Sonora Entertainment Group started its first theater in Aurora, Colorado taking on the Super Saver 8 location in 2001 with American hit films dubbed into Spanish and Spanish-language films with English subtitles. The theatre was rebranded as Cinema Latino de Aurora. Sonora opened five theaters in its operation. Two unsuccessful locations closed quickly in Las Vegas and Colorado Springs. A Fort Worth, Texas location proved successful and a Phoenix location remained into the 2020s along with one in Pasadena, Texas. Two announced Chicago locations appeared to have not opened.
Sonora rebranded the Cinema Latino de Aurora to the Sonora Cinemas Aurora and the Cinema Latino de Phoenix as Sonora Cinemas Phoenix when it gave the theaters stadium seating. The Cinema Latino de Pasadena was about to make a similar transition in March of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Sonora Entertainment suspended all of its programming following movies as of March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic in its three locations, here at the Sonora Cinemas Aurora, Sonora Cinemas Phoenix, and the Cinema Latino in Pasadena, Texas. The Circuit filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in August of 2020. In 2021, Sonora Cinemas dissolved making the March 16, 2020 closure permanent.
Sonora Entertainment Group, operator of three Hispanic cinemas, had announced a forthcoming name change for this venue from Cinema Latino to Snoroa Cinemas in March of 2020. Three days later, the concept was stopped when Sonora Entertainment suspended all of its programming following movies as of March 16, 2020 at its venues, the Sonora Cinemas Phoenix (formerly Cinema Latino de Phoenix), the Sonora Cinemas Aurora, Colorado (formerly Cinema Latino), and here at the Cinema Latino.
The name change didn’t transpire and Sonora filed for voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on August 6, 2020. The chain dissolved and the March 16, 2020 closure became permanent.
The Tower launched December 28, 1929 with John Barrymore’s first talkie with Vitaphine sound, “General Crack.” It appears to have closed March 10, 1951 with “Adam’s Rib” and “Black Angel.” On October 4, 1952, it became a short-lived house of worship. In late 1954, its final feature on the attractor was for Nash Parking Lot coming soon as it was demolished shortly thereafter.
The Ritz Theatre began as the New Colonial Theatre launching December 4, 1916 with Harry Carey in “The Three Godfathers” supported by the Ramona Players vaudeville led by comedian Harry Hahn. It was then called simply the Colonial Theatre and was equipped with sound to remain viable.
Under Fox West Coast, the venue was given a major refresh and relaunched as the Ritz Theatre on March 14, 1936 with a great program of “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” “If a you Could Only Cook” and a live radio episode of “Calling All Cars” on the Ritz stage.
Edwards Theatres took on the aging venue with a grand reopening on January 1, 1956 now equipped with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope theaters. The “new” Ritz opened with Victor Mature in “Chief Crazy Horse.” But the circuit found out that audiences were more interested in television. They closed the Ritz likely at end of a leasing term after exploitation film screenings of “Mom and Dad” on March 28-31, 1957 with Elliot Forbes on the stage. Shockingly, the theater reported sell-out audiences throughout its final weekend - an oddity for a faded movie theater of the 1950s.
The theatre was soon retrofitted as a church which was operational for the remainder of 1957 and for 1958. The building suffered a minor fire in 1962. However, that appears to be the impetus to remove the building as it was demolished not long after.
The Park Theatre launched on Christmas Day 1928 with the silent film, “Captain Swagger” with Rod La Rocque. The theater transitioned to sound films. In 1936, it received a major refresh and had a grand reopening on July 2d. Fox West Coast Theatres Circuit closed the Park permanently on March 18, 1951 with Lauren Bacall in “Bright Leaf” and John Wayne in “Dakota.” It appears to have been auctioned off and became an auto lot.
Opening features on May 11, 1950 were Roy Rogers who appeared in person with “Bells of Coronado” supported by a newsreel, a Tom & Jerry cartoon in “Love That Pup,” the Tex Avery MGM cartoon classic, “Little Rural Riding Hood,” another Tom & Jerry, “The Lonesome Mouse,” the comedy short, “Grips, Grunts and Groans,” a travelogue, “From Liverpool to Stratford,” and the short, “This is America: State Trooper.”
Whittier Amusements launched the McNees Theatre (no apostrophe in McNees, btw) on July 31, 1929 with Monte Williams and the entire cast of “From Headquarters” in attendance for gala opening. Sound came from an RCA Photophone system. During construction it was apparent that Warner Bros. Circuit would be taking over the venue. That transfer took place just four months later on November 26, 1929 when the theatre was renamed the Warner Bros. Whittier Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Footlights and Fools.”
