El Miro Theatre
1441 Third Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
1441 Third Street,
Santa Monica,
CA
5 people
favorited this theater
Opened in 1938, the only part of the old El Miro Theatre that is left is the facade. The theater was razed in the late 80’s and the newer Cineplex Broadway 4 Theatre is located on that site now.
From the 60’s thru the 80’s, the El Miro Theatre was part of many chains including Century, Loew’s, GCC, and Metropolitan Theatres (Metropolitan being the last).
Loew’s redressed the house in the early 70’s with those purple and blue curtains of that era. That was the last time this theater received a makeover before it was closed and demolished.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
Priceless photos, so clear in detail, truly a moment frozen in time. Thank you ‘ken mc’ from all of us.
The El Miro is in the background of this 1964 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3a4zzy
The keyword is “background”. What is the photo showing in the “foreground”?
“Easy Rider” was playing at the El Miro in February 1970, acording to this LA Times ad:
http://tinyurl.com/3cr75b
“The keyword is "background”. What is the photo showing in the “foreground”?"
Maybe they were resurfacing Santa Monica Blvd…
My first guess was excavating SM Place Mall, but it’s years too early, and at the wrong end of the street!
I used to love going to this theatre in the 70’s when it was the Cinema on the Mall. My strongest recollection was seeing “Airport 1975” when it opened wide from its Cinerama Dome engagement. My favorite thing about it was the walk up balcony. I also remember seeing “Tommy” and “What’s Up Tiger Lily?” double feature during the Summer of 1975.
In ken mc’s post for the theatre from Oct. 5 2007. That was during the time the theatre was part of the Loew’s chain. Before it was sold to GCC.
Here is a repost of the 1963 UCLA photo:
http://tinyurl.com/6jcgcf
Here is a 1936 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/8gz4vj
Wow, I hadn’t looked on this site for a few years, didn’t realize it had been so long, and it is so great to see these old pictures of the El Miro. I worked here when it was a much more dumpy place, the summer and fall of 1977, sitting in the box office of Cinema on the Mall. The walk up balcony was still there but I remember it so much smaller than the way it was when it was El Miro. On weekdays it was a much deserted walking mall but when we would open up for the dollar matinee there would suddenly be a long line, mostly of seniors. Not like the huge line though of the exterior of the El Miro posted above!