It was always in a lousy location from the start, in an area void of nightlife and one level down from the street. Most people passing by would never know the theatre exists. Only a sign board on Figueroa is the only indication a theatre is somewhere in the area.
I was fortunate to run the 70mm director’s cut at the Cinerama Dome sometime in 1988 as part of the theatre’s 25th anniversary program which lasted for two weeks. Previously I ran this in a 35mm version at the old Whittwood theatre.
Believe it or not the Fiesta once used an automated changeover system on it’s eight projectors that used six thousand foot reels. One night vacation relief projectionist Jerry Cheney had this happen to him: Within a few seconds time all four theatres had a changeover at almost the same time. Needless to say this really freaked Jerry out and he was never the same after that. Honest!
The shopping complex which replaced an aging housing project opened in late 1966 and was called the Scottsdale Shopping Center. A Foods Co. supermarket anchored the south end and a do it yourself car wash the other end. Some of the tennants included a Rasco store, Sears catalog outlet, a barbershop and a branch of the Los Angeles County Library. The Carson Twin opened sometime in the mid70s. At the time nobody in the neighborhood believed someone was actually building a movie theatre there since the building under construction was so small.
LawMann
commented about
Mayanon
Mar 22, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Since the Belasco ran movies regularly for two years and it once had projection equipment up in the booth, this magnificient theatre should be listed in Cinema Treasures.
I was passing through Downtown Vegas' Fremont St eight years ago after getting off a bus at the Greyhound depot on my way to the bus stop on the Vegas strip and I missed seeing this theatre.
I believe the last person who built a single screen died years ago and took this information to the grave. You should consider reopening an old closed down neighborhood theatre then give it a try.
Hi Kelley, I remember you. Local 150 used to send me there to work in projectionist Joe Gillams place many times. I worked there on and off in late 1975. Do you remember MASH, Bananas, Young Frankenstein and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest that was shown there during that time?
The citizens of Frisco should learn a valuable lesson from the citizens of Los Angeles about saving and renovating old movie palaces. I found this on the web View link
Up until the early 70’s Los Angeles had drive-in theatres in just about every neighborhood. I grew up in the Wilmington/San Pedro area in the late-50’s to the late 60’s and during that time in that area we had six drive-in theatres (Harbor, Twin-Vue, Roadium, Torrance, Vermont, San Pedro). Sadly none of those theatres exists today, the casualties of costly land value and development.
That’s great news. First the Orpheum then the Million Dollar. I believe the United Artists was somewhat renovated as was the Palace. Isn’t the Los Angeles Theatre next in line?
“It was true during the Depression, when Americans managed to scrape together nickels and dimes for an escape to the movies. And as the prospect of another recession looms, studio executives say this time is no different.”
NO DIFFERENT!!! Further from the truth. Back in the Depression days there was no Game Boy, no cable, satellite or over-the-air TV, no DVD rentals or none the many other entertainment choices that we have today so it was only natural back in the early 30’s that people would go to the movies to get away from the real depressed world if only for a few hours. I myself rent DVD movies which is sent to my address in the mail. Not only does it cost a fraction of the cost of a movie theatre ticket I don’t have to put up with rude moviegoers as well.
It’s about time since the Los Angeles city center area has hundreds of thousands of residents already living there plus tens-of-thousands more have moved in the past several years with thousands of new units under construction and thousands more planned there is a need for these grand movie palaces to be open. Looks like the time has come and it was a long wait. I love going there and I always bring my visitors there.
It’s time to clean house and get a fresh crop of writers with fresh ideas. I’m getting sick and tired of remakes and films that have no story but depend on special effects to sell tickets.
Great photos Ken. I used to attend those kids matinees during the early 60s. The theatre management used to have ticket drawings for prizes as they would tell us before entering the lobby to be sure and hold on to our half of the ticket stub. Funny but I can remember many of the films I saw there, Good Neighbor Sam, Father Goose, Cleopatra, Elmo & the Detectives, Voyage to the Seventh Planet, Fail Safe, Huckelberry Finn, Incredible Mr Limpett, Pinocchio. I can even remember the intermission music, Exodus and Moon River.
It was always in a lousy location from the start, in an area void of nightlife and one level down from the street. Most people passing by would never know the theatre exists. Only a sign board on Figueroa is the only indication a theatre is somewhere in the area.
I was fortunate to run the 70mm director’s cut at the Cinerama Dome sometime in 1988 as part of the theatre’s 25th anniversary program which lasted for two weeks. Previously I ran this in a 35mm version at the old Whittwood theatre.
