Antone F. Cheroske was the builder and owner of the Egyptian in 1924. Fred J. Ward was the architect. Cheroske sold to Fox West Coast Theatres Circuit. The Egyptian installed sound to stay relevant. The theatre closed on July 28, 1959 with “Last Train from Gun Hill” and “Man Who Could Cheat Death.” A sign reading, “Temporarily Closed” was posted on the attractor which remained until the Egyptian was razed in October of 1959.
Two horrific incidents may have ended the LaShell Theater’s film run. It then became a house of worship called the LaShell Assembly of God through 1958. On May 11, 1959, it was converted to a 275-seat live venue, the short-lived LaShell Playhouse.
This venue became Edwards Westminster Twin in 1990 and ceased operations on June 4, 1998 with “Godzilla” on both screens. That film was moved inside to the four-plex the next day.
he Glendale Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Glendale was removed from the SMG website in January of 2021 making the closure permanent.
M.C. Konkele spent just $1,800 building this modest, one-story venue in March of 1913 at 207-209 East Seaside on the Pike. When the 400-seat Wigwam Theatre opened in 1913, W.H. Electrical & Engineering provided the largest electrical, flashing sign in the history of Long Beach at 12' by 12'. To get additional revenue, the building had a peanut and popcorn stand that not only served patrons but had a window facing out to the street.
Pioneering theatre owner Jay Cleve Scott took on the venue under the banner of Scott’s Wigwam Theatre. Scott also ran the American, Rex, Palace and Rialto theaters at various points. At the end of a 10-year leasing agreement, Scott had outgrown the venue. He had the venue gutted and created a much more impressive two-story venue rebuilt by J.D. Sherer & Son. The venue was known as Scott’s Theatre on the Pike opening on September 11, 1924 with Wallace Beery in “Richard, the Lion-Hearted” with Rea Douglas at the pipe organ. It was now on a 25-year lease.
The theater changed names becoming an exploitation house trying to get passer-bys to drop a quarter or so to watch films. An example was in 1938 as the, again, renamed Victor Theatre run by Isaac Victor played “Birth of a Baby.” Victor was the grandson of Harry A. Victor who had started his theater business back in the nickelodeon, store-show days in McKeesport, PA in 1908. He had taken on the former Scott’s Theatre in 1929 equipping it for sound. The theatre was in the heart of a Depression-era building boom that brought a new pier and, across the street, the Municipal Auditorium. Sylvan Victor took over the operation running it into the 1940s. The theatre was sold to E. V. Tracy of the Tracy Theatre who steered the venue to the end of its lease in 1949.
On May 21, 1950, Harold Simpson remodeled the Victor as the Rainbow Theatre as an ultra-discount, sub-run house offering seats for as little as 14 cents each at opening. It relaunched that day with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter” and Rod Cameron in “Panhandle.” The venue was named for the rainbow-shaped pier with colorful lighting effects that had been built in 1931 in close proximity to the theatre called the Rainbow Pier. There was no pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow which came quickly.
The theatre returned to its exploitation days rebranding as the Follies Theatre beginning on March 2, 1951 under new operators. In late August 1951, Chester Wand and his projectionist were hauled off to jail for showing immoral films. The theatre rebranded thereafter and until closure as the El Rey Theatre also showing exploitation films through 1953. It then became home to a church from 1954 to 1957 before being offered for sale. The El Rey Theatre was later demolished as was the Rainbow Pier which closed on March 20, 1966, and the Municipal Auditorium in 1975.
The Downey Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Downey was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Redlands Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Redlands was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Monrovia Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Monrovia was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
Eugene V. Tracy renamed the theatre as the Tracy. Likely ended theatrical and live stage presentations in 1950 at the end of a 25-year lease. It was a non-profit center for church services and Youth for Christ from 1952 until 1957 and then was offered for sale fore $65,000 in 1959.
When the UA Movies 6 opened in 1976, the multiplex was the death knell for many of the area’s long-standing theaters. In 1977, the Towne, Imperial and Belmont ended decades' long runs. Mann closed the Belmont on September 6, 1977 after showings of Martin Scorsese’s “New York, New York.” (An article in the local paper ran on September 20, 1977 mentioned the closure without a date and it likely how the incorrect date of closure is listed as September 19, 1977 in the CinemaTreasures synopsis above. The theatre had already closed and was listed for sale.)
