Whittier Theatre

11612 Whittier Boulevard,
Whittier, CA 90601

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Bruen's Theatres, Pacific Theatres

Architects: David S. Bushnell

Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Colonial

Previous Names: McNees Theatre, Warner Bros. Whittier Theatre, Bruen's Whittier Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Whittier Theatre

Opened on July 21, 1929 as the 1,200 seat McNees Theatre. It was was a pleasant, Atmospheric style neighborhood theatre with hacienda style sidewalls. It was damaged in the the 1987 Whittier earthquake and never reopened. It was demolished in May 1990.

Contributed by BHousos

Recent comments (view all 54 comments)

emgconcertguy
emgconcertguy on September 17, 2010 at 6:12 pm

I remember coming here with my mom and sisters,we lived in Pico Rivera,this was a big deal back then because there were not a lot of walk-ins.One movie that stuck in my head was Halloween and several scary movies were shown here as double features.It was so cool because it was one screen so it packed a large audience, no matter what movie.I remember always looking up above and the ceiling had stars that glittered and the left and rightsides looked like real stairways into spanish homes. It was such a popular theater that they had guys acting like club bouncers picking people to go in by there looks I suppose,they let me and my mom in I guess he thought she looked nice,lol.It was something we did every weekend.None of these modern theaters will never compare to the Whittier Theater and others like it. Nice memories here.

dctrig
dctrig on October 10, 2010 at 11:30 pm

I saw the 1986 Disney movie “The Great Mouse Detective” at the Whittier. The interior atmosphere reminded me of the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

Too bad Whittier lost a great theater.

bobhester
bobhester on November 16, 2010 at 7:05 pm

We moved to La Habra in December 1965. I remember going to the Whittier Theater to see the movie The Great Race in the spring of 1966. Coming from the midwest, I was awestruck by the Spanish architecture of the theater. Although I was only 13 at the time, I remember that theater as if it was yesterday – it made that much of an impression. I also went to many movies at the Whitwood Theater and at the Fashion Square Theater in La Habra. Fashion Square was unique for its time as it had four screens under one roof – a novel concept for that time. The Whittier Theater, however, was the most enjoyable theater I have ever attended.

BrianNelson
BrianNelson on January 14, 2012 at 6:21 pm

The Whittier, in the 1940’s and 50’s was the “posh” theatre in town, and it was a real treat to go to a movie there instead of the Wardman or the Roxy: the night sky ceiling was glamorous and mystifying, and the courtyard felt like we were visiting one of the Missions instead of just being a few blocks from home. The building was on a bit of a hill and there were retail spaces around the corner on the right, as well as those on the street frontage: one of them was the beauty salon my grandma went to every Friday, and did that ever feel like a big deal to go with her :) The last time I got to attend the Whittier was when I was down for my grandpa’s funeral in 1982 and it still looked as wonderful to me then as it ever had, but that may have been nostalgia. I think my mom and I saw Indiana Jones that time, because I remember thinking that it was such a great place to be watching that particular movie. The next time I was back, the year after the earthquake, it was gone. Thank goodness the Wardman is still there.

JimMitchell
JimMitchell on July 19, 2013 at 5:08 pm

The Whittier was just down the street from what was variously called a reform school, youth correctional facility, and “School for Boys.” Hugh Bruen, who owned the theatre, had special showings before regular hours so boys could be brought in to see movies. Quite a nice excursion, I imagine. The Whittier was the nicest of the three theaters (Wardman and Roxy were the others) and was known around SoCal for its hacienda motif and the stars on the ceiling.

kikibalt
kikibalt on November 19, 2013 at 9:40 am

In the early ‘50s I worked across Whittier Blvd from the Whittier Theater, at Miller’s Car Wash. Never into that theater though

bobhester
bobhester on November 19, 2013 at 2:43 pm

kikibalt, did you ever see the movie The Van, that was filmed in the mid 1970s…it was filmed in the Whittier and La Habra era. One of the scenes is filmed in that carwash as you can see the Whittier Theater in the background. I went to La Habra High School and one scene is filmed at the A&W on Whittier Blvd, across from La Habra High School Do you remember the Bob’s Big Boy on Whittier Blvd, in Whittier? Used to cruise up and down Whittier Blvd and would occasionally stop to eat there.

Scaramouche
Scaramouche on May 28, 2015 at 3:03 pm

In the ‘60s and '70s the Whittier was still beautiful. It was an “atmospheric” theater, meaning the interior of the auditorium was decorated like a stage setting of a Spanish colonial village with stairways, windows, and balconies, and the ceiling had tiny lights like stars, with wispy projected clouds slowly drifting by. The lighting created an exotic, dreamlike scene, sometimes more entertaining than the movie. There was also a stage behind the movie screen, but as far as I know there hadn’t been live performances for decades.

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on June 3, 2021 at 11:26 am

Whittier Amusements launched the McNees Theatre (no apostrophe in McNees, btw) on July 31, 1929 with Monte Williams and the entire cast of “From Headquarters” in attendance for gala opening. Sound came from an RCA Photophone system. During construction it was apparent that Warner Bros. Circuit would be taking over the venue. That transfer took place just four months later on November 26, 1929 when the theatre was renamed the Warner Bros. Whittier Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Footlights and Fools.”

In September of 1936, Hugh W. Bruen acquired the Whittier, Wardman and Scenic theaters of Whittier and this venue was renamed the Whittier Theatre on October 7, 1936 and often Bruen’s Whittier Theatre.

The theatre was saved a reprieve from the wrecking ball at the 11th hour in January of 1987. However, an earthquake ended the hopes of saving the city’s last atmospheric theatre.

Fanofcomedy
Fanofcomedy on September 29, 2023 at 8:04 pm

One question: After October 1st 1987 whitter earthquake had damaged this theater, Could it have been repaired or was it too damaged?

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