Tracy Theatre

tikittinger on February 22, 2004 at 11:10 pm

Frank Ellsworth a police officer at the time use to give my grandfather a lift home in the police car late at night. Frank’s son was also a police officer in Long Beach.

Neil Simpson ran the Theater when I was about 3 or 4 years old. He and he was tied up and robbed several times. In the late 40’s and early 50’s my father Johnny Johnston took over both the Tracy Theater to continue to run it and the old Tracy Cafe at the Pico Navy Landing because Eugene Tracy was ill.

Vaudville was also performed at the Tracy. There was definately an orchestra pit. You were right.

I use to go to the Theater as well as a child. That steep hill next to the Theater was so steep that we use to dream that we were falling down it. It looked much bigger as a child.

tikittinger on February 21, 2004 at 11:04 pm

The old series F.B.I used the Tracy for T.V. Show.
The movie with Jimmy Durante It'sa Mad,Mad, Mad, Mad World had the Tracy Theater in it. The family still live in Long Beach, three of six children are still living. Madeline, Marie and Ann they graduated from Saint Anthonys. When the Theater was torn down it took huge wrecking balls weeks upon weeks to demolish because there was so much steel in it. The owner was Eugene V. Tracy and his wife Catherine “Kate” Tracy. Eugene V. Tracy came from Bisbee Arizona where he ran Eugen also owned and operated the Laughlin Theater on Pine Avenue.

tikittinger on February 21, 2004 at 10:55 pm

I am a direct decendant of the family that owned and operated the Tracy Theater. I live in Long Beach and I am a Political Consultant. I can direct you to other family members to give you more details on the theater.

William on November 13, 2003 at 7:07 pm

The Tracy Theatre was located at 219 E. Seaside Way.