Ritz Theatre
681 Redondo Ave,
Long Beach,
CA
90814
681 Redondo Ave,
Long Beach,
CA
90814
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One of many neighborhood theatres that once was part of Long Beach’s movie going.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Here are some photos from the LA Library:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014888.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014891.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014890.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014889.jpg
Ken: The first three pictures to which you linked depict the interior of the Tracy Theatre on Seaside Avenue, which opened under the name Ritz in 1925. The 7th Street Ritz was a much smaller neighborhood theatre. I believe that the fourth picture to which you linked does show 7th Street Ritz, though.
Sorry about that. The LAPL states that this is the Ritz mezzanine in 1925:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014890.jpg
I just made the same mistake. What’s the emoticon for banging my head on my desk? No more Ritz pictures from me.
Here is a story from the Long Beach Press Telegram about a fire that destroyed the Ritz on 12/12/51:
Early-Morning Fire Wrecks Ritz Theater: Fireman Victim
A two-alarm fire plunged the Ritz Theater, 681 Redondo Ave., into a blazing showplace early today, leaving “only the four walls and the candy vending machine intact” and sending one Long Beach fireman to Community Hospital in serious condition from smoke inhalation. Fire investigators said the blaze started at 2:10 a.m. in a heating system behind the stage. No one was in the theater when the fire broke out.
Owner Guy G. Black. 5351 Harco St., said that the building was a total loss. “The roof is ruined, the screen is a wreck, the seats are either burned or water-logged, and the projection room is covered with water.” the owner declared. “Only the four walls and the candy vending machine are intact.”
My father, Guy G Black, used to tell me about the Ritz and how it burned down. Guess that was it for him as an owner as he was happy being a projectionist for the rest of his life. It was something he really enjoyed and didn’t stop doing until he was forced to walk a picket line against UA sometime in the late 1970’s early 80’s. But for some reason, I thought the Ritz was on Anaheim somewhere between Alamitos and Cherry.
Thanks for honoring my dad by including his name in the newspaper article.
Here is a notice published in the July 19, 1924, issue of Building & Engineering News:
The Ritz doesn’t appear to have been exactly on the corner, but magazines weren’t always precise when giving locations, so there’s a good chance the project was the Ritz. If someone could discover the opening year it would help.