In September of 1936, Hugh W. Bruen acquired the Whittier, Wardman and Scenic theaters of Whittier and this venue was renamed the Whittier Theatre on October 7, 1936 and often Bruen’s Whittier Theatre.
The theatre was saved a reprieve from the wrecking ball at the 11th hour in January of 1987. However, an earthquake ended the hopes of saving the city’s last atmospheric theatre.
Technically, the theatre opened as the New Bellflower Theatre replacing the silent Bellflower Theatre less than a block away. The New Bellflower opened with Western Electric talkies and was designed by architect David S. Bushnell. Frank E. Woodruff of the local bank opened the venue on March 29, 1930 with L. E. Funk of the original Bellflower taking on the manager’s role. The Wheatland Construction Company built the venue.
The “New” was later dropped and Funk’s son, Jack, would run the Bellflower. As the close of a 20-year leasing agreement approached, the theatre would be redesigned as the Nubel Theatre getting a balcony with expanded seating at its relaunch in 1949.
The Bellflower Theatre bloomed on March 20, 1923 with Thomas Meighan in “Back Home or and Broke” supported by the Harold Lloyd short, “Look Out Below.” The theatre featured 50 loges and a quiet room where babies could be taken without missing the film. The well-placed and new Baldauf’s Sweet Shop was an original neighbor and was the de facto concession stand serving snacks and soft drinks. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yarborough opened the venue though selling out to L.E. Funk in 1925.
The Bellflower, which remained silent, closed in March of 1930 when the New Bellflower Theatre opened on March 29. The original theatre was converted for other retail purposes. Funk would be the first manager of the New Bellflower turned Bellflower turned NuBel then, finally, the Holiday Theatre which has its own CinemaTreasures page.
James Edwards Theatres announced this project in January of 1940 in the trade press. It was a $100,000 project with plans from architect S. Charles Lee. The grand opening for the El Soreno Theatre took place on November 20, 1940 with Fred MacMurray of “Rangers of Fortune” supported by Rosiland Russell in “Hired Wife.” The theatre struggled closing as the El Sorerno on March 19, 1950 with “When Baby Smiles” and “Blood and Sand.” Became a short-lived place of worship in 1951 and a long running American Legion Hall.
In 1975, it was listed as Salon Mazatlan which is likely when the marquee got its name. It has since been used as a banquet and event hall more recently under names including the Eava and the Mazatlan. It was once auctioned off in a 1984 public sale and was an Indiegogo fundraising concept that does not appear to have reached its goal. This entry should definitely be the El Soreno Theatre.
The New Elysian Theatre launched on February 19, 1937 with “Come and Get It” and “Wanted: Jane Turner” with the Warner Bros. cartoon, “The CooCoo Nut Grove.”
The San Carlos became the New Lincoln Theatre on December 21, 1939 with “Fighting Gringo” supported by “Mickey, the Kid” and a “March of Time” newsreel and a Keeno jackpot of $70. The New Lincoln moniker failed and returned to the San Carlos nameplate on February 5, 1942. The theatre was closed in 1951 on November 15, 1951 for having unsafe projection equipment, improper fire doors and improper ventilation.
Pacific Coast Theatres Circuit opened the Arroyo Theatre on December 28, 1928 with Lon Chaney in “While the City Sleeps.” The venue featured a Robert Morton pipe organ with Walter Freed as its organist.
United theatre Circuit launched both the United Theatre in Pasadena and in Eagle Rock in October of 1922. The theatre closed during the warm summer months. It was taken on by the Eagle Rock Theatre Company retaining its United name. It closed for the season as the United Theatre one last time on June 18, 1926 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush.
Operator John Sugar of the York Theatre installed a new pipe organ and Typhoon fan for year-round operation. It relaunched as Sugar’s Eagle Rock Theatre on October 14, 1926 with Douglas McLean in “Hold That Lion” supported by Ben Turpin in “When a Man is a Prince,” a newsreel and another short subject. Under new operators, the Sugar name was dropped with the theatre becoming the Eagle Rock Theatre.
Under yet new operators, the venue became the Sierra Theatre on November 6, 1936 with the films, “Texas Rangers” and “A Son Comes Home.” The Sierra closed after a double feature of “Tarzan and the Last Safari” and “Saucerman” on September 22, 1957.
Sonora Entertainment Group started its first theater in Aurora, Colorado taking on the Super Saver 8 location in 2001 with American hit films dubbed into Spanish and Spanish-language films with English subtitles. The theatre was rebranded as Cinema Latino de Aurora. Sonora opened five theaters in its operation. Two unsuccessful locations closed quickly in Las Vegas and Colorado Springs. A Fort Worth, Texas location proved successful and a Phoenix location remained into the 2020s along with one in Pasadena, Texas. Two announced Chicago locations appeared to have not opened.
