Before this was a movie theater it was an Alexanders Supermarket. A local grocery store chain like Ralphs.This was one big open space divided up into 6 screening rooms. I remember the two front screens were larger and I know at least one of the screens was capable of showing 70mm prints. When they converted it to a movie theater I remember there were support poles for the ceiling in some of the smaller theaters. You had to pick your seat to be sure a pole was not in the center of your view of the screen. It is very sad to see how this area declined. I grew up in Burbank and Valley Plaza was the place to go for everything. Department stores like Sears, Penneys, May Company Ice Skating , restaurants and more. Valley Plaza started in 1051, It was the best place to shop and probably the only large outdoor mall in the San Fernando Valley in the early 60’s. The area is full of boarded up buildings, street vendors, and homeless encampments. Very sad we allowed it to end up this way.
The building, like many in this town and area, is made of adobe, and wood. Stucco was placed over the adobe, but can be seen exposed at the rear of the building where the stucco has fallen off.
The present “Lyric Theatre” was built in 1916 as an Opera House. It opened as the “Carrizozo Theatre"
In 1918 the name changed to "Crystal Theatre”, and began to show silent movies. First Silent Movie shown was “Till I come Back To You”.
When sound movies came along, it reopened with sound on June 13th,1931,and re-named “Lyric Theatre”. First Sound Film shown was
“THE LAST PARADE”.
It remained open until 1979 when it closed due to some rating dispute over the Exorcist . In 1981, the theatre was bought by the person that lives in the theatre. He also owns the three buildings north of the theatre as well. I have photos as soon as you are able to take them.
I talked to a student at the college. He told me the students wanted to use the screen to show a movie for a fund raiser. The City of Azusa would not let them. Said