Criterion Theatre
1315 Third Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
90401
1315 Third Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
90401
8 people
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The Criterion Theatre was opened in early-1924.
Contributed by
Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 31 comments)
Film going was more fun back in the 70’s than it is now. Usually I ended up seeing most films 2nd run “after the Westwood/Hollywood” debuts. Usually a double feature, and there were re-issues a year later. I cannot tell you how many times the Monica Twins had “Young Frankenstein”. I saw it at the Monica’s when it went 2nd run after the Avco, then again with re-issues at the same theatre. Films were not so over-hyped, and over-produced back then. Now it is too much overload and films are on DVD almost right out of the theatre. DVD is now what the 2nd run used to be.
The Criterion played it during that time as a double feature, but the print they got was a very splicey one.
Here is an early sixties photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2sara9
Here is a 1925 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6nfug6
1980 Photo
1981 Photo
The 1981 photo is when theatre was leased by Metropolitan Theatres along with the Cine on the Mall (aka: El Miro).
That linked photo that Lost Memory posted on Dec 22, 2006 is more “new” Criterion than “old” Criterion. Like the El Miro down the street, it was so modified that it earned a new page here.
12/7/12 Santa Monica Daily Press “…The property owner of the Criterion 6 received permission in November to convert the theater into general retail…” http://www.smdp.com/amc-backs-off-theater-development/115340
a crime to this historic theater is about to take place in the form of casual permission by a city that no longer cares about its past or citizens, for the owner to demolish and convert this into more expensive stores and unaffordable condos/apartments. If they did care, they would put a stop to this and declare it a landmark. Just another nail in the coffin of downtown Santa Monica.
Nixols and Navan, the Criterion Theatre was (mostly) demolished. The Criterion 6 which stands there now (and has its own page here, where this discussion is ongoing) is the historic facade of the old building on a brand new structure.
Also, where did you get the idea that they’re going to demolish this? The article only talks about converting the building…