Sonora rebranded the Cinema Latino de Aurora to the Sonora Cinemas Aurora and the Cinema Latino de Phoenix as Sonora Cinemas Phoenix when it gave the theaters stadium seating. The Cinema Latino de Pasadena was about to make a similar transition in March of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Sonora Entertainment suspended all of its programming following movies as of March 16, 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic in its three locations, here at the Sonora Cinemas Aurora, Sonora Cinemas Phoenix, and the Cinema Latino in Pasadena, Texas. The Circuit filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in August of 2020. In 2021, Sonora Cinemas dissolved making the March 16, 2020 closure permanent.
Sonora Cinemas dissolved - the closure is permanent.
Sonora Entertainment Group, operator of three Hispanic cinemas, had announced a forthcoming name change for this venue from Cinema Latino to Snoroa Cinemas in March of 2020. Three days later, the concept was stopped when Sonora Entertainment suspended all of its programming following movies as of March 16, 2020 at its venues, the Sonora Cinemas Phoenix (formerly Cinema Latino de Phoenix), the Sonora Cinemas Aurora, Colorado (formerly Cinema Latino), and here at the Cinema Latino.
The name change didn’t transpire and Sonora filed for voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on August 6, 2020. The chain dissolved and the March 16, 2020 closure became permanent.
Closed March 30, 1956 with “Song of the South” and “Glory” at the end of lease.
May 30, 1925 Grand Reopening as the Fair Oaks with “Thief of Baghdad”
The Tower launched December 28, 1929 with John Barrymore’s first talkie with Vitaphine sound, “General Crack.” It appears to have closed March 10, 1951 with “Adam’s Rib” and “Black Angel.” On October 4, 1952, it became a short-lived house of worship. In late 1954, its final feature on the attractor was for Nash Parking Lot coming soon as it was demolished shortly thereafter.
The Ritz Theatre began as the New Colonial Theatre launching December 4, 1916 with Harry Carey in “The Three Godfathers” supported by the Ramona Players vaudeville led by comedian Harry Hahn. It was then called simply the Colonial Theatre and was equipped with sound to remain viable.
Under Fox West Coast, the venue was given a major refresh and relaunched as the Ritz Theatre on March 14, 1936 with a great program of “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” “If a you Could Only Cook” and a live radio episode of “Calling All Cars” on the Ritz stage.
Edwards Theatres took on the aging venue with a grand reopening on January 1, 1956 now equipped with widescreen projection to present CinemaScope theaters. The “new” Ritz opened with Victor Mature in “Chief Crazy Horse.” But the circuit found out that audiences were more interested in television. They closed the Ritz likely at end of a leasing term after exploitation film screenings of “Mom and Dad” on March 28-31, 1957 with Elliot Forbes on the stage. Shockingly, the theater reported sell-out audiences throughout its final weekend - an oddity for a faded movie theater of the 1950s.
The theatre was soon retrofitted as a church which was operational for the remainder of 1957 and for 1958. The building suffered a minor fire in 1962. However, that appears to be the impetus to remove the building as it was demolished not long after.
October 17, 1925 Grand Opening ad
The UA launched October 22, 1931 with William Haines with “New Adventures of Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford.”
The Park Theatre launched on Christmas Day 1928 with the silent film, “Captain Swagger” with Rod La Rocque. The theater transitioned to sound films. In 1936, it received a major refresh and had a grand reopening on July 2d. Fox West Coast Theatres Circuit closed the Park permanently on March 18, 1951 with Lauren Bacall in “Bright Leaf” and John Wayne in “Dakota.” It appears to have been auctioned off and became an auto lot.
Launched May 15, 1925 with “Eve’s Lover” and the entire cast in person including Clara Bow.
Opened March 28, 1918 with J. Warren Kerrigan in “The Turn of a Card.”
Grand relaunch ad for the September 15, 1936 rebranding as the Uptown Theatre under new operators is in photos along with the original opening ad
Opening features on May 11, 1950 were Roy Rogers who appeared in person with “Bells of Coronado” supported by a newsreel, a Tom & Jerry cartoon in “Love That Pup,” the Tex Avery MGM cartoon classic, “Little Rural Riding Hood,” another Tom & Jerry, “The Lonesome Mouse,” the comedy short, “Grips, Grunts and Groans,” a travelogue, “From Liverpool to Stratford,” and the short, “This is America: State Trooper.”
Whittier Amusements launched the McNees Theatre (no apostrophe in McNees, btw) on July 31, 1929 with Monte Williams and the entire cast of “From Headquarters” in attendance for gala opening. Sound came from an RCA Photophone system. During construction it was apparent that Warner Bros. Circuit would be taking over the venue. That transfer took place just four months later on November 26, 1929 when the theatre was renamed the Warner Bros. Whittier Theatre with Colleen Moore in “Footlights and Fools.”
