U.A. Long Beach Theatre
217 E. Ocean Boulevard,
Long Beach,
CA
90802
217 E. Ocean Boulevard,
Long Beach,
CA
90802
3 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres, Mitchell Brothers, United Artists Theater Circuit Inc.
Architects: Clifford A. Balch, Percy A. Eisen, A. R. Walker
Firms: Walker & Eisen
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: United Artists Theatre, Mitchell Brothers Long Beach Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The United Artists Theatre Theatre was opened on April 15, 1932 with Maurice Chevalier in “One Night With You”, operated by United Artists Theater Circuit Inc. By 1941 it was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. From December 13, 1974 it was operated as an adult theatre by the Mitchell Brothers.
It was razed many years ago.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 34 comments)
Here is part of an article about projectionists in the Long Beach Independent, dated 6/15/47:
Everybody knows that someone has to handle has to handle the film to get the pictures on the motion picture screen, but few know what they do or how they go about it. Wayne Swank, who operates at the United Artists theatre, got his start 30 years ago at the old American theatre on the Pike.
“We’ve come a long way since we used to sit on cracker boxes, and rewind film with one hand and crank the projector with the otherâ€, he said. “Our projection booths are clean and fumes from the arc lights are carried off by blowersâ€. Operators work on six hour shifts. Before the theater opens for the day, the machines must be cleaned and oiled and film inspected for bad splices. Responsibility for the projection rests squarely on the operator. Operators are assigned to theaters by the Motion Picture Projectionists Union, Local 521.
This is the front page of a Long Beach paper on 1/9/53, when a Greyhound bus swerved to avoid another car and drove into the front of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/djapzh
Ouch!!
This is a 1931 photo from the Long Beach library:
http://tinyurl.com/24oy5rh
Nice photo ken mc.
I was an usher at the UA theater from 1967-1970 while I was in high school. Mr. Hendrix was the manager then and Mr. Fisk was the assistant. We had a great staff of young workers. I was the only guy working with several college-aged young ladies. I remember then chasing me with MY broom in the lobby during the matinee hours. Mr. Fisk would catch up playing around and give us a “dirty look”. This was my first “real job” and I took the city bus to work every day. The theater was old then and I remember having to change the letters on the marquee every Tuesday night. My future wife and I had our first date at the UA at age 15 (a matinee to see Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn). So many memories and fun times with Lesley, Jody, and Shelley.
You can catch a glimpse of this theater at 12:39 in this film on YouTube.
Site is now an office building.
Became part of the Mitchell Brothers adult cinema chain on December 13th, 1974. Grand opening ad posted.
Opened as United Artists on April 15th, 1932. Grand opening ad posted.