The Warner Grand Theater opened as the Warner Theatre on 20th January 1931 with Joe E. Brown starring in “Goin' Wild” on the screen and Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Blondell attending in person. An opening seating capacity was given as 1,598.
Anthony B. Heinsbergen designed the beautiful Art Deco interior decorations which are still there to be admired today.
Warner’s leased the theatre out in the 1970’s and it screened Spanish language films under the name Teatro Juarez.
Originally opened as the Portal Theatre (known also as the West Portal Theatre) on 26th December 1925, the architects were Irving F. Morrow and William I Garren.
It was re-named Empire Cinema on 1st October 1936 and in 1974 it was divided into 3 screens.
That’s great news David. I wish you all the very best in getting the California up and running again and will certainly want to visit it next time I’m in town.
Thanks Joe;
I have just posted some details up on the Fox Criterion (former Kinema) listing on this site.
Sorry I can’t help out with any further details on the Mozart, as there is no Orange Grove Theatre listed in 1941, in fact no theatre at all on Grand apart from the Grand Internationale. I will keep my eyes open though.
Details on this theatre can be found in the journal Marquee Vol 30 #2 published by The Theatre Historical Society of America>>>>I quote;
Kinema
Opened: 15th December 1917
Architect: William J. Dodd
Seating Capacity: 1,856
Organ: Robert Morton 5 Manual/26 Ranks
The first truly “deluxe” movie theatre in Los Angeles, with an attractive classical facade reflecting the movie industry’s new found respectability, the Kinema was improbably sited three blocks west of Broadway on Grand Street, between Seventh and the foot of Wilshire Boulevard, an area which never developed as a theatre district. It was a true movie house, with a stage only seven feet deep.
It was renamed the Criterion after 1922, it was among the early acquisitions of West Coast Theatres, which would soon dominate California exhibition. The theatre came down in 1941 to be replaced by an office building. The organ, exceptionally large for a smallish house, was built up in stages from the original 2 Manual built by the California Organ Co., a predecessor or Robert Morton.'
Regarding the name Grand Internationale, could this be the Criterion’s final name? The Film Daily Yearbook 1941 lists a Grand Internationale located at 7th and Grand with 1,700 seats.
The California Theatre opened on 22nd April 1927 with a stated seating capacity of 2,021. The architect was John Paxton Perrine. It operated on a mix of movies and vaudeville until 1937 when it went to full time movie use.
The California Theatre closed on 18th April 1977 and has remained closed, boarded up and empty since then.
The architectural style of the interior of the Pantages could be described as Spanish Deco, the decorations were by Anthony B. Heinsbergen. The organ chambers for the Robert Morton theatre pipe organ were located under the stage.
The Granada Theatre opened on 17th November 1921. It was built and owned by lawyer/exhibitor Herbert L. Rothchild and Paramount Publix were a major investor (they took full control in 1925).
Fox West-Coast Theaters were the lessee’s between 1934 and 1947 (when it had been re-named Paramount). I’m not sure who operated it during its final years up to its closure on 20th April 1965. It was demolished later that year.
Joe;
The Film Daily Yearbook 1941 has a Grand Internationale Theater, W. 7th St and S. Grand Ave with a seating capacity of 1,700. Could this be the former Mozart Theater?
The description of the location of the Capitol Theater states ‘The large plunge pool building was next door to the Capitol on the south side and the beach band stand and dance pavilion were on the north side. The theater entrance faced east toward the Santa Fe depot and the downtown Redondo Beach business section on a hill above the beach area’.
The steep shingle roof of the Capitol Theater became a landmark on the beach front.
The Fox Theater opened on the 24th April 1931. It was closed as a full time movie theater by Mann Theaters in 1976. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and was declared a city landmark in 1999.
The Fox Arlington Theatre opened on the 22nd May 1931 with the movie “Daddy Long Legs” starring Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter.
The Architectural Firm responsible for the design were architects William Edwards & Joseph J. Plunkett and the original seating capacity is given as 1,776 in 1931. This was increased to 1,825 in 1973 with the removal and replacement of the loge seating. In 1976 the theatre was completely restored for live performance use and additional rows of seating was added, increasing the total capacity to 2,010.
The architect of the 1928 built Sanders was Edward Kleinert. It originally had a seating capacity of 1,501. The original architectural style of the interior was Middle Eastern and it had a Wurlitzer 2 Manual/7 Rank (Opus 1816) theatre pipe organ installed, which was removed many years ago.
Opened as the Fox Theatre on 8th November 1929 it cost $2.5m when built. At the time, it was the third largest theatre in California. The opening was attended by Buddy Rogers, Bessie Love and Buster Keaton.
The Fox closed in 1975 and remain empty until purchased by the City and was converted into a live productions venue in May 1977. It re-opened in November 1985 as the Copley Symphony Hall and during the eight intervening years the entire exterior of the original theatre had been altered to accomodate a large office block that was built around and above it. Even the main lobby and ticket hall had been totally modernised. But once inside the auditorium, it still exists in the style and decor it had when it first opened in 1929.
The Alisal Theatre opened on 10th April 1947.
I can quote two different seating capacities for the Majestic Theater from the Film Daily Yearbook 1941; 2,100 seats, 1950 edition; 1,840
The seating capacity of the Ritz Theatre given at opening was 1,660.
The Sunkist Theatre opened on 4th November 1931 with a given seating capacity of 888.
The opening date of the Baywood Theater was 20th August 1931.
The Warner Grand Theater opened as the Warner Theatre on 20th January 1931 with Joe E. Brown starring in “Goin' Wild” on the screen and Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Blondell attending in person. An opening seating capacity was given as 1,598.
