United Artists Inglewood Theatre

This theatre--without that colossal vertical sign--was still standing, though closed, in 1998. I believe it has since been demolished. It stood across from the Fox.

The architects for this theater were Walker & Eisen, along with C.A. Balch.

I drove down Market Street last week, and, if this is the theater I'm thinking of, It's still standing and being used as a church. Perhaps that'll balance out the bad karma from it's porn days.

The UA Theatre was located at 148 N. Market Street. On the below comment about the UA Inglewood not being part of the Fox West Coast Theatres. Is wrong from the early 30's till about 1945. Fox operated a few UA houses in Los Angeles. The UA was in Fox West Coast district number 4. In the 80's, it became the Fox II, but it was demolished in the late 90's by a fire.

This theater is where I and my family saw the best Japanese science fiction movie ever made, "The MYSTERIANS" (Toho, 1958) in late October 1958. I recall staring up at the UA tower with the letters "UNITED ARTISTS" on it, transfixed, as a huge movie display 'standee' of the Samurai robot in the movie stood guard outside the ticket booth. It was an unforgettable experience. The theater had just recently been modernized to a Fifties Art Deco Moderne look, painted two-tone grey and blue, and looked really modern and high-tech. We all had a great time there, and saw many classic movies there.

I am the son of Artie Mitchell,Aaron James Mitchell, F*ck you all!
I plan on expanding the Mitchell Brothers EMPIRE...I will purhase all the theaters in the world and make all of you only watch porn!
If you dont like it go to church and pray for me...

Moviemanforever watch what you say on the Internet you never know who's watching. Tell ME face to face that my father should ROT IN HELL. Have you read Amendment 2 of the Constitution?

I worked at the United Artists theater in Inglewood as an usher 1962/3. I believe that the assistant managers name was Mr. Cologne, one of the projectionists was named Jack, one of the ticket girls was Gail Lockhart, and some of the other ushers were Mary Phillips, Sharon, and Joe (can't remember some of the last names). We used to go to the package store next door for soda and sometimes i would go down to King's pipe ship (a few doors down) and talk to the owner. It was a good time.

From the LA Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics20/00019934.jpg

More photos from the LA Library:

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014822.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014825.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014826.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014827.jpg

http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014828.jpg

I was an usher and eventually assistant manager at the UA from 1967 to 1969. I was in high school and had to close almost every night. I worked about 48 hours a week and pulled in a wopping $75.00 after taxes. It was, however, the most fun that I ever had working. 2 or 3 friends also worked there and we all became a sort of family. We would have parties after hours and put Jimi Hendrix on the stereo system in the projection booth. We made a habit of holding on to the bottom weight of the curtain and riding it up 10 or 12 feet for kicks...that is, until a cable broke and we had to spend the night trying to repair it. The manager at that time was Lupita Alvarez. From behind, she looked like Lana Turner. From the front, she looked like Cantinflas! Bert's Bar was next door and I got to watch all of the drunks walk by while waiting for the last picture show to end. That job taught me much about people as I watched it pass by the double glass doors.

The Inglewood Theater was listed at 142 N. Market in the mid seventies, per the LA Times adult film ads. Here are two photos of the location today:
http://tinyurl.com/36kb2c
http://tinyurl.com/365oks

Here is a photo when it was the Fox Cinema II:
http://tinyurl.com/2c8vo9

Here is a March 1958 ad.

This theatre was known as the Fox Cinema 2, before it was razed.

From the LA Times, November 1, 1931:

INGLEWOOD, Oct. 31 - Two bandits held up the box office of the United Artists Theater during the second performance last night, effecting the robbery while the motor of their roadster was kept running at the curb. Less than $100 was obtained.

Bad times during the Depression.

The LA Times reported in September 1933 that the United Artists had been sold for $85,000 cash to Albert Jones, a San Diego theater owner and investor. The seller was Mrs. Nora M. Brown.

Here is a view of Market Street circa 1960:
http://tinyurl.com/ck5m92

Here is a 1984 photo. The aka of Fox Cinema II should be added.
http://tinyurl.com/d4zpho

The UA is on the right in this 1962 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/c7evrz

Here is a June 1974 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/pl2hql

Here are 1955 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/qngh4q
http://tinyurl.com/otojpn

That was BERK's Liquor store (not bar) just to the North. The bar was "The Office" in the 50s and 60s.