In September of 1936, Hugh W. Bruen acquired the Whittier, Wardman and Scenic theaters of Whittier and this venue was renamed the Whittier Theatre on October 7, 1936 and often Bruen’s Whittier Theatre.
The theatre was saved a reprieve from the wrecking ball at the 11th hour in January of 1987. However, an earthquake ended the hopes of saving the city’s last atmospheric theatre.
Technically, the theatre opened as the New Bellflower Theatre replacing the silent Bellflower Theatre less than a block away. The New Bellflower opened with Western Electric talkies and was designed by architect David S. Bushnell. Frank E. Woodruff of the local bank opened the venue on March 29, 1930 with L. E. Funk of the original Bellflower taking on the manager’s role. The Wheatland Construction Company built the venue.
The “New” was later dropped and Funk’s son, Jack, would run the Bellflower. As the close of a 20-year leasing agreement approached, the theatre would be redesigned as the Nubel Theatre getting a balcony with expanded seating at its relaunch in 1949.
The Bellflower Theatre bloomed on March 20, 1923 with Thomas Meighan in “Back Home or and Broke” supported by the Harold Lloyd short, “Look Out Below.” The theatre featured 50 loges and a quiet room where babies could be taken without missing the film. The well-placed and new Baldauf’s Sweet Shop was an original neighbor and was the de facto concession stand serving snacks and soft drinks. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yarborough opened the venue though selling out to L.E. Funk in 1925.
The Bellflower, which remained silent, closed in March of 1930 when the New Bellflower Theatre opened on March 29. The original theatre was converted for other retail purposes. Funk would be the first manager of the New Bellflower turned Bellflower turned NuBel then, finally, the Holiday Theatre which has its own CinemaTreasures page.
Architect: M. Eugene Darfee of Anaheim
James Edwards Theatres announced this project in January of 1940 in the trade press. It was a $100,000 project with plans from architect S. Charles Lee. The grand opening for the El Soreno Theatre took place on November 20, 1940 with Fred MacMurray of “Rangers of Fortune” supported by Rosiland Russell in “Hired Wife.” The theatre struggled closing as the El Sorerno on March 19, 1950 with “When Baby Smiles” and “Blood and Sand.” Became a short-lived place of worship in 1951 and a long running American Legion Hall.
In 1975, it was listed as Salon Mazatlan which is likely when the marquee got its name. It has since been used as a banquet and event hall more recently under names including the Eava and the Mazatlan. It was once auctioned off in a 1984 public sale and was an Indiegogo fundraising concept that does not appear to have reached its goal. This entry should definitely be the El Soreno Theatre.
The New Elysian Theatre launched on February 19, 1937 with “Come and Get It” and “Wanted: Jane Turner” with the Warner Bros. cartoon, “The CooCoo Nut Grove.”
The San Carlos became the New Lincoln Theatre on December 21, 1939 with “Fighting Gringo” supported by “Mickey, the Kid” and a “March of Time” newsreel and a Keeno jackpot of $70. The New Lincoln moniker failed and returned to the San Carlos nameplate on February 5, 1942. The theatre was closed in 1951 on November 15, 1951 for having unsafe projection equipment, improper fire doors and improper ventilation.
Closed as a movie theatre on May 19, 1957 with a great double-feature of “Zombies of Mora Tau” and “The Man Who Turned to Stone.”
Pacific Coast Theatres Circuit opened the Arroyo Theatre on December 28, 1928 with Lon Chaney in “While the City Sleeps.” The venue featured a Robert Morton pipe organ with Walter Freed as its organist.
United theatre Circuit launched both the United Theatre in Pasadena and in Eagle Rock in October of 1922. The theatre closed during the warm summer months. It was taken on by the Eagle Rock Theatre Company retaining its United name. It closed for the season as the United Theatre one last time on June 18, 1926 with Charlie Chaplin in “The Gold Rush.
Operator John Sugar of the York Theatre installed a new pipe organ and Typhoon fan for year-round operation. It relaunched as Sugar’s Eagle Rock Theatre on October 14, 1926 with Douglas McLean in “Hold That Lion” supported by Ben Turpin in “When a Man is a Prince,” a newsreel and another short subject. Under new operators, the Sugar name was dropped with the theatre becoming the Eagle Rock Theatre.
Under yet new operators, the venue became the Sierra Theatre on November 6, 1936 with the films, “Texas Rangers” and “A Son Comes Home.” The Sierra closed after a double feature of “Tarzan and the Last Safari” and “Saucerman” on September 22, 1957.
Awesome!