Park Theatre
710 S. Alvarado Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90057
710 S. Alvarado Street,
Los Angeles,
CA
90057
7 people
favorited this theater
Opened in 1911, the Alvarado Theatre originally had a Neo-Classical style facade. In 1936, architect S. Charles Lee remodeled the theater in an Art Moderne style.
Renamed the Park Theatre in the 1960’s, the theater switched to porn, and then gay porn. In the 1970’s, the Park Theatre was twinned and returned to mainstream films. The theater closed in 1986 and was gutted. Today, the building houses a swap meet.
Contributed by
Ken Roe, William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
William: yes, my dad’s name was Jay. Did you know him? My grandfather’s name was Barney
I worked some of the Local 150 houses in LA. I remember his name from that time. I just happened upon your above comment and it just came to me.
You have a good memory, William!
Here is a part of a February 1968 article in the LA Times:
The theaters where girlie films are shown range from the moderate comforts of the Paris, next door to P.J.’s on Santa Monica, to drab downtown houses. In this case, drabness of surroundings does not equal blueness of films-all theaters are subject to the same laws and the ones with the grimmest décor show the cheapest, oldest and fuzziest films.
Cluny’s Movies, on Alvarado, shows what appear to be blown-up 8 mm. mail order films (made for home viewing) so that the girls look like they are doing their thing underwater. At least at the Cluny the price is right: $1.50 for a couple of hours of what is essentially a low-grade girlie magazine come to pseudo-life.
The Park, down the block, is 50 cents up the scale. It has what it cleverly calls its “Little GAL-lery-Last Six Rows on the Left for Ladies Only.†(Most theaters don’t cater to single ladies at all.) It was here that I saw Hot Bed, written by Big Daddy Epstein III. Other theaters on about this level include the Vista on Sunset, the Apollo Arts on Hollywood, the Monica, down from the Paris. In the dark, it’s hard to tell them apart.
To Johnny Vegas – would like to learn more about these theaters and the Langleys PLEASE! Contact me directly at Thank you so much!
If I remember correctly the structure that stands at this address has nothing to do with the old Alvarado/Park Theater. The old structure was burned down during the 1992 Riots.
My grandfather was CL Langley, whom I never knew. However, I am anxious to learn more about him, and the various theaters with which he was associated. I am particularly interested in hearing from JohnnyVegas, as I believe we are related. Claude Alexander Langley, for whom the Alex Theater in Glendale is named, is my father. Joseph Langley, mentioned by ken mc, was my great uncle. Am planning a trip from TX to CA soon, and want to tour as many of the West Coast Theaters as possible. Thanks!!
lwmulder, check out www.RialtoSouthPasadena.com to see a picture of ol' grandad! As you find info on him, if any pertains to the Rialto, please drop a line to the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.
Hi Scott! thank you so much for the link! It’s wonderful information – am learning so much through this site! Recently met some of my “long lost” family, and will pass this on to them as well. This is more information than I ever expected! Thanks again – can hardly wait to get to CA for a tour of these theaters, especially the Alex, named after my father.
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!