Americana Theater

Part of the Robert Lippert chain of theatres, the-sometime Americana 5 Cinemas was located at 8700 Van Nuys Boulevard, Panorama City 91402.

I loved going to the Americana in the early to late 80's. They always showed double features of really bad (but great) horror flicks. Some movies I remember seeing were:

SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE
FORBIDDEN WORLD
BEYOND EVIL/DEMON RAGE
GALAXY OF TERROR
PIECES/XTRO
NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
GRADUATION DAY/NIGHTMARE
WOMEN'S PRISON MASSACRE

It was such a great place to go see movies!

MY NAME IS DENNIS LIVINGSTON II. MY GRANDFATHER STANLEY LIVINGSTON WAS THE MANAGER OF THE AMERICANA FOR MANY YEARS. HE WAS A VERY KIND GENTLEMAN AND HAD A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS. HE SOON LEFT THE AMERICANA TO BECOME JOINT OWNERS WITH MY FATHER AT THE PEPPERTREE 3 CINEMAS. IF YOU KNEW MY GRANDFATHER OR FATHER AND SHARE ANY MEMORIES WITH THEM I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

email: lvcitylife@cox.net

I worked here through the summer of 1967 with the regular operator whose name was M.T. "Morrie"Gilruth - the reason I got the job is he didn't want to work matinees, he wanted to play golf in the valley! At that time this was a real nice area and theatre. The manager was a real character named Sam Fradkoff (the best). The Local sent me out there for the last time in January 1986 - by then they had built a multiplex on the vacant lot nrxt door and twinned the original - what a NIGHTMARE! Sometimes these places are better left to memory.

I started as an usher at the Americana in 1964 when it opened with Michael Shirar as manager. The phone recording was, "you have reached the Americana Theatre, the Valley's newest and most unique motion picture show case." Yes, Morrie Gilruth was the projectionist and didn't work matinees as posted above because he would come in right after to work the second shift as it paid overtime! I also dated his daughter Sandy. I went to assistant manager under Bob Cartier and Del Lesser and then manager in 1965 before going to the Embassy Theatre at 331 Western Ave. in L.A. I became friends with Phil Ahn, owner of the Moongate next door and hired his sister's daughter as cashier. On one ocassion we "film tagged" with the Panorama Theatre and ole Morrie sure knew what he was doing. Then there was the bowling alley and the Red Barn across the street - those were the days. I wouldn't go by there now...

I remember seeing Clash of the Titans here. Classic valley theater in a not so classic neighborhood. It actually became the "hood" and I'm sure that contributed to it's demise.

It still had five screens in September 1974.

Bum bum bum bum...
http://tinyurl.com/2lph23

I was assistant manager and manager in the mid 70's. When I started there as an usher I had been hired by Asst. Manager Ernie Lyle and Stan was the manager. They taught me the art of the theatre business. The Americana did have five screens, but the big theatre was split into two thus becoming the Americana Six Cinemas (I did the recordings for years). Unfortunately, the screens were so small that it was like watching a "postage stamp." The theatres were shut down and replaced with bigger screens. I helped Dennis Livingston open the Peppertree theatres. Before that he would sometimes be the projectionist at the Americana. I did the Marquee at the Peppertree out front by the street. Daring times since there was no railing and the Marquee was about 40 feet high and only a narrow platform to stand on. Quite a challenge! Stan and his wife Dolly loved to take trips to Vegas. I believe they actually moved there eventually.

Here is a March 1970 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/2ocl82

ha i remember seeing Selena there.

When this theatre was part of the Pacific Theatre chain the seating was as follows: 595, 238, 168, 238, 595.

I remember Stanley Livingston and he was a great, great guy. Always wore a tie. I grew up blocks away from the Americana. I remember Phil Ahn's Moongate next door because that's where my Bar Mitzvah reception was at. Hell, that was like 1968. I once snuck into the Americana to see "What Do You Say to a Naked Lady" only to find my Schwinn 10 Speed bike stolen. This was a great theater.