With all due respect to the San Bernardino Public Library, the theater opened as the Family Theatre. The original Family Theatre had opened in 1899 elsewhere in downtown. But this venue’s theatrical history dates back to when the Family Theatre converted here launching August 16, 1911 with Luigi Romano Borgnetto in “The Fall of Troy” and supposedly the West Coast premiere of Mutt and Jeff in “Mutt and Jeff Break Into Society.” The theatre became the Liberty Theatre on February 2, 1912. On August 6, 1913, it relaunched as the Isis Theatre with “The Long Strike,” Baby Earle in “An Energetic Member,” and “The Fear.” Even though it was still listed in the 1932 directory, it appears that Mrs. E.H. Loring closed up after showings on December 2, 1929 as more modern showplaces were getting the audiences - if not superior sound reproduction and presentation.
E.H. Dowell opened here as the Auditorium Theater on May 16, 1910 with motion pictures. Dowell was also manager of the La Petite and Star theatre in the Nickelodeon, show-store era. This theatre was an advance with an orchestra and multiple projectors. Carl Ray took on the venue and it was converted after a $10,000 refresh to the Strand Theatre on March 8, 1917. It converted to sound and changed names to the Ritz theatre on March 6, 1930. It became an adult theater just after Christmas of 1968. It closed in 1991 under the operation as a Pussycat Adult Theatre and was demolished.
The Temple Theatre opened with motion pictures on November 19, 1909. It rewired for sound to stay relevant continuing into the television era. It was reopened as the short-lived Capri Theatre on August 18, 1959 and repositioned as an art house playing “Henry V” for Fox West Coast Theatres. The art policy was discontinued in March of 1960 and the theatre became a grind house with double-features playing continuously. The theatre losed permanently on July 4, 1960 with “Alias Jesse James,” “Pork Chop Hill” and an edited version of the Johannson v. Patterson prize fight. The theatre was then razed for a parking lot.
Had 1,232 seats at its opening, it appears to have closed September 10, 1992 with “Boomerang” and “Whispers in the Dark” at the end of a 25-year lease. The venue was converted to a retail stereo store on August 29, 1997 called Video Mart.
This was originally announced as another automated franchise by United General Corporation in August of 1972. United General was racking up lawsuits about the time of the groundbreaking. It opened March 28, 1973 with “1776” on Cinema I with “Snowball Express” and “The African Lion” on Cinema II
The Maribel Drive-In Theater was launched by and named for Mary Bell who operated the venue along with her husband, Walter Bell. It opened on June 27, 1957 with Randolph Scott in “7th Calvary” and Dale Robertson in “Sitting Bull.” It had a 6,600 square foot Manco Vision screen promising a 300% brighter picture. Under new operators, it was renamed the Arcata Theatre when it reopened for the season on April 28, 1960. It likely closed at the end of a 30-year lease in 1987.
Appears to have closed May 11, 1997 potentially at the end of a 25-year lease. Technically, it opened and closed as the UA Cerritos Twin Cinemas according to virtually every advertisement (without the A&B - though the screens are referenced as such; just as hundreds of multi-screen drive-ins name their screens but they are not designated in the title of the theater)
Antone F. Cheroske was the builder and owner of the Egyptian in 1924. Fred J. Ward was the architect. Cheroske sold to Fox West Coast Theatres Circuit. The Egyptian installed sound to stay relevant. The theatre closed on July 28, 1959 with “Last Train from Gun Hill” and “Man Who Could Cheat Death.” A sign reading, “Temporarily Closed” was posted on the attractor which remained until the Egyptian was razed in October of 1959.
Two horrific incidents may have ended the LaShell Theater’s film run. It then became a house of worship called the LaShell Assembly of God through 1958. On May 11, 1959, it was converted to a 275-seat live venue, the short-lived LaShell Playhouse.
This venue became Edwards Westminster Twin in 1990 and ceased operations on June 4, 1998 with “Godzilla” on both screens. That film was moved inside to the four-plex the next day.
he Glendale Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Glendale was removed from the SMG website in January of 2021 making the closure permanent.
M.C. Konkele spent just $1,800 building this modest, one-story venue in March of 1913 at 207-209 East Seaside on the Pike. When the 400-seat Wigwam Theatre opened in 1913, W.H. Electrical & Engineering provided the largest electrical, flashing sign in the history of Long Beach at 12' by 12'. To get additional revenue, the building had a peanut and popcorn stand that not only served patrons but had a window facing out to the street.
Pioneering theatre owner Jay Cleve Scott took on the venue under the banner of Scott’s Wigwam Theatre. Scott also ran the American, Rex, Palace and Rialto theaters at various points. At the end of a 10-year leasing agreement, Scott had outgrown the venue. He had the venue gutted and created a much more impressive two-story venue rebuilt by J.D. Sherer & Son. The venue was known as Scott’s Theatre on the Pike opening on September 11, 1924 with Wallace Beery in “Richard, the Lion-Hearted” with Rea Douglas at the pipe organ. It was now on a 25-year lease.