Believe it or not the Fiesta once used an automated changeover system on it’s eight projectors that used six thousand foot reels. One night vacation relief projectionist Jerry Cheney had this happen to him: Within a few seconds time all four theatres had a changeover at almost the same time. Needless to say this really freaked Jerry out and he was never the same after that. Honest!
The shopping complex which replaced an aging housing project opened in late 1966 and was called the Scottsdale Shopping Center. A Foods Co. supermarket anchored the south end and a do it yourself car wash the other end. Some of the tennants included a Rasco store, Sears catalog outlet, a barbershop and a branch of the Los Angeles County Library. The Carson Twin opened sometime in the mid70s. At the time nobody in the neighborhood believed someone was actually building a movie theatre there since the building under construction was so small.
Since the Belasco ran movies regularly for two years and it once had projection equipment up in the booth, this magnificient theatre should be listed in Cinema Treasures.
I was passing through Downtown Vegas' Fremont St eight years ago after getting off a bus at the Greyhound depot on my way to the bus stop on the Vegas strip and I missed seeing this theatre.
Why the hell did those whimps move there in the first place?
I believe the last person who built a single screen died years ago and took this information to the grave. You should consider reopening an old closed down neighborhood theatre then give it a try.
Hi Kelley, I remember you. Local 150 used to send me there to work in projectionist Joe Gillams place many times. I worked there on and off in late 1975. Do you remember MASH, Bananas, Young Frankenstein and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest that was shown there during that time?
I just came back from Vegas and it was just plain hot outdoors at night. I would rather be in a cool casino playing the slots.
I remember seeing it on Pine in Downtown L.B. driving past after spending a few hours at the Pike.
I’ll definitely be there. I always enjoyed seeing any movie in those movie palaces just for the experience alone.
The citizens of Frisco should learn a valuable lesson from the citizens of Los Angeles about saving and renovating old movie palaces. I found this on the web
View link
Up until the early 70’s Los Angeles had drive-in theatres in just about every neighborhood. I grew up in the Wilmington/San Pedro area in the late-50’s to the late 60’s and during that time in that area we had six drive-in theatres (Harbor, Twin-Vue, Roadium, Torrance, Vermont, San Pedro). Sadly none of those theatres exists today, the casualties of costly land value and development.
That’s great news. First the Orpheum then the Million Dollar. I believe the United Artists was somewhat renovated as was the Palace. Isn’t the Los Angeles Theatre next in line?
“It was true during the Depression, when Americans managed to scrape together nickels and dimes for an escape to the movies. And as the prospect of another recession looms, studio executives say this time is no different.”
NO DIFFERENT!!! Further from the truth. Back in the Depression days there was no Game Boy, no cable, satellite or over-the-air TV, no DVD rentals or none the many other entertainment choices that we have today so it was only natural back in the early 30’s that people would go to the movies to get away from the real depressed world if only for a few hours. I myself rent DVD movies which is sent to my address in the mail. Not only does it cost a fraction of the cost of a movie theatre ticket I don’t have to put up with rude moviegoers as well.
I haven’t been inside the theatre since the 80’s but I remember the auditorium as short and wide with very steep balconies.
Does anyone remember if the Million Dollar theatre had a vertical neon sign on the corner of the building at Third and Broadway?
The show is as phony as the KODAK theatre. Bring the show back to the historical Shrine Auditorium or even the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Unfortunately there are lazy bums who would rather steal than to work.
It’s about time since the Los Angeles city center area has hundreds of thousands of residents already living there plus tens-of-thousands more have moved in the past several years with thousands of new units under construction and thousands more planned there is a need for these grand movie palaces to be open. Looks like the time has come and it was a long wait. I love going there and I always bring my visitors there.
It’s time to clean house and get a fresh crop of writers with fresh ideas. I’m getting sick and tired of remakes and films that have no story but depend on special effects to sell tickets.
This domed theatre seems quite similar to the Cinerama Dome theatre in Los Angeles.
Great photos Ken. I used to attend those kids matinees during the early 60s. The theatre management used to have ticket drawings for prizes as they would tell us before entering the lobby to be sure and hold on to our half of the ticket stub. Funny but I can remember many of the films I saw there, Good Neighbor Sam, Father Goose, Cleopatra, Elmo & the Detectives, Voyage to the Seventh Planet, Fail Safe, Huckelberry Finn, Incredible Mr Limpett, Pinocchio. I can even remember the intermission music, Exodus and Moon River.
Which theatre?