The church website posted in December 2004 is no longer operational. It doesn’t look like there are any plans to demolish the theater for housing. On the other hand, they’re not doing anything to rehab the property either.
I went to the Irvine Spectrum shortly after construction was completed. At that time it was in the middle of nowhere. Much more development circling the complex as of today.
No Shell station when I was there in the late eighties. We did have a fountain. The homeless guys used to try and steal my poor little goldfish in the fountain, to eat I guess. Not much of a meal.
I used to manage the Penguin restaurant on the corner of Olympic and Lincoln in Santa Monica. The owners told the staff that the restaurant was being closed for two days due to plumbing problems. Guess what, employees, time to find a new waiter job.
There is apparently some interest in reopening the tunnel once the current construction is completed. As I understand, the tunnel is structurally sound, just a little musty after being sealed off for several years. I don’t think there would be any stores, it would just be a pedestrian walkway underneath Ocean to the east side of the street. My source was someone who works in the Breakers building on the intersection of Pine and Ocean.
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2ebx4q
Here is a 1994 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2a3gce
Here are a few photos:
http://tinyurl.com/23o33m
http://tinyurl.com/2dpwsl
Here are a few photos:
http://tinyurl.com/yuzpye
Here is a circa 1930s photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2rjerx
Here is a circa 1930s photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2p56tm
Here is a 1937 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2mqn88
Here is a 1934 photo. Stock car races were being held at Mines Field, which later became LAX:
http://tinyurl.com/2cmwab
Here is a 1953 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2bhb88
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yq4wdd
1958, I think. You were pretty close.
I don’t know if they hold services in the theater, or just own the property.
The church website posted in December 2004 is no longer operational. It doesn’t look like there are any plans to demolish the theater for housing. On the other hand, they’re not doing anything to rehab the property either.
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2usfa4
I went to the Irvine Spectrum shortly after construction was completed. At that time it was in the middle of nowhere. Much more development circling the complex as of today.
I would have recommended the second option.
Paging Joe Vogel – we have another aka for you…
Bad carburetor. Any day now.
No Shell station when I was there in the late eighties. We did have a fountain. The homeless guys used to try and steal my poor little goldfish in the fountain, to eat I guess. Not much of a meal.
I used to manage the Penguin restaurant on the corner of Olympic and Lincoln in Santa Monica. The owners told the staff that the restaurant was being closed for two days due to plumbing problems. Guess what, employees, time to find a new waiter job.
Nothing but hotels and office buildings on that stretch of Ocean today.
Here is a post-quake photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2hr4ng
The West Coast can be seen just east of the Municipal Auditorium in this photo from the USC archive:
http://tinyurl.com/3968al
There is apparently some interest in reopening the tunnel once the current construction is completed. As I understand, the tunnel is structurally sound, just a little musty after being sealed off for several years. I don’t think there would be any stores, it would just be a pedestrian walkway underneath Ocean to the east side of the street. My source was someone who works in the Breakers building on the intersection of Pine and Ocean.
I solved the Alamitos Avenue question. The building was an auditorium and a skating rink, but never a theater. It just looks like one.