The theater changed names becoming an exploitation house trying to get passer-bys to drop a quarter or so to watch films. An example was in 1938 as the, again, renamed Victor Theatre run by Isaac Victor played “Birth of a Baby.” Victor was the grandson of Harry A. Victor who had started his theater business back in the nickelodeon, store-show days in McKeesport, PA in 1908. He had taken on the former Scott’s Theatre in 1929 equipping it for sound. The theatre was in the heart of a Depression-era building boom that brought a new pier and, across the street, the Municipal Auditorium. Sylvan Victor took over the operation running it into the 1940s. The theatre was sold to E. V. Tracy of the Tracy Theatre who steered the venue to the end of its lease in 1949.
On May 21, 1950, Harold Simpson remodeled the Victor as the Rainbow Theatre as an ultra-discount, sub-run house offering seats for as little as 14 cents each at opening. It relaunched that day with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter” and Rod Cameron in “Panhandle.” The venue was named for the rainbow-shaped pier with colorful lighting effects that had been built in 1931 in close proximity to the theatre called the Rainbow Pier. There was no pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow which came quickly.
The theatre returned to its exploitation days rebranding as the Follies Theatre beginning on March 2, 1951 under new operators. In late August 1951, Chester Wand and his projectionist were hauled off to jail for showing immoral films. The theatre rebranded thereafter and until closure as the El Rey Theatre also showing exploitation films through 1953. It then became home to a church from 1954 to 1957 before being offered for sale. The El Rey Theatre was later demolished as was the Rainbow Pier which closed on March 20, 1966, and the Municipal Auditorium in 1975.
The Downey Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Downey was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Redlands Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Redlands was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Monrovia Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Monrovia was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
Eugene V. Tracy renamed the theatre as the Tracy. Likely ended theatrical and live stage presentations in 1950 at the end of a 25-year lease. It was a non-profit center for church services and Youth for Christ from 1952 until 1957 and then was offered for sale fore $65,000 in 1959.
When the UA Movies 6 opened in 1976, the multiplex was the death knell for many of the area’s long-standing theaters. In 1977, the Towne, Imperial and Belmont ended decades' long runs. Mann closed the Belmont on September 6, 1977 after showings of Martin Scorsese’s “New York, New York.” (An article in the local paper ran on September 20, 1977 mentioned the closure without a date and it likely how the incorrect date of closure is listed as September 19, 1977 in the CinemaTreasures synopsis above. The theatre had already closed and was listed for sale.)
Pacific Theatres closed the Towne due to a roof collapse on January 24, 1977. The final showings were “Never a Dull Moment,” Walt Disney’s “The Three Caballeros” and “The Man Who Skied Down Everest.” Though Pacific was going to make repairs promising a temporary closure, it made the closure permanent that fall offering the property for sale “as is.”
Regal / Cineworld Circuit closed the UA Marketplace in Long Beach along with all of its other locations on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic. During the pandemic, Regal decided to make the closure permanent without reopening the venue.
On December 20, 1941, the Palace becomes the News Palace Theatre showing newsreels. In 1952, the theatre switched to the Palace Theatre moniker with Hollywood feature films.
The Jerry Lewis Twin barely got open in October of 1972 as Network Cinema and Jerry Lewis Cinemas would plummet toward bankruptcy. The theatre changed names in 1973 to the Bridgeton Cinema I & II decoupling from the Lewis nameplate along with a lawsuit from its franchisee in April 1973 closing at month’s end. In May of 1973, Arthur Management Theatres Circuit took on the venue along with the Lewis' Central City. They closed there in November of 1973. It became a short-lived independent in the Fall of 1974 closing November 28, 1974 and appears to have sat inactively for a year and a half.
Mid-America Theatres stepped into the lightly-used venue rebranding it as the Bridgewood Cinema on May 14, 1976 with “Jaws” and “Blazing Saddles.” But Mid-America found out what the others already knew - the theater was a dog. And after six months, they quietly bowed out of the former Jerry Lewis Twin turned Bridgewood Cinema on November 28, 1976 with “The Great Scout and Cathouse” on Screen I and a double feature on Screen II “The Groove Tube” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The building was remodeled as an office space for a grocery company. (Technically, it was never called the Bridgeton Theatre.)
