. It’s roomy in the back and there seems to be stairs leading to a small balcony.
Bruce, you posted these memories on the old board and it ate them, huh? :)
The San Buenaventura Artists' Union (300 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura CA 93001) sez:
“To donate to the fund to preserve parts of the Mayfair Theatre from destruction such as the marquee and ticket booth, send a tax deductible check to the Ventura Artists' Union (a 501.c3 non-profit). Note on the check: "Mayfair Fund”. Send checks to the above address, or for more information check the Artists' Union website:
http://www.venturaartistsunion.org/us.htm
For more info on the Mayfair Theatre, check these links:
The S. Charles Lee archive at UCLA with pictures and sketches of the theatre in the 1940s.
http://digital.library.ucla.edu/sclee/
Cinema Treasures website:
/theaters/2328/
Or find the book on S. Charles Lee: “The Show Starts on the Sidewalk”, by Maggie Valentine.
For more information, contact 805 444 5233."
When I worked (briefly) at Landmark, I was told that it was nearly impossible to break up the screen into several smaller screens (i.e. along the lines of the Mission / Metro 4 in Santa Barbara or the AMC Avco in Westwood) because of the projector throw.
Shots of this theatre’s marquee and interior can be seen in the film “Invasion of the Bee Girls” (1973).
It’s kind of a nondescript storefront conversion but we take what we can get.
Taking photographs today – the marquee was trisected and removed by flatbed truck and crane about an hour ago – I noticed the metal supports on the wall for that vertical sign are still there. Final(?) demolition commences tomorrow.
When I visited the address, the only evidence I could find of its existence was a double driveway possibly near the former entrance (much like the old Santa Paula Drive-In’s only possible remains).
It’s also currently for sale (the realtor’s sign was vaguely newish).
Wow! “Friday that 13th” in a drive-in – that must’ve been great! Drove past it the other evening but you couldn’t catch a glimpse of what was playing from the freeway.
As long as I’d traveled through Ventura and seen the Mayfair (since 1985 or so), the vertical sign in that vintage photograph was not present.
Better change this to “demolished” as of tomorrow. They’re taking down the marquee and ticket booth today…
Incredibly beautiful at night – “The Village” was playing and the wildly flashing marquee was a sight to behold. Possibly even more inspired a vision than the Academy in Inglewood or the Alex in Glendale…
Actually, I’m supposing those mounts I mentioned were for the marquee / signage seen from the street, not for the screen itself.
Oh, and during its last days as a movie theatre, it showed second-run and classic films (“The Conversation”, “Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind”, etc.). It had ceased to be a Pussycat long before that (although there were still popcorn cups emblazoned with the Pussycat girl and their “It’s Cool Inside” logo).