This is an excerpt from the Chicago Sun-Times dated 8/22/86. How much of the theater was saved during the conversion?
What once was the Ritz Theater – and before that a vaudeville theater – in west suburban Berwyn is developing into the 52-unit Atrium Court Condominiums.
Angled and arched avante-garde designs give the building at Roosevelt and Ridgeland a futuristic appearance. Buyers can choose one, two or three levels of customized living space. Young married couples and empty nesters are already moving in; 28 one and two-bedroom units priced from $56,000 to $99,500 have been sold. Demolition has begun.
Plymouth Place was the street where my great aunt and uncle owned a duplex. They lived on the second floor and rented out the first floor to summer people. We used to have lunch with them at the Plymouth Inn across the street. This is more than thirty five years ago, now. Time flies.
A.F. Cheroske opened the Egyptian in 1923. LA Times reported sale to West Coast Theaters in November 1925. For the first two years of its life, the theater was known as Cheroske’s Egyptian Theater.
I was in Shamrock last year. I saw the historic gas station but no theaters. Of course we were a little out of sorts after getting pulled over by a Ranger just outside of town. Just a friendly warning not to speed, no jail time.
Cliches come to life, from the LA Times dated 12/7/44:
Using a handkerchief over his face as a mask, a bandit held up Miss Wilma Wallace, 16, cashier at the Florencita Theater at 1830 E. Florence Avenue, late Tuesday night and escaped with $35, according to reports at the Sheriff’s Firestone substation.
If the original building still exists, it’s a pet shop. The entire building has been painted over, so it’s hard to tell if this is the original or a new building on the Florencita site. I will post the pictures later and we can take a look.
It looks a lot different now, but it’s still the same building. The portholes are still there. The marquee and blade are long gone. It’s currently a restaurant/banquet hall. I took some pictures which I will post soon.
If you look at the two pictures above, 512-516 is the third building down from the corner of 5th and Main. The building is still there today, but the ground floor offices are occupied by a homeless services program. I took some photos from across the street today as one of the customers was being arrested by the LAPD in front of the building.
518 S. Main is a small building, probably too small to have been a theater. I will post the photos soon.
Here is a brief article from the LA Times dated 11/3/67:
A petition for a writ of mandate which would have forced the police commission to issue a permit for operation of the Galway Theater, 514 S. Main, was denied by Superior Court Judge Benjamin Landis. Max B. Gardens, the theater operator, complained that when the commission denied him a new license in 1964 it violated his constitutional rights of free press and free speech. The commission contended that the type of films shown had led to many morals arrests.
That’s the same firm that designed Hearst Castle and the Herald-Examiner building. Julia Morgan was the lead architect, I believe.
That is a good view. Thanks.
This is an excerpt from the Chicago Sun-Times dated 8/22/86. How much of the theater was saved during the conversion?
What once was the Ritz Theater – and before that a vaudeville theater – in west suburban Berwyn is developing into the 52-unit Atrium Court Condominiums.
Angled and arched avante-garde designs give the building at Roosevelt and Ridgeland a futuristic appearance. Buyers can choose one, two or three levels of customized living space. Young married couples and empty nesters are already moving in; 28 one and two-bedroom units priced from $56,000 to $99,500 have been sold. Demolition has begun.
Dalton’s should be listed as an aka.
Plymouth Place was the street where my great aunt and uncle owned a duplex. They lived on the second floor and rented out the first floor to summer people. We used to have lunch with them at the Plymouth Inn across the street. This is more than thirty five years ago, now. Time flies.
The amusement park was Gillian’s Wonderland. Do they still have the Blue Laws in Ocean City?
The LA Times noted in 1948 that Mexican films were being shown at the Liberty, California and Mason theaters.
Known as Erlanger’s Mason in 1926.
A.F. Cheroske opened the Egyptian in 1923. LA Times reported sale to West Coast Theaters in November 1925. For the first two years of its life, the theater was known as Cheroske’s Egyptian Theater.
The Majestic was also known as Hamburger’s Majestic, referring to the owner, not to anything available at the concession stand.
The Conoco station is also featured in the animated film “Cars”.
I was in Shamrock last year. I saw the historic gas station but no theaters. Of course we were a little out of sorts after getting pulled over by a Ranger just outside of town. Just a friendly warning not to speed, no jail time.
This should be listed as closed but not demolished.
Cliches come to life, from the LA Times dated 12/7/44:
Using a handkerchief over his face as a mask, a bandit held up Miss Wilma Wallace, 16, cashier at the Florencita Theater at 1830 E. Florence Avenue, late Tuesday night and escaped with $35, according to reports at the Sheriff’s Firestone substation.
Opening date was 4/8/32.
Just an empty lot now. No trace of the theater.
If the original building still exists, it’s a pet shop. The entire building has been painted over, so it’s hard to tell if this is the original or a new building on the Florencita site. I will post the pictures later and we can take a look.
There is a Rite Aid store on the site now.
Here are the photos I tried to post on 9/29:
http://tinyurl.com/3xybah
http://tinyurl.com/2lzxt4
http://tinyurl.com/34tr56
http://tinyurl.com/393drj
http://tinyurl.com/39zx93
http://tinyurl.com/2mhs4y
http://tinyurl.com/39svbo
It looks a lot different now, but it’s still the same building. The portholes are still there. The marquee and blade are long gone. It’s currently a restaurant/banquet hall. I took some pictures which I will post soon.
If you look at the two pictures above, 512-516 is the third building down from the corner of 5th and Main. The building is still there today, but the ground floor offices are occupied by a homeless services program. I took some photos from across the street today as one of the customers was being arrested by the LAPD in front of the building.
518 S. Main is a small building, probably too small to have been a theater. I will post the photos soon.
Fair enough.
Maybe it’s the same one. If you see a separate theater, go ahead and add it.
Here is a brief article from the LA Times dated 11/3/67:
A petition for a writ of mandate which would have forced the police commission to issue a permit for operation of the Galway Theater, 514 S. Main, was denied by Superior Court Judge Benjamin Landis. Max B. Gardens, the theater operator, complained that when the commission denied him a new license in 1964 it violated his constitutional rights of free press and free speech. The commission contended that the type of films shown had led to many morals arrests.
Here are two LAPL photos from 1973 and 1930, respectively. I will take some pictures of the current site tomorrow:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014125.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics09/00014120.jpg
Please note status change to closed.