With all due respect to the San Bernardino Public Library, the theater opened as the Family Theatre. The original Family Theatre had opened in 1899 elsewhere in downtown. But this venue’s theatrical history dates back to when the Family Theatre converted here launching August 16, 1911 with Luigi Romano Borgnetto in “The Fall of Troy” and supposedly the West Coast premiere of Mutt and Jeff in “Mutt and Jeff Break Into Society.” The theatre became the Liberty Theatre on February 2, 1912. On August 6, 1913, it relaunched as the Isis Theatre with “The Long Strike,” Baby Earle in “An Energetic Member,” and “The Fear.” Even though it was still listed in the 1932 directory, it appears that Mrs. E.H. Loring closed up after showings on December 2, 1929 as more modern showplaces were getting the audiences - if not superior sound reproduction and presentation.
E.H. Dowell opened here as the Auditorium Theater on May 16, 1910 with motion pictures. Dowell was also manager of the La Petite and Star theatre in the Nickelodeon, show-store era. This theatre was an advance with an orchestra and multiple projectors. Carl Ray took on the venue and it was converted after a $10,000 refresh to the Strand Theatre on March 8, 1917. It converted to sound and changed names to the Ritz theatre on March 6, 1930. It became an adult theater just after Christmas of 1968. It closed in 1991 under the operation as a Pussycat Adult Theatre and was demolished.
The Temple Theatre opened with motion pictures on November 19, 1909. It rewired for sound to stay relevant continuing into the television era. It was reopened as the short-lived Capri Theatre on August 18, 1959 and repositioned as an art house playing “Henry V” for Fox West Coast Theatres. The art policy was discontinued in March of 1960 and the theatre became a grind house with double-features playing continuously. The theatre losed permanently on July 4, 1960 with “Alias Jesse James,” “Pork Chop Hill” and an edited version of the Johannson v. Patterson prize fight. The theatre was then razed for a parking lot.
Reopened as the short-lived Capri Theatre on August 18, 1959 as an art house playing “Henry V” for Fox West Coast Theatres.
Had 1,232 seats at its opening, it appears to have closed September 10, 1992 with “Boomerang” and “Whispers in the Dark” at the end of a 25-year lease. The venue was converted to a retail stereo store on August 29, 1997 called Video Mart.
This was originally announced as another automated franchise by United General Corporation in August of 1972. United General was racking up lawsuits about the time of the groundbreaking. It opened March 28, 1973 with “1776” on Cinema I with “Snowball Express” and “The African Lion” on Cinema II
The Maribel Drive-In Theater was launched by and named for Mary Bell who operated the venue along with her husband, Walter Bell. It opened on June 27, 1957 with Randolph Scott in “7th Calvary” and Dale Robertson in “Sitting Bull.” It had a 6,600 square foot Manco Vision screen promising a 300% brighter picture. Under new operators, it was renamed the Arcata Theatre when it reopened for the season on April 28, 1960. It likely closed at the end of a 30-year lease in 1987.
The Maribel Theater was named for operators Mary and Walter Bell.
Appears to have closed May 11, 1997 potentially at the end of a 25-year lease. Technically, it opened and closed as the UA Cerritos Twin Cinemas according to virtually every advertisement (without the A&B - though the screens are referenced as such; just as hundreds of multi-screen drive-ins name their screens but they are not designated in the title of the theater)
Antone F. Cheroske was the builder and owner of the Egyptian in 1924. Fred J. Ward was the architect. Cheroske sold to Fox West Coast Theatres Circuit. The Egyptian installed sound to stay relevant. The theatre closed on July 28, 1959 with “Last Train from Gun Hill” and “Man Who Could Cheat Death.” A sign reading, “Temporarily Closed” was posted on the attractor which remained until the Egyptian was razed in October of 1959.
Two horrific incidents may have ended the LaShell Theater’s film run. It then became a house of worship called the LaShell Assembly of God through 1958. On May 11, 1959, it was converted to a 275-seat live venue, the short-lived LaShell Playhouse.
This venue became Edwards Westminster Twin in 1990 and ceased operations on June 4, 1998 with “Godzilla” on both screens. That film was moved inside to the four-plex the next day.
he Glendale Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Glendale was removed from the SMG website in January of 2021 making the closure permanent.
M.C. Konkele spent just $1,800 building this modest, one-story venue in March of 1913 at 207-209 East Seaside on the Pike. When the 400-seat Wigwam Theatre opened in 1913, W.H. Electrical & Engineering provided the largest electrical, flashing sign in the history of Long Beach at 12' by 12'. To get additional revenue, the building had a peanut and popcorn stand that not only served patrons but had a window facing out to the street.
Pioneering theatre owner Jay Cleve Scott took on the venue under the banner of Scott’s Wigwam Theatre. Scott also ran the American, Rex, Palace and Rialto theaters at various points. At the end of a 10-year leasing agreement, Scott had outgrown the venue. He had the venue gutted and created a much more impressive two-story venue rebuilt by J.D. Sherer & Son. The venue was known as Scott’s Theatre on the Pike opening on September 11, 1924 with Wallace Beery in “Richard, the Lion-Hearted” with Rea Douglas at the pipe organ. It was now on a 25-year lease.
