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.
The LA Times was advertising the Rio in 1954. Unfortunately the address is only given as Imperial and Western. I’ve driven through that intersection enough times to notice if there was a theater there, so I believe this one will stay demolished.
The LA Times was advertising a Jurdan theater at 8717 S. Vermont on 9/6/25. It would have been just south of the Balboa, which opened in 1926. Unless someone has some information to the contrary, this is not a listed theater.
The Main Street Regent was the National as of 6/30/15. A story in the LA Times describes a fire at a business at 454 S. Main. The fire put out moviegoers in the Banner to the South and the National to the north.
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.
Please note status change to closed.
The LA Times was advertising the Rio in 1954. Unfortunately the address is only given as Imperial and Western. I’ve driven through that intersection enough times to notice if there was a theater there, so I believe this one will stay demolished.
The LA Times was advertising a Jurdan theater at 8717 S. Vermont on 9/6/25. It would have been just south of the Balboa, which opened in 1926. Unless someone has some information to the contrary, this is not a listed theater.
So the status should be closed/demolished?
I probably didn’t put it in right as an aka, I should have made it one word. Thanks.
The Main Street Regent was the National as of 6/30/15. A story in the LA Times describes a fire at a business at 454 S. Main. The fire put out moviegoers in the Banner to the South and the National to the north.
A story in the LA Times dated 9/24/13 discusses a fire at Clune’s motion picture theater at Fifth and Main Streets.
They would have gotten a bang out of the movie, I guess.
There’s a banner on the building celebrating the town’s centennial anniversary. I think the people on the wagon are supposed to be pioneers.