Art Theatre

This is the only true arthouse screen (no pun intended) in the Long Beach area, as it has been for many years.

I remember watching movies like "White Heat", "Harold and Maude", and "Where's Poppa?" in the 70's. A great place to watch a movie.

originally built in 1925, major modifications in 1933 & 1947; bought in 1973 by four Long Beach State faculty members & current owner Howard Linn, as a venue to screen movies for film studies classes

Seats 636 and the architects were Schilling & Schilling; Hugh Gibbs executed a 1947 remodel of the marquee.

Oh, and this was alternately named the Lee (1935 - 1955) and Carter Theatre (1930s).

The vertical sign in the photo suggests that the theatre's name is simply Art, not The Art.

How would it sound to just say "I went to Art last night?

My first thought... of Ralph Kramden telling Alice he went to the Nortons' to play poker with Ed... BANG...ZOOM!!! (Oh hell, it IS a Friday afternoon and I really AM getting tired, aren't I? ;-)

When I was a young'un growing up in Long Beach, The Art was where I had my education in cinema. I would regularly shop at Dodd's Book Store on Second Street, on my way home from school (despite the store being many blocks off my route) to get the latest calendar of films scheduled to play, which I would tack up on my bedroom wall next to my desk. It may have had a tiny lobby and a rinky-dink popcorn popper, but The Art was like a second home between the ages of nine and fourteen, where an impressionable lad could catch the likes of The Ruling Class and Harold and Maude, films that still remain favorites nearly thirty years on. Should I ever live in Los Angeles again, I will make an effort to support The Art with my patronage no matter what part of the area I live in, as I last did when I lived there in the late 1990s. So many fond memories.

The Art Theatre in Long Beach is still going strong. They have a new website at www.atlb.biz Check it.

The theater must have opened as the Carter. Southwest Builder and Contractor of August 22nd, 1924, names the owner of the proposed theater as J.W. Carter.

By 1933, in an article saying that Schilling & Schilling were taking bids for repairing earthquake damage to the theater, the April 14th issue of the same publication names the owner (or perhaps operator) as E. H. Lee.

In an announcement of the remodeling of the theater in its May 16th, 1947 issue, SB&C says that the work is being done for Milton Arthur. Presumably, the house had changed hands, or management, again by then.

Hello,

My name is Scott Boardman and I am a journalist from California State University, Long Beach. I am currently researching and writing a story on The Art Theater and its history. I am looking for some people who know a lot or a little about the theater that are able to talk to me about it.
If you know anything about the theater please let me know by email.
Thanks,
Scott Boardman
ScottBoardman@aol.com

Couple photos of the Art Theatre.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/California%20Theatres/ArtTheatre2025EFourthSt.jpg
Box Office
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/California%20Theatres/ArtTheatreBOEntranceLongbeachCa.jpg

Here is a closeup photo of the Art theater in Long Beach.

The Art located just a few blocks east of Downtown L.B. is the only theatre still standing where I used to go see movies during the 60's and 70's. The West Coast, UA, Imperial, State, and Rivoli were all demolished decades ago. The Art is truly a survivor.

This is another photo of the Art theater.

Here is a 1951 newspaper ad for the Art:
http://tinyurl.com/y2vow6

A 1981 story in the LA Times profiles owners Howard and Florence Linn. Anyone know their current status since last mentioned in 2004? Do they still own the theater?

Story for "retro"-fitting the Art:
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_6634813

New seats would be a welcome feature. Last time I was there, it was very hard staying for a double feature.

The Art Theater is closed as of March 8th 2008. A developer has bought the property. He claims in several local newspaper stories that he is going to restore the theater to its early glory days.
The Linns ( who I have known for 30 years) told me that he is going to demolish the whole building.
I am working on a Documentary Film about the Old Movie Theaters in Long Beach and I would be interested in talking to anyone who has any stories or pictures of the old theaters. You can contact me at
Dennism432@verizon.net

These may be the last photos of the Art. I don't think it's long for this world:
http://tinyurl.com/27ht62
http://tinyurl.com/253l8o
http://tinyurl.com/yt8sfe
http://tinyurl.com/247fcn
http://tinyurl.com/ywbwzy
http://tinyurl.com/yup3aq
http://tinyurl.com/2cq49a
http://tinyurl.com/yv6mpa

Status should be changed to closed.