The theater changed names becoming an exploitation house trying to get passer-bys to drop a quarter or so to watch films. An example was in 1938 as the, again, renamed Victor Theatre run by Isaac Victor played “Birth of a Baby.” Victor was the grandson of Harry A. Victor who had started his theater business back in the nickelodeon, store-show days in McKeesport, PA in 1908. He had taken on the former Scott’s Theatre in 1929 equipping it for sound. The theatre was in the heart of a Depression-era building boom that brought a new pier and, across the street, the Municipal Auditorium. Sylvan Victor took over the operation running it into the 1940s. The theatre was sold to E. V. Tracy of the Tracy Theatre who steered the venue to the end of its lease in 1949.
On May 21, 1950, Harold Simpson remodeled the Victor as the Rainbow Theatre as an ultra-discount, sub-run house offering seats for as little as 14 cents each at opening. It relaunched that day with Esther Williams in “Neptune’s Daughter” and Rod Cameron in “Panhandle.” The venue was named for the rainbow-shaped pier with colorful lighting effects that had been built in 1931 in close proximity to the theatre called the Rainbow Pier. There was no pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow which came quickly.
The theatre returned to its exploitation days rebranding as the Follies Theatre beginning on March 2, 1951 under new operators. In late August 1951, Chester Wand and his projectionist were hauled off to jail for showing immoral films. The theatre rebranded thereafter and until closure as the El Rey Theatre also showing exploitation films through 1953. It then became home to a church from 1954 to 1957 before being offered for sale. The El Rey Theatre was later demolished as was the Rainbow Pier which closed on March 20, 1966, and the Municipal Auditorium in 1975.
The Downey Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Downey was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Redlands Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Redlands was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
The Monrovia Studio Movie Grill closed along with the rest of SMG’s locations for the COVID-Pandemic on March 17, 2020. SMG declared bankruptcy on October 25, 2020 and began closing locations, The SMG Monrovia was removed from the SMG website a year after the pandemic closure in March of 2021 likely making the closure permanent.
Red Skelton’s “The Yellow Cab Man” proved to the final screening after fire destroyed the theatre on December 12, 1951.
Eugene V. Tracy renamed the theatre as the Tracy. Likely ended theatrical and live stage presentations in 1950 at the end of a 25-year lease. It was a non-profit center for church services and Youth for Christ from 1952 until 1957 and then was offered for sale fore $65,000 in 1959.
When the UA Movies 6 opened in 1976, the multiplex was the death knell for many of the area’s long-standing theaters. In 1977, the Towne, Imperial and Belmont ended decades' long runs. Mann closed the Belmont on September 6, 1977 after showings of Martin Scorsese’s “New York, New York.” (An article in the local paper ran on September 20, 1977 mentioned the closure without a date and it likely how the incorrect date of closure is listed as September 19, 1977 in the CinemaTreasures synopsis above. The theatre had already closed and was listed for sale.)
Pacific Theatres closed the Towne due to a roof collapse on January 24, 1977. The final showings were “Never a Dull Moment,” Walt Disney’s “The Three Caballeros” and “The Man Who Skied Down Everest.” Though Pacific was going to make repairs promising a temporary closure, it made the closure permanent that fall offering the property for sale “as is.”
Mann Theatres closed the Imperial Theatre on August 7, 1977 with a double feature of “A Star is Born” and “The Farmer.”
Regal / Cineworld Circuit closed the UA Marketplace in Long Beach along with all of its other locations on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-pandemic. During the pandemic, Regal decided to make the closure permanent without reopening the venue.
On December 20, 1941, the Palace becomes the News Palace Theatre showing newsreels. In 1952, the theatre switched to the Palace Theatre moniker with Hollywood feature films.
The Jerry Lewis Twin barely got open in October of 1972 as Network Cinema and Jerry Lewis Cinemas would plummet toward bankruptcy. The theatre changed names in 1973 to the Bridgeton Cinema I & II decoupling from the Lewis nameplate along with a lawsuit from its franchisee in April 1973 closing at month’s end. In May of 1973, Arthur Management Theatres Circuit took on the venue along with the Lewis' Central City. They closed there in November of 1973. It became a short-lived independent in the Fall of 1974 closing November 28, 1974 and appears to have sat inactively for a year and a half.
Mid-America Theatres stepped into the lightly-used venue rebranding it as the Bridgewood Cinema on May 14, 1976 with “Jaws” and “Blazing Saddles.” But Mid-America found out what the others already knew - the theater was a dog. And after six months, they quietly bowed out of the former Jerry Lewis Twin turned Bridgewood Cinema on November 28, 1976 with “The Great Scout and Cathouse” on Screen I and a double feature on Screen II “The Groove Tube” and “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” The building was remodeled as an office space for a grocery company. (Technically, it was never called the Bridgeton Theatre.)