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.
LA Times reports a fire in the Band Box, 608 S. Hill, on 2/28/27. This was a Fox theater,according to the clipping. Band Box doesn’t show up as an aka, so I’m wondering where we have this listed.
I think the Sunbeam may have been a separate theater. A story in the LA Times dated 8/11/23 describes a fire which destroyed the Sunbeam, a wooden structure. Perhaps the Gentry was built on that site after the fire.
A film fire in the projection room of the Rex Theater, 827 W. Third Street late yesterday sent a small number of spectators rushing into the street. No one was injured. Police reported the only damage done was to the film.
There is a nice photo of the La Mar at the Manhattan Village mall. It is one of an exhibition of several old Manhattan Beach photos. I would say that the style of the theater is Art Deco.
The Normandie was advertised at 4817 S. per the LA Times in 1925. I believe that should be the proper address. I may get a chance to go by there tomorrow.
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.
A fire on 10/20/27 “practically destroyed” the Whiteside, according to the LA Times. It survived the fire, obviously.
LA Times reports a fire in the Band Box, 608 S. Hill, on 2/28/27. This was a Fox theater,according to the clipping. Band Box doesn’t show up as an aka, so I’m wondering where we have this listed.
I think the Sunbeam may have been a separate theater. A story in the LA Times dated 8/11/23 describes a fire which destroyed the Sunbeam, a wooden structure. Perhaps the Gentry was built on that site after the fire.
Down but not out, according to the LA Times in this story dated 8/14/32:
BLAST WRECKS THEATER
Borger (Tex) Aug.13 – A dynamite blast wrecked the interior of the Rex Theater here early today, causing damage estimated at more than $5,000.
A brief from the LA Times dated 1/23/28:
PROJECTION ROOM FIRE CAUSES SCARE
A film fire in the projection room of the Rex Theater, 827 W. Third Street late yesterday sent a small number of spectators rushing into the street. No one was injured. Police reported the only damage done was to the film.
There is a nice photo of the La Mar at the Manhattan Village mall. It is one of an exhibition of several old Manhattan Beach photos. I would say that the style of the theater is Art Deco.
I would call it Art Deco for the marquee. I don’t know how you would describe the rest of the building.
The Normandie was advertised at 4817 S. per the LA Times in 1925. I believe that should be the proper address. I may get a chance to go by there tomorrow.