This is from an LA Times story on 10/27/52. I didn’t buy the rest of the article. It may not refer to the theater on Main Street:
The last wall of the Hippodrome Theater, onetime vaudeville house of Los Angeles, crumbled to earth yesterday in a cloud of powdery concrete to make way for a new parking lot.
The Cummings building was up for auction on 9/16/57, according to the Fitchburg Sentinel:
BONA FIDE AUCTION SALE
BRICK BUILDING
Known As
CUMMINGS THEATRE
With Approximately
7723 SQ, FT. LAND
BLOSSOM ST.
FITCHBURG, MASS.
WED. SEPT. 18 at 1 P.M.
Property is in excellent condition, suitable for any business. It is located in business section of city. Wonderful opportunity to buy this for an investment or to convert Into apartments. Possibilities are unlimited.
The Strand was converted into a bowling alley in 1961, according to the Fitchburg Sentinel, following its sale in 1958:
The Strand Theater building, which extends from 96 to 110 Cleghorn Street and from 74 to 88 Daniels Street, one of the largest business and apartment blocks in the Cleghorn section of the city, was purchased yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. Krikor Mirijanian, 46 Beacon Street. Stamps on the transfer indicated the price was approximately $65,000. The property has been owned by the Cleghorn Realty Trust Co. headed by Gideon Magey and Jean B. Boucher. Mr. and Mrs. Mirijanian purchased the property for investment purposes. The transfer was made in the office of Baker, Baker and Bowen. The Francis J. O'Connell office at 304 Main Street handled the realty transaction.
The building has a 200 foot frontage on Cleghorn Street and has stores on the lower side with six apartments on the top side. Mr. Mirijanian said today he plans to remodel the old Strand Theater into a hall to be rented to organizations seeking quarters but plans no other major changes. The building presently houses the branch bank of the Safety Fund Bank, Nellie’s Shop, Cleghorn Taxi, Strand Cafe, M.&M. Appliance Outlet, Bishop’s Barbershop and the Launderette. A bowling alley is located on a portion of the second floor which also serves as a warehouse for the Ballroom Furniture Co. There are six apartments in the building in addition to the stores.
I immigrated to LA from New Jersey in 1984. On my first night here, I stayed at a fleabag hotel at 13th and Olive, across from a fire station, which of course meant no sleep. The next morning, I perambulated down Olive to Broadway. It was appalling. I almost called a cab and went back to the airport.
Here is a 1966 photo. It’s interesting because Loew’s has been taken off the marquee, and it just says “The State”. Perhaps a change of ownership: http://tinyurl.com/ytgne9
This is from an LA Times story on 10/27/52. I didn’t buy the rest of the article. It may not refer to the theater on Main Street:
The last wall of the Hippodrome Theater, onetime vaudeville house of Los Angeles, crumbled to earth yesterday in a cloud of powdery concrete to make way for a new parking lot.
Here is a photo circa 1939:
http://scmovietheaters.com/chas_glo.html
Here is a 1/12/07 article that follows up on the possible sale of the Castle:
http://tinyurl.com/2zevrx
Here is another photo from a few years ago:
http://tinyurl.com/27bouz
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/29xfao
There is a photo of the marquee on this page:
http://www.driveinmovie.com/TN.htm
Here is another 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/35smzg
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/34ry4l
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/34ry4l
If you compare the photo posted on ¼/05 with this photo, there does appear to be some renovation going on:
http://tinyurl.com/354w79
Vaudeville act, 1945:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater2/00015138.jpg
The Cummings building was up for auction on 9/16/57, according to the Fitchburg Sentinel:
BONA FIDE AUCTION SALE
BRICK BUILDING
Known As
CUMMINGS THEATRE
With Approximately
7723 SQ, FT. LAND
BLOSSOM ST.
FITCHBURG, MASS.
WED. SEPT. 18 at 1 P.M.
Property is in excellent condition, suitable for any business. It is located in business section of city. Wonderful opportunity to buy this for an investment or to convert Into apartments. Possibilities are unlimited.
The Strand was converted into a bowling alley in 1961, according to the Fitchburg Sentinel, following its sale in 1958:
The Strand Theater building, which extends from 96 to 110 Cleghorn Street and from 74 to 88 Daniels Street, one of the largest business and apartment blocks in the Cleghorn section of the city, was purchased yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. Krikor Mirijanian, 46 Beacon Street. Stamps on the transfer indicated the price was approximately $65,000. The property has been owned by the Cleghorn Realty Trust Co. headed by Gideon Magey and Jean B. Boucher. Mr. and Mrs. Mirijanian purchased the property for investment purposes. The transfer was made in the office of Baker, Baker and Bowen. The Francis J. O'Connell office at 304 Main Street handled the realty transaction.
The building has a 200 foot frontage on Cleghorn Street and has stores on the lower side with six apartments on the top side. Mr. Mirijanian said today he plans to remodel the old Strand Theater into a hall to be rented to organizations seeking quarters but plans no other major changes. The building presently houses the branch bank of the Safety Fund Bank, Nellie’s Shop, Cleghorn Taxi, Strand Cafe, M.&M. Appliance Outlet, Bishop’s Barbershop and the Launderette. A bowling alley is located on a portion of the second floor which also serves as a warehouse for the Ballroom Furniture Co. There are six apartments in the building in addition to the stores.
I stand corrected.
Status should be closed/demolished.
I immigrated to LA from New Jersey in 1984. On my first night here, I stayed at a fleabag hotel at 13th and Olive, across from a fire station, which of course meant no sleep. The next morning, I perambulated down Olive to Broadway. It was appalling. I almost called a cab and went back to the airport.
I heard the Rin Tin Tin movie was a real dog:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068285.jpg
This would be the Sixth Street side of the building:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068268.jpg
Here is an undated photo from the LAPL. I believe this is the RKO:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics37/00068244.jpg
Here is a 1937 premiere from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2h4k4d
Joe is great to have around as he seems to have an encyclopaedic memory of Los Angeles from sixty years ago to the present. Don’t go changin, Joe.
The advertisement on the top of the building is for a Las Vegas casino in this 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/22tq8p
Here is another UCLA photo, dated 1920:
http://tinyurl.com/25mtbn
Here is a 1966 photo. It’s interesting because Loew’s has been taken off the marquee, and it just says “The State”. Perhaps a change of ownership:
http://tinyurl.com/ytgne9
Here is a 1987 photo from the UCLA collection:
http://tinyurl.com/2z3dh7