An article in the LA Times dated 11/20/40 describes a scene when a car crashed into the front of the theater, then known as the Azteca (as opposed to the Aztec). There is a nice photo of the theater and the marquee which unfortunately I can’t reproduce here. The theater was showing Spanish films at that time.
The fact that this theater had a large box-type marquee makes me wonder if the Azteca at 249 was a neighbor of the Linda Lea at 251. Other pictures of the Arrow don’t show this marquee. Just wondering.
AUTO CRASHES THEATER FRONT
Passenger Injured; Box Office Cashier Jarred by Impact
The one-in-a-million odds of fate sent a man to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital yesterday afternoon and probably saved the life of a cashier at the Azteca Theater, 249 S. Main Street. Clyde Dean Hansen, 38, was treated for a fractured arm when his car, driven by an unidentified stranger, crashed into the front of the theater.
Witnesses told police the driver, apparently unhurt, disappeared in the crowd. Hansen said he had met the man earlier in the afternoon and did not know his name. Eleanor Valenzuela, theater cashier, was jolted about the box office as the auto rocked it back and forth, but escaped with nothing more than a bad case of nerves.
Police were told by witnesses that Hansen’s car was hooked on the right bumper by a passing Pacific Electric car. The impact sent the car against a power line pole and into the theater. Both the machine and the theater front were damaged badly.
The LA Times has some photos of the May 12, 1953 tornado in its archives. The Joy Theater is mentioned, but the poor quality of the photos makes it hard to tell if the theater was demolished at that time. Businesses on the same block that were destroyed were RT Dennis Furniture and Chris' Cafe.
This week will mark the beginning of building operations on the theater project on Whittier Boulevard in Golden Gate Square. The theater proper will seat about 1500 persons, and will contain thirteen stores. There will also be several apartment units. It is planned as a legitimate playhouse, but will be equipped for motion pictures as well.
I don’t know what’s worse – a featureless box or some clueless architect trying to create a “classic look” but failing miserably. I think they should stick with the box.
There’s a story in the LA Times dated 1/8/17 about a dentist that committed suicide in his office. The office was in the Homer Laughlin Theater Building at 4th and Pine. His wife was concerned when he didn’t come home and went over to the Laughlin to ask if they had seen him. One of the theater employees went up to the dentist’s office and found the body, next to a note and a bottle of poison. The dentist was twenty eight years old.
I didn’t get to this location yesterday, as I was running out of daylight. I think 7208 Long Beach is below Firestone Boulevard. It looks like Pacific turns into Long Beach Blvd when you get that far south.
I took some photos yesterday, which I will post later. There is a “For Lease” sign out front. The marquee has some holes in it. This theater has seen better days.
6528 Pacific is the correct address. I was there yesterday. The theater is closed and is available for lease. The marquee has also been removed. I took some photos which I will post later.
An article in the LA Times dated 11/20/40 describes a scene when a car crashed into the front of the theater, then known as the Azteca (as opposed to the Aztec). There is a nice photo of the theater and the marquee which unfortunately I can’t reproduce here. The theater was showing Spanish films at that time.
The fact that this theater had a large box-type marquee makes me wonder if the Azteca at 249 was a neighbor of the Linda Lea at 251. Other pictures of the Arrow don’t show this marquee. Just wondering.
AUTO CRASHES THEATER FRONT
Passenger Injured; Box Office Cashier Jarred by Impact
The one-in-a-million odds of fate sent a man to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital yesterday afternoon and probably saved the life of a cashier at the Azteca Theater, 249 S. Main Street. Clyde Dean Hansen, 38, was treated for a fractured arm when his car, driven by an unidentified stranger, crashed into the front of the theater.
Witnesses told police the driver, apparently unhurt, disappeared in the crowd. Hansen said he had met the man earlier in the afternoon and did not know his name. Eleanor Valenzuela, theater cashier, was jolted about the box office as the auto rocked it back and forth, but escaped with nothing more than a bad case of nerves.
Police were told by witnesses that Hansen’s car was hooked on the right bumper by a passing Pacific Electric car. The impact sent the car against a power line pole and into the theater. Both the machine and the theater front were damaged badly.
Given the rough translation of the title as “man flesh”, one wonders if the theater ever showed adult films.
The LA Times has some photos of the May 12, 1953 tornado in its archives. The Joy Theater is mentioned, but the poor quality of the photos makes it hard to tell if the theater was demolished at that time. Businesses on the same block that were destroyed were RT Dennis Furniture and Chris' Cafe.
Excerpt from an LA Times article dated 2/9/27:
This week will mark the beginning of building operations on the theater project on Whittier Boulevard in Golden Gate Square. The theater proper will seat about 1500 persons, and will contain thirteen stores. There will also be several apartment units. It is planned as a legitimate playhouse, but will be equipped for motion pictures as well.
I don’t know what’s worse – a featureless box or some clueless architect trying to create a “classic look” but failing miserably. I think they should stick with the box.
There’s a story in the LA Times dated 1/8/17 about a dentist that committed suicide in his office. The office was in the Homer Laughlin Theater Building at 4th and Pine. His wife was concerned when he didn’t come home and went over to the Laughlin to ask if they had seen him. One of the theater employees went up to the dentist’s office and found the body, next to a note and a bottle of poison. The dentist was twenty eight years old.
Advertised on Vista Way in September 1979.
Advertised as the Towne at 217 N. Hill in September 1979.
Advertised at 402 N. Hill in September 1979.
Advertised as New Valley Drive In, September 1979, with four screens. Address was 3840 Mission Avenue.
Advertised as Camino Cinema 4 in September 1979.
Featured on 9/13/79 – “Malibu High” and “Best Friends”.
Featured on 9/13/79 – “Love & Bullets” and “City on Fire”.
Advertised at 309 E. Grand in September 1979. Name was the Bijou. Feature films were “Wanda Nevada” and “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”.
Advertised at 471 First Street in 1979.
LA Times advertised Camino Plaza Theater 5 at 2565 El Camino Real in 1979. It doesn’t appear that this was ever listed on CT.
I didn’t get to this location yesterday, as I was running out of daylight. I think 7208 Long Beach is below Firestone Boulevard. It looks like Pacific turns into Long Beach Blvd when you get that far south.
I took some photos yesterday, which I will post later. There is a “For Lease” sign out front. The marquee has some holes in it. This theater has seen better days.
The replacement Park is still open. Not a very interesting building.
6528 Pacific is the correct address. I was there yesterday. The theater is closed and is available for lease. The marquee has also been removed. I took some photos which I will post later.
There is a large shopping center now on the corner of Atlantic and Slauson. No trace of the old Maywood.
The Monterey is currently a church.
The Dorkel has been replaced by low income housing.
A new building has been constructed on the site of the Keystone/Aliso. No trace of the theater remains.
The Meralta in East Los Angeles has not been demolished. It is now a church. I took some photos which I will post later. Status should be closed.