Pacific Theatres closed the Towne due to a roof collapse on January 24, 1977. The final showings were “Never a Dull Moment,” Walt Disney’s “The Three Caballeros” and “The Man Who Skied Down Everest.” Though Pacific was going to make repairs promising a temporary closure, it made the closure permanent that fall offering the property for sale “as is.”
Regal / Cineworld Circuit closed the UA Marketplace in Long Beach along with all of its other locations on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic. During the pandemic, Regal decided to make the closure permanent without reopening the venue.
On December 20, 1941, the Palace becomes the News Palace Theatre showing newsreels. In 1952, the theatre switched to the Palace Theatre moniker with Hollywood feature films.
The Jerry Lewis Twin barely got open in October of 1972 as Network Cinema and Jerry Lewis Cinemas would plummet toward bankruptcy. The theatre changed names in 1973 to the Bridgeton Cinema I & II decoupling from the Lewis nameplate along with a lawsuit from its franchisee in April 1973 closing at month’s end. In May of 1973, Arthur Management Theatres Circuit took on the venue along with the Lewis' Central City. They closed there in November of 1973. It became a short-lived independent in the Fall of 1974 closing November 28, 1974 and appears to have sat inactively for a year and a half.
Mid-America Theatres stepped into the lightly-used venue rebranding it as the Bridgewood Cinema on May 14, 1976 with “Jaws” and “Blazing Saddles.” But Mid-America found out what the others already knew - the theater was a dog. And after six months, they quietly bowed out of the former Jerry Lewis Twin turned Bridgewood Cinema on November 28, 1976 with “The Great Scout and Cathouse” on Screen I and a double feature on Screen II “The Groove Tube” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The building was remodeled as an office space for a grocery company. (Technically, it was never called the Bridgeton Theatre.)
Ingalls Cazel Enterprises (ICE) closed the Pawnee Plaza Theatre (and Arcade) on September 24, 2000 with “Scary Movie,“ "Bait,” The Watcher” and “God’s Army.” A final “Rocky Horror Picture Show” showing technically ran that day as a midnight show. It was then listed on the delinquent tax role with ICE filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy which liquidated the company.
The Mall Cinema opened March 25, 1970 with Gregory Peck in Marooned. The Mall Cinema closed at the end of a 30-year leasing agreement on January 14, 1999 with “Antz,” “Meet Joe Black” and “Rush Hour.”
The 804-seat Mall Cinema was designed by MBA Engineers Inc. of St. Louis.
Dickinson had subleased the theatre whose lease was 25 years long to an exhibitor of Spanish language films. Then it created the new sublease above with DFG for adult films that was cancelled by the owner of the property. The former sublessee was able to screen the final bookings on November 6, 1983 of “Un Amor en Nuevo York” and “Las Sobrenas del Diablo.” The theatre was then demolished.
This was the cinema located outside the Towne East Square Mall. Royale Theatres took on these two venues from Wallace Theatres in February of 2000. Royale marketed the two theatres as the Towne East Square Cinema VI, super discount operations with $1 films and concessions. Just six months later, Royale closed the Towne East Square Cinema “Inside the Mall” on August 20, 2000.
No longer having six discount screens, the Circuit changed the name of the remaining “Outside the Mall” theatre to the Towne East Square Cinema 4 which continued for about another year. It closed on June 28, 2001 with “Crocodile Dundee 3,” “Chocolat,” “Driven,” and “Kindom Come.” Royale would stagger on with just three locations before bankruptcy ended the circuit in October of 2001.
This was the cinema located inside the Towne East Square Mall. Royale Theatres took on the venue from Wallace Theatres in February of 2000. They soon found what Wallace and Crown already knew: the day of the twin screener mall cinema was all but over. It had marketed the two theatres as the Towne East Square Cinema VI, a super discount operation with $1 films and concessions. Just six months later, Royale closed the Towne East Square Cinema “Inside the Mall” on August 20, 2000 with “Where the Heart Is” and “Frequency.” The Circuit changed the name of the “Outside the Mall” theatre to the Towne East Square Cinema 4 which continued for about another year.