I think that DennisM already mentioned that.

I was in the gutted Art theatrre yesterday and one of the workers said the art is being remodeled and will reopen in about 8 months.

I'm all for it, if it happens.

Yes-the renovation and reopening definitely will happen. The lobby, bathrooms, stage and stage are being remodelled, while the projector, sound system, screen and seats are all being replaced. We plan a grand opening in july or august. Please get me your contact info for an official invitation. We will be showing the same great movies as always, but with a nicer place to hang out. Improvements will include a coffee house as well as a wine bar to round out your experience at the New Art. Updates will be on atlb.biz as always. Thanks for your support in the polishing of this jewel of a theater.

Status should now be "renovating" in that case.

Man Ken MC those pictures make it look bad just a month after closing.

Ken MC... Good but tragic photographs... I wish you could have captured the auditorium.
How about someone contacting the City of Long Beach Library's collection and sharing with us former locals now living out of state? Pretty please?????

I live right down the street from this place and as of this week the whole front is covered in scaffolding and tarp. It is good to see that the work is going quickly. I'm very much looking forward to being walking distance from a restored 1920's movie theatre!

The Long Beach Press Telegram stated on July 11, 2008, that The Art Theatre grand re-opening will be on August 15, 2008, with all the new renovations. I am thrilled !

I took some pictures of the renovation last night (the 3rd) on my way home:
http://tinyurl.com/6ngfp5

Thanks for your patience everyone. We hope to be open on Aug 15 if all goes to plan, but construction and utility companies being what they are, our "hard" opening date is Aug 21. Our first film will either be Woody's latest or the doc "Man on a Wire", depending on studio policies. I think you will be impressed with our new historic gem of a theatre.

Update: seats are delivered and will be installed by tuesday. Coffee bar is just about done. Our first film will be "Man on a Wire" about the tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers in NYC in '74. Looking fwd to see you all there sooner or later!

Art Theatre starts screenings tonight Aug, 22 I will be there!!

Thanks for all your patience. Visit www.arttheatrelongbeach.com for all the info you need. Please sign up for our mailing list when you visit the site for updates, offers, and special events.

Good luck, Mark. I hope you do well.

It is so gratifying to see Long Beach's last operating historic movie theatre (and nearly the last one standing) so beautifully restored, updated, cared for, and promoted. With relatives in southern California, hopefully I can manage a trip to the Art one of these days. All the movie palaces that graced downtown Long Beach are gone, but at least this wonderful little gem remains.

They did a nice job with the renovation. Here are some photos take today:
http://tinyurl.com/3n4grs
http://tinyurl.com/4eeuy6
http://tinyurl.com/47jpnn
http://tinyurl.com/3n9wcm
http://tinyurl.com/3qjg32

This article from the Contra Costa Times discusses an Art Deco expert who advised on the restoration of the Art:
http://tinyurl.com/5v2fam

Finally! Congrats to all who slaved. I moved to Oregon one year ago and longed for this classic cinema to be restored before departure.

Any night shots of the facade and interior pics? Pleeeeeeeeze?

Simon-I will post those pix asap

I went to the theatre last night for a viewing of The Changeling and all I can say is Bravo for the theatre's wonderful transformation. The sound was great, the seats and space between rows were comfortable, the screen, stage and art deco touches were subtle and elegant! Even the two venues attached were doing a nice business (an extension of a coffee house and wine bar). Great job to the new owners!!!

BillyG- thanks for the kind words. We need all the word of mouth and dedicated custormers that we can get, as staff costs are keeping us from being profitable at this point.

Simon-we have great pictures on our website: www.arttheatrelongbeach.com Does anyone know how we can put one of those new pictures up on this site to replace the existing picture? THanks

Here is a November 2008 photo.

Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:

Art J. Thomas, who recently purchased the Lee in Long Beach and renamed it the Art, appointed Harold Stevert as manager of the house.

Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ckkuk3

Here are two 1983 photos:

Photo1

Photo2