City Terrace Cinema
3945 City Terrace Drive,
East Los Angeles,
CA
90063
3945 City Terrace Drive,
East Los Angeles,
CA
90063
1 person
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This theater was located in City Terrace, a small community in East Los Angeles. It was located on City Terrace Drive near Hazard Avenue. The theater opened after WWII, perhaps in the early 1950’s, and was closed in 1964. The land was purchased by the Archdiocese and in 1970 St. Lucy’s Catholic Church opened on the site.
The theater had an upper deck and a glass enclosed room designed for women with babies or small children. The theater seemed huge, but I was a small child. All the kids in my class would meet in the first two rows every Saturday afternoon.
I attended the movies every Saturday from 1961 until it closed. We called it “the show” and admission was 25 cents for two features. It remains one of my most important and vivid childhood memories.
Contributed by
George A. Verdin
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
I searched the LA Times archives for more information. The first theater ad that mentions the Terrace Theater is dated 5/3/50. Address was 3945 City Terrace Drive, phone was AN 6000. There is a reference to St. Lucy’s church at McGilvrey and City Terrace in 1961, so presumably that was the old location before they moved over to Hazard Avenue.
Yes, you’re right, the “old” St. Lucy’s was located at McGilvrey and City Terrace. The church was demolished in the mid-70’s, and the new church opened in 1970. I attended both churches and the movie theater. Anyone else?
Here is the 1950 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/3cj7yn
is ther a way i can get a picture on this infamous cinema ? i was born and raised in this beautiful town of City Terrace . if anyone has one or has knowledge of one please reply.
The City Terrace Cinema was where the church parking lot is now.
can anyone come up with a picture please..it would mean the world !
Is this is, or was this another Terrace theatre?
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-DB, that’s definitely the Terrace Theatre in City Terrace. I don’t remember ever having seen it, but I recognize the neighborhood. Other than the loss of the theater and a few other buildings, and a few new buildings added, it changed remarkably little between the 1950s and the 1980s, when I became familiar with it. Alas, the trolly buses were gone by then, too.
I LOVE THIS PICTURE , I’VE BEEN WAITING 4 SOMEONE 2 POST ANY KIND OF PITURE. THANKS A MILLION !
WOW! I remember going to this theatre and sneaking in my penny candy. We would see a double feature and cartoon for .25 – And I lived right across the street behind the Chinese laundry. Instead of taking my .25 to church for the donation basket, I would sneak to the show. I was awfully sneaky!! I would love to see more photos if anyone has any.