Dickinson tried to upgrade the Northrock to a 20-screen megaplex but couldn’t get the City of Wichita to agree in the late 1990s. It built the neighboring Northrock 14 in 1998. It then tried unsuccessfully to sell the Northrock 6 to a sporting goods company in 2001. It upgraded four of the six screens to stadium seating in 2001. It continued to look for a new owner which it found in 2003. The theatre closed on June 29, 2003 and was converted into office space.
Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Slothower’s Sandra Theatre launched July 23, 1939 with Barbara Hunt in “Wings of the Navy” supported by three selected shorts. Midwest Theatres took on the operation moving it to “move-over” status taking older product from the Orpheum or Miller theaters. The circuit closed it on February 3, 1954 citing an inability to properly convert to widescreen to show CinemaScope films. It closed with “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The local newspaper moved into the former theatre after some remodeling in 1954.
The New Theatre launched May 28, 1938 as a sub-run, double feature discount house with Melvyn Douglas in “Fast Company” and Lew Ayres in “Spring Madness.” It switched names to the Vicotry Theatre after a naming contest. The Victory ran to the end of a 30-year lease with mainstream product. In 1967, it became the Victory Art Cinema running porno chic and edited XXX titles. The cinema closed with a double-feature of adult titles, “The Danish Connection” starring John Holmes and “Back Stage.” It also had some live shows at the very end as performance / celebratory art on October 30, 1977 as the Victory Theatre to say farewell.
A demolition sale in November of 1977 allowed people to buy the original sunflower designed ceiling and many other artifacts uncovered during the razing of the venue including six giant murals and a box of 1950’s era unused 3D glasses. The theater was removed for urban renewal bringing about Naftzger Park
Antone F. Cheroske was the builder and owner of the Egyptian in 1924. Fred J. Ward was the architect. Cheroske sold to Fox West Coast Theatres Circuit. The Egyptian installed sound to stay relevant. The theatre closed on July 28, 1959 with “Last Train from Gun Hill” and “Man Who Could Cheat Death.” A sign reading, “Temporarily Closed” was posted on the attractor which remained until the Egyptian was razed in October of 1959.
Two horrific incidents may have ended the LaShell Theater’s film run. It then became a house of worship called the LaShell Assembly of God through 1958. On May 11, 1959, it was converted to a 275-seat live venue, the short-lived LaShell Playhouse.
This venue became Edwards Westminster Twin in 1990 and ceased operations on June 4, 1998 with “Godzilla” on both screens. That film was moved inside to the four-plex the next day.
he Glendale Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Glendale was removed from the SMG website in January of 2021 making the closure permanent.
M.C. Konkele spent just $1,800 building this modest, one-story venue in March of 1913 at 207-209 East Seaside on the Pike. When the 400-seat Wigwam Theatre opened in 1913, W.H. Electrical & Engineering provided the largest electrical, flashing sign in the history of Long Beach at 12' by 12'. To get additional revenue, the building had a peanut and popcorn stand that not only served patrons but had a window facing out to the street.
Pioneering theatre owner Jay Cleve Scott took on the venue under the banner of Scott’s Wigwam Theatre. Scott also ran the American, Rex, Palace and Rialto theaters at various points. At the end of a 10-year leasing agreement, Scott had outgrown the venue. He had the venue gutted and created a much more impressive two-story venue rebuilt by J.D. Sherer & Son. The venue was known as Scott’s Theatre on the Pike opening on September 11, 1924 with Wallace Beery in “Richard, the Lion-Hearted” with Rea Douglas at the pipe organ. It was now on a 25-year lease.
The theater changed names becoming an exploitation house trying to get passer-bys to drop a quarter or so to watch films. An example was in 1938 as the, again, renamed Victor Theatre run by Isaac Victor played “Birth of a Baby.” Victor was the grandson of Harry A. Victor who had started his theater business back in the nickelodeon, store-show days in McKeesport, PA in 1908. He had taken on the former Scott’s Theatre in 1929 equipping it for sound. The theatre was in the heart of a Depression-era building boom that brought a new pier and, across the street, the Municipal Auditorium. Sylvan Victor took over the operation running it into the 1940s. The theatre was sold to E. V. Tracy of the Tracy Theatre who steered the venue to the end of its lease in 1949.