Anthony B. Heinsbergen designed the beautiful Art Deco interior decorations which are still there to be admired today.
Warner’s leased the theatre out in the 1970’s and it screened Spanish language films under the name Teatro Juarez.
The Carlos Theatre opened on 10th January 1941 with a seating capacity of 817.
Originally opened as the Portal Theatre (known also as the West Portal Theatre) on 26th December 1925, the architects were Irving F. Morrow and William I Garren.
It was re-named Empire Cinema on 1st October 1936 and in 1974 it was divided into 3 screens.
The architect’s of the San Mateo Theater were Irving F. Morrow and William I. Garren.
That’s great news David. I wish you all the very best in getting the California up and running again and will certainly want to visit it next time I’m in town.
The seating capaity of the Strand Theatre was given as 844 in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1952. The theatre opened about 1940.
Thanks Joe;
I have just posted some details up on the Fox Criterion (former Kinema) listing on this site.
Sorry I can’t help out with any further details on the Mozart, as there is no Orange Grove Theatre listed in 1941, in fact no theatre at all on Grand apart from the Grand Internationale. I will keep my eyes open though.
Details on this theatre can be found in the journal Marquee Vol 30 #2 published by The Theatre Historical Society of America>>>>I quote;
Kinema
Opened: 15th December 1917
Architect: William J. Dodd
Seating Capacity: 1,856
Organ: Robert Morton 5 Manual/26 Ranks
The first truly “deluxe” movie theatre in Los Angeles, with an attractive classical facade reflecting the movie industry’s new found respectability, the Kinema was improbably sited three blocks west of Broadway on Grand Street, between Seventh and the foot of Wilshire Boulevard, an area which never developed as a theatre district. It was a true movie house, with a stage only seven feet deep.
It was renamed the Criterion after 1922, it was among the early acquisitions of West Coast Theatres, which would soon dominate California exhibition. The theatre came down in 1941 to be replaced by an office building. The organ, exceptionally large for a smallish house, was built up in stages from the original 2 Manual built by the California Organ Co., a predecessor or Robert Morton.'
Regarding the name Grand Internationale, could this be the Criterion’s final name? The Film Daily Yearbook 1941 lists a Grand Internationale located at 7th and Grand with 1,700 seats.
The Tivoli Theatre opened on 12th March 1913. The architects were Werner and O'Brien and the seating capacity quoted at opening was for 1,500.
The California Theatre opened on 22nd April 1927 with a stated seating capacity of 2,021. The architect was John Paxton Perrine. It operated on a mix of movies and vaudeville until 1937 when it went to full time movie use.
The California Theatre closed on 18th April 1977 and has remained closed, boarded up and empty since then.
The architectural style of the interior of the Pantages could be described as Spanish Deco, the decorations were by Anthony B. Heinsbergen. The organ chambers for the Robert Morton theatre pipe organ were located under the stage.
The Granada Theatre opened on 17th November 1921. It was built and owned by lawyer/exhibitor Herbert L. Rothchild and Paramount Publix were a major investor (they took full control in 1925).
Fox West-Coast Theaters were the lessee’s between 1934 and 1947 (when it had been re-named Paramount). I’m not sure who operated it during its final years up to its closure on 20th April 1965. It was demolished later that year.
Joe;
The Film Daily Yearbook 1941 has a Grand Internationale Theater, W. 7th St and S. Grand Ave with a seating capacity of 1,700. Could this be the former Mozart Theater?
The description of the location of the Capitol Theater states ‘The large plunge pool building was next door to the Capitol on the south side and the beach band stand and dance pavilion were on the north side. The theater entrance faced east toward the Santa Fe depot and the downtown Redondo Beach business section on a hill above the beach area’.
The steep shingle roof of the Capitol Theater became a landmark on the beach front.
MagicLantern;
Thanks for the complement (blushes)! I will be in Southern CA in January 2005 checking out some more theaters.
The single storey Garrick Theatre had a seating capacity of 650 on one level.
The S. Charles Lee designed Tower Theater which replaced it on the same parcel of land has a seating capacity of 906 in orchestra and balcony levels.
The Fox Theater opened on the 24th April 1931. It was closed as a full time movie theater by Mann Theaters in 1976. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and was declared a city landmark in 1999.
The Fox Arlington Theatre opened on the 22nd May 1931 with the movie “Daddy Long Legs” starring Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter.
The Architectural Firm responsible for the design were architects William Edwards & Joseph J. Plunkett and the original seating capacity is given as 1,776 in 1931. This was increased to 1,825 in 1973 with the removal and replacement of the loge seating. In 1976 the theatre was completely restored for live performance use and additional rows of seating was added, increasing the total capacity to 2,010.
The architect of the 1928 built Sanders was Edward Kleinert. It originally had a seating capacity of 1,501. The original architectural style of the interior was Middle Eastern and it had a Wurlitzer 2 Manual/7 Rank (Opus 1816) theatre pipe organ installed, which was removed many years ago.
Opened as the Fox Theatre on 8th November 1929 it cost $2.5m when built. At the time, it was the third largest theatre in California. The opening was attended by Buddy Rogers, Bessie Love and Buster Keaton.
The Fox closed in 1975 and remain empty until purchased by the City and was converted into a live productions venue in May 1977. It re-opened in November 1985 as the Copley Symphony Hall and during the eight intervening years the entire exterior of the original theatre had been altered to accomodate a large office block that was built around and above it. Even the main lobby and ticket hall had been totally modernised. But once inside the auditorium, it still exists in the style and decor it had when it first opened in 1929.