Fox Compton Theatre

pincin on June 9, 2008 at 3:17 am

I remember The Compton – which was completely different from the Compton Symphony Theatre (which ceased to be in 1933). As noted, it was at 136 E. Compton Bl, which, if you were facing east and standing at the intersection of Compton and Willowbrook Av, was on the right side of the street. (I never remember the theater actually being open; I think Fox abandoned it at the end of the 1950s at the dawn of the “white flight” from Compton). It was in the block just before the major department stores, which included a JC Penney’s (which had the most exquisite mezzanine) and the JJ Newberry’s store (which had wonderful hardwood floors). I think people confuse the two theaters because Tamarind was a nearby cross-street for both. (That entire area was completely demolished in the 1970s, so all of this is from memory). There was a Bank Of America branch and the Compton Raceway (slot car racing) across the street. I once saw an interview with James Coburn in which he mentioned that, during his youth in Compton, he was hired to change the lettering on the marquee at the Compton Theater, which he did for a number of years.

MagicLantern on June 17, 2010 at 8:04 pm

Just a parking lot now.

Jessica6 on April 4, 2013 at 1:38 pm

I remembet this theater. But when I saw it, it was gated off. I remember seeing the box office, and there was trash everywhere. Last ive seen the sidewalk stores and theater was torn down and not its a strip mall.

rlpars on April 10, 2013 at 7:52 pm

I’m reading Film Daily 1937. It says Compton 618 , Tower 1000, Symphony I have 832 can’t remember where I found it, Big Top 0. When thy had the Earthquake they move all the stores. They had all of the stores in a Big Tent That where the Big Top was at where Fry Roofing was also Tom Mix Wild West Show was there. I work at the Compton 1954-55 Tower 1955-56, I got to go to both Theaters.

Joe Vogel on December 15, 2017 at 12:36 am

The January 20, 1934, issue of Pacific Constructor had an item about a theater to be built on the site the Fox later occupied:

“PREPARING PLANS.

“COMPTON, Los Angeles Co., Cal.– W. Allen, 1008 Washington Bldg., Los Angeles, is preparing plans for a theater building to be built at 134 East Compton Blvd., Compton, for August Frankl, Sunset Theatres Co., lessee. The structure will have a seating capacity of 800 and will contain stores and offices. Reinforced concrete construction, composition roofing, concrete floors, structural steel, plate glass, etc.”

A 618-seat house called the Compton Theatre is listed in the 1935 FDY, but was not yet listed as a Fox house. The Compton was most likely a replacement for the Symphony Theatre a few blocks away, which had been destroyed in the 1933 earthquake.

The architect W. Allen was probably William Allen, who was active during this period. He designed a number of civic buildings for the nearby city of South Gate, and the Streamline/Deco Burbank City Hall, probably his best known work, in partnership with architect W. George Lutzi. I haven’t been able to determine if the partnership had been formed by 1934.