On May 21, 1950, Harold Simpson remodeled the Victor as the Rainbow Theatre as an ultra-discount, sub-run house offering seats for as little as 14 cents each at opening. It relaunched that day with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter” and Rod Cameron in “Panhandle.” The venue was named for the rainbow-shaped pier with colorful lighting effects that had been built in 1931 in close proximity to the theatre called the Rainbow Pier. There was no pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow which came quickly.
The theatre returned to its exploitation days rebranding as the Follies Theatre beginning on March 2, 1951 under new operators. In late August 1951, Chester Wand and his projectionist were hauled off to jail for showing immoral films. The theatre rebranded thereafter and until closure as the El Rey Theatre also showing exploitation films through 1953. It then became home to a church from 1954 to 1957 before being offered for sale. The El Rey Theatre was later demolished as was the Rainbow Pier which closed on March 20, 1966, and the Municipal Auditorium in 1975.
The Downey Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Downey was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Redlands Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Redlands was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Monrovia Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Monrovia was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
Red Skelton’s “The Yellow Cab Man” proved to the final screening after fire destroyed the theatre on December 12, 1951.
Eugene V. Tracy renamed the theatre as the Tracy. Likely ended theatrical and live stage presentations in 1950 at the end of a 25-year lease. It was a non-profit center for church services and Youth for Christ from 1952 until 1957 and then was offered for sale fore $65,000 in 1959.
When the UA Movies 6 opened in 1976, the multiplex was the death knell for many of the area’s long-standing theaters. In 1977, the Towne, Imperial and Belmont ended decades' long runs. Mann closed the Belmont on September 6, 1977 after showings of Martin Scorsese’s “New York, New York.” (An article in the local paper ran on September 20, 1977 mentioned the closure without a date and it likely how the incorrect date of closure is listed as September 19, 1977 in the CinemaTreasures synopsis above. The theatre had already closed and was listed for sale.)
Pacific Theatres closed the Towne due to a roof collapse on January 24, 1977. The final showings were “Never a Dull Moment,” Walt Disney’s “The Three Caballeros” and “The Man Who Skied Down Everest.” Though Pacific was going to make repairs promising a temporary closure, it made the closure permanent that fall offering the property for sale “as is.”
Mann Theatres closed the Imperial Theatre on August 7, 1977 with a double feature of “A Star is Born” and “The Farmer.”
Regal / Cineworld Circuit closed the UA Marketplace in Long Beach along with all of its other locations on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic. During the pandemic, Regal decided to make the closure permanent without reopening the venue.
On December 20, 1941, the Palace becomes the News Palace Theatre showing newsreels. In 1952, the theatre switched to the Palace Theatre moniker with Hollywood feature films.
The Jerry Lewis Twin barely got open in October of 1972 as Network Cinema and Jerry Lewis Cinemas would plummet toward bankruptcy. The theatre changed names in 1973 to the Bridgeton Cinema I & II decoupling from the Lewis nameplate along with a lawsuit from its franchisee in April 1973 closing at month’s end. In May of 1973, Arthur Management Theatres Circuit took on the venue along with the Lewis' Central City. They closed there in November of 1973. It became a short-lived independent in the Fall of 1974 closing November 28, 1974 and appears to have sat inactively for a year and a half.
Mid-America Theatres stepped into the lightly-used venue rebranding it as the Bridgewood Cinema on May 14, 1976 with “Jaws” and “Blazing Saddles.” But Mid-America found out what the others already knew - the theater was a dog. And after six months, they quietly bowed out of the former Jerry Lewis Twin turned Bridgewood Cinema on November 28, 1976 with “The Great Scout and Cathouse” on Screen I and a double feature on Screen II “The Groove Tube” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The building was remodeled as an office space for a grocery company. (Technically, it was never called the Bridgeton Theatre.)
