Imperial Theatre

The Fox Imperial Theatre was located at 319 E. Ocean Ave..

I would like more information about the Imperial Theater. When was it built? Was it an old deco house? Did it have murals? paintings? I am looking for an artist that may have done some work at the theater. Possibly poster work. I need info asap.
Thanks,
S. Selvey

this is for susan selvey...I think I get obtain some info on the place...you might try the historical society of Long Beach at 562...492-1510...Jennifer Stevens is a great person and might be able to help you//I'll look through my stuff

the beautiful Imperial probaly the best looking interior theatre in L.B., It' was art deco with alot of swirls and silver I saw many films there including "The poseidon adventure" in the lobby they decorated by putting chairs on the ceiling. It was a great theatre.

Thanks for all your responses. We have a watercolor from the artist who may have done the art/murals at the Imperial Theater. On the back it it says "Imperial Theater, Long Beach". So I am trying to find more information. The artists that did murals at early theaters were so fantastic and talented. I would love to know more.
Susan

Since the Imperial Theatre was part of the Fox chain. The theatre may have been given the Skouras Treatment during the 40's. Which was to remodel or modernize theatres with golden plaster curls and swirls in the lobbies and auditoriums. Along with that treatment theatres also got re-seated with new seats and carpet and marquees. Sometime during this theatres lost original murals and light fixtures.
If you are interested in theatre decorating. You might look for information on Anthony Heinsbergen Sr. & Jr.. Jr. just passed away recently. But they had a company in Los Angeles called "Heinsbergen Decorating Company" located at 7415 Beverly Blvd.. Sr. & Jr. designed and decorated around 400 theatres and buildings area the US.
They had many mural artist that worked for their company.

The Imperial Theatre was built in the late 1920's. I have an listing for it as early as 1929.

The largest repository of information/photos of theatres in the USA is the Theatre Historical Society of America, which has files on some 15,000 theatres and some 50,000 images, artifacts, and drawings. Contact them through their web site at: www.HistoricTheatres.org

This picture is partially duplicated above, but you get a better shot of the Imperial and the adjacent West Coast (from the LA Library):

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014919.jpg

An article in Southwest Builder & Contractor, issue of October 2, 1925, announced that architect L.A. Smith was preparing plans for the Imperial Theatre in Long Beach. The theatre was remodeled from an existing building. The previous use of the building was not specified.

A 1933 issue of the same publication said that architect Clifford Balch had been hired to plan repairs to the exterior of the Imperial Theatre following damage in the earthquake of that year.

As the theatre was art deco in later years, some extensive remodeling must have taken place, which probably eliminated most or all of Smith's earlier design.

Here is a 1926 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/rbra4

Here is a 1928 photo:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014856.jpg

Here is an undated photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014913.jpg

Here is a 1959 ad from the Press-Telegram:
http://tinyurl.com/2v5wvh

Here is the 1926 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3xb3w5

A Robert-Morton theater organ size 2/12 was installed in the Imperial Theater in 1926.

An ad for the Imperial is on the left in this December 1947 issue of the Long Beach Press Telegram:
http://tinyurl.com/dnml69

Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d47pyn

1983 Photo

Another 1983 photo is here.

The January 8, 1955, issue of Boxoffice said that the Imperial Theatre had been reopened after being completely remodeled and refurnished. A new 19x40-foot screen had been installed, along with a stereophonic sound system and acoustical plaster. The house was reseated with American Seating Company's Bodiform chairs. The new seating capacity was given as 804.

Here is a December 1959 ad from the Long Beach Independent:
http://tinyurl.com/r5kkdb

Here is an August 1960 ad from the same source:
http://tinyurl.com/leg9hl

Here is a letter to the editor of the Press-Telegram dated 3/28/76:

Mr. James Forman, assistant manager of the Imperial Theater, is to be commended for his susceptibility lo the concerned citizenry of Long Beach. In response to the orderly picketing and reasonable requests of the Long Beach chapter of the National Organization for Women and the North Long Beach Concerned Citizens, the cheap and repellent movie Snuff has been discontinued by the Imperial Theater. Community constituents should note that citizen responsiveness and responsibility has determined the standard of decency in our Long Beach community in this case. We are the difference between shabby, brutal and degrading depictions of sex and women and decency, safety and community hygiene. Be barometers of peace and decency. Stand in the way of violence and sexual sickness. Take that stand publicly. The Long Beach chapter of NOW thanks the theater for respecting the wishes of the community and ridding this city of a movie which brutalizes and degrades women.

That is so informative. Are these half price articles?

No, it's a monthly service. The film in question supposedly depicted murders of real people. I think someone admitted later that the deaths were all staged.