Glendora Theatre
108 West Foothill Boulevard,
Glendora,
CA
91741
108 West Foothill Boulevard,
Glendora,
CA
91741
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The Mission Theatre was opened prior to 1923.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
I can’t say on the other theaters. I know on this one it confirms Joe’s note that Statewide was the operator in the latter period of the theater’s existence. It also tells us which other theaters were controlled by Statewide in 1964, which is a good reference point if that question is raised.
That booking list does not show all of them.
No, but it shows some of the Statewide theaters at that time. Plus it was Pia Zadora’s first film. Can’t beat that.
You have more stories than Campbell’s has soups.
That’s a good one.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune noted in 2006 that The Glendora Historical Society had selected the Mission Theatre Building as the first phase of its “Historical Pride Project.” This entailed placing pictured plaques with a history at 10 locations around town. The Mission’s plaque reads: “One of Glendora’s most distinguished landmarks was the Mission Building. This Foothill Boulevard façade featured a covered walkway shared by several storefronts. A popular malt shop was located on the corner and a theater occupied most of the building space. In the 1930’s, Richard and Maurice McDonald, of McDonald’s Restaurant fame, operated the theater.” The Mission Theater goes back to at least 1923 in Covina Argus listings and a mention in the Los Angeles Times. The Argus says the first talking picture at the Mission was (Fox Movietone) “Follies of 1929,” which started on September 4 1929. From 1932 to 1937 ads in the Argus for the theater reflected a name change to the Beacon and sometime after 1937 to the Glendora Theatre. In the Film Daily Yearbook of 1936-37 it was listed as the Beacon with 600 seats. The FDY of 1946-48 listed it as the Glendora also with 600 seats. What may have happened to the theatre in the late 1940s is open to speculation as the FDY of 1949-50 lists it with 750 seats.
I was 10-years old when the Glendora Theatre was torn down to make way for a grocery store. I was so sad. Every Saturday I used to go see whatever movies were playing. For $.35 I purchased admission and used the remaining $.65 from my dollar to purchase snacks. I loved this theatre. No one was sadder to see it go than I was. I wish I could find more photos of it.
I remember going here as a child. I saw “Hard Days Night,” “Island of the Blue Dolphins,” and “To Sir With Love,” as well as many other movies here. I remember the balcony with the camera room. I also remember the ladies room, and that black and red carpet! I can’t find a reference to the theater that operated in Glendora in the 1970’s at the site of the old post office. I think it was on Vermont and Meda Ave.
Crusadercat, that would have been the Plaza Theatre and it is listed on Cinema Treasures. link
Thank you! : )