Ingalls Cazel Enterprises (ICE) closed the Pawnee Plaza Theatre (and Arcade) on September 24, 2000 with “Scary Movie,“ "Bait,” The Watcher” and “God’s Army.” A final “Rocky Horror Picture Show” showing technically ran that day as a midnight show. It was then listed on the delinquent tax role with ICE filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy which liquidated the company.
The Mall Cinema opened March 25, 1970 with Gregory Peck in Marooned. The Mall Cinema closed at the end of a 30-year leasing agreement on January 14, 1999 with “Antz,” “Meet Joe Black” and “Rush Hour.”
The 804-seat Mall Cinema was designed by MBA Engineers Inc. of St. Louis.
Dickinson had subleased the theatre whose lease was 25 years long to an exhibitor of Spanish language films. Then it created the new sublease above with DFG for adult films that was cancelled by the owner of the property. The former sublessee was able to screen the final bookings on November 6, 1983 of “Un Amor en Nuevo York” and “Las Sobrenas del Diablo.” The theatre was then demolished.
Cinema West closed on September 28, 2003. GracePoint Church took on the venue in 2009.
This was the cinema located outside the Towne East Square Mall. Royale Theatres took on these two venues from Wallace Theatres in February of 2000. Royale marketed the two theatres as the Towne East Square Cinema VI, super discount operations with $1 films and concessions. Just six months later, Royale closed the Towne East Square Cinema “Inside the Mall” on August 20, 2000.
No longer having six discount screens, the Circuit changed the name of the remaining “Outside the Mall” theatre to the Towne East Square Cinema 4 which continued for about another year. It closed on June 28, 2001 with “Crocodile Dundee 3,” “Chocolat,” “Driven,” and “Kindom Come.” Royale would stagger on with just three locations before bankruptcy ended the circuit in October of 2001.
This was the cinema located inside the Towne East Square Mall. Royale Theatres took on the venue from Wallace Theatres in February of 2000. They soon found what Wallace and Crown already knew: the day of the twin screener mall cinema was all but over. It had marketed the two theatres as the Towne East Square Cinema VI, a super discount operation with $1 films and concessions. Just six months later, Royale closed the Towne East Square Cinema “Inside the Mall” on August 20, 2000 with “Where the Heart Is” and “Frequency.” The Circuit changed the name of the “Outside the Mall” theatre to the Towne East Square Cinema 4 which continued for about another year.
Dickinson tried to upgrade the Northrock to a 20-screen megaplex but couldn’t get the City of Wichita to agree in the late 1990s. It built the neighboring Northrock 14 in 1998. It then tried unsuccessfully to sell the Northrock 6 to a sporting goods company in 2001. It upgraded four of the six screens to stadium seating in 2001. It continued to look for a new owner which it found in 2003. The theatre closed on June 29, 2003 and was converted into office space.
Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Slothower’s Sandra Theatre launched July 23, 1939 with Barbara Hunt in “Wings of the Navy” supported by three selected shorts. Midwest Theatres took on the operation moving it to “move-over” status taking older product from the Orpheum or Miller theaters. The circuit closed it on February 3, 1954 citing an inability to properly convert to widescreen to show CinemaScope films. It closed with “The Greatest Show on Earth.” The local newspaper moved into the former theatre after some remodeling in 1954.
The New Theatre launched May 28, 1938 as a sub-run, double feature discount house with Melvyn Douglas in “Fast Company” and Lew Ayres in “Spring Madness.” It switched names to the Vicotry Theatre after a naming contest. The Victory ran to the end of a 30-year lease with mainstream product. In 1967, it became the Victory Art Cinema running porno chic and edited XXX titles. The cinema closed with a double-feature of adult titles, “The Danish Connection” starring John Holmes and “Back Stage.” It also had some live shows at the very end as performance / celebratory art on October 30, 1977 as the Victory Theatre to say farewell.
A demolition sale in November of 1977 allowed people to buy the original sunflower designed ceiling and many other artifacts uncovered during the razing of the venue including six giant murals and a box of 1950’s era unused 3D glasses. The theater was removed for urban renewal bringing about Naftzger Park