If you look at the waymarking page for the theater, it states that the Varsity is now a fitness center and that renovations are ongoing to restore some of the former exterior features. 104 Oxford would be the correct address.
Little known historical fact, courtesy of Wikipedia:
During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, accompanied by American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner and Mexican Attache Jose Romero-Gonzalez, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant, as the guests of three British officers. Skinner, Key, and Romero-Gonzalez were allowed to return to their own sloop, but were not allowed to return to Baltimore because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and of the British intention to attack Baltimore. As a result of this, Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. Peering through the heavy smoke, he commented to the Attache, “Jose, can you see?” Shortly thereafter, he was inspired to compose our national anthem.
This a coffeehouse on Division Street that is up for sale. It looks a little narrow for a theater. I don’t have any confirmation that this is in fact the former theater building: http://tinyurl.com/2gdk4e
“For ten cents one can behold, supine in an ornate coffin, the mortal remains of one Elmer McCurdy, erstwhile Oklahoma bad man. Elmer cheated the law which demanded his life after one of his murderous affrays, by swallowing cyanide of potassium. His remains were embalmed and the combined action of the cyanide and the ingredients of the embalming fluid pumped into the cadaver caused it to remain in a remarkable state of preservation”.
I think one of the sections I lopped off discussed a corpse named Elmer that was on display somewhere on Main Street. I believe this was a former bank robber who died in the teens. His body ended up at the Long Beach Pike, where for years it was assumed he was a mannequin. When they were moving him during the Pike’s closing his arm fell off and they realized that he was an actual human being. He was then buried, so he had some dignity at the end, anyway.
Sale price is 639K. There are a few photos on the loopnet site:
http://tinyurl.com/2hog8z
$124,500! I can do that. Have to ask the wife, though:
http://tinyurl.com/28zab4
Here is the loopnet listing. The marquee is missing a few letters, I think:
http://tinyurl.com/yvz7p3
If you have an extra 4.2 million lying around, it’s yours:
http://tinyurl.com/298b3k
The theater is currently listed for sale at $795,000:
http://tinyurl.com/24fjhs
Here are a few more photos:
http://tinyurl.com/25djjr
http://tinyurl.com/yv7h6n
http://tinyurl.com/2akxh4
Still listed for sale at 5.25 million. Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/238ukm
For sale – 3.245 million:
http://tinyurl.com/2xb92t
The Grand should be listed as an aka.
A local reminisces about the Princess:
http://tinyurl.com/2wua4n
Here is an April 2007 article about the Bel-Air along with another photo of the marquee:
http://tinyurl.com/28xwj8
http://tinyurl.com/222y4q
Here are some early fifties photos from wikipedia:
http://tinyurl.com/2uclco
http://tinyurl.com/2msktw
http://tinyurl.com/34tlsg
http://tinyurl.com/37atpr
There is no Jose Romero-Gonzalez. I was just wasting valuable web space. I’m going back to work now.
If you look at the waymarking page for the theater, it states that the Varsity is now a fitness center and that renovations are ongoing to restore some of the former exterior features. 104 Oxford would be the correct address.
Little known historical fact, courtesy of Wikipedia:
During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key, accompanied by American Prisoner Exchange Agent Colonel John Stuart Skinner and Mexican Attache Jose Romero-Gonzalez, dined aboard the British ship HMS Tonnant, as the guests of three British officers. Skinner, Key, and Romero-Gonzalez were allowed to return to their own sloop, but were not allowed to return to Baltimore because they had become familiar with the strength and position of the British units and of the British intention to attack Baltimore. As a result of this, Key was unable to do anything but watch the bombarding of the American forces at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. Peering through the heavy smoke, he commented to the Attache, “Jose, can you see?” Shortly thereafter, he was inspired to compose our national anthem.
Perhaps used for offices now?
http://tinyurl.com/2zes8v
This a coffeehouse on Division Street that is up for sale. It looks a little narrow for a theater. I don’t have any confirmation that this is in fact the former theater building:
http://tinyurl.com/2gdk4e
Here is the listing:
http://tinyurl.com/2xn2aw
October 2007 article re renovation:
http://tinyurl.com/28r8z6
Here is the text from the Main Street story:
“For ten cents one can behold, supine in an ornate coffin, the mortal remains of one Elmer McCurdy, erstwhile Oklahoma bad man. Elmer cheated the law which demanded his life after one of his murderous affrays, by swallowing cyanide of potassium. His remains were embalmed and the combined action of the cyanide and the ingredients of the embalming fluid pumped into the cadaver caused it to remain in a remarkable state of preservation”.
I think one of the sections I lopped off discussed a corpse named Elmer that was on display somewhere on Main Street. I believe this was a former bank robber who died in the teens. His body ended up at the Long Beach Pike, where for years it was assumed he was a mannequin. When they were moving him during the Pike’s closing his arm fell off and they realized that he was an actual human being. He was then buried, so he had some dignity at the end, anyway.
I was in a rush this morning so I may have left out a few sections, but I thought it was interesting reading regardless.
This 1930 article in the LA Times gives a nice overview of Main Street in those days:
http://tinyurl.com/2zma5c
http://tinyurl.com/yttq88
http://tinyurl.com/ypn6zs
http://tinyurl.com/29dsxh
http://tinyurl.com/2a6chm
http://tinyurl.com/2e5mga
http://tinyurl.com/yqxu48
http://tinyurl.com/2dmvej
http://tinyurl.com/yw3guj
http://tinyurl.com/2da66x
http://tinyurl.com/2zcvoe
Secrecy in 1929:
http://tinyurl.com/2n6csu
http://tinyurl.com/33khk6
Here is the 1930 LA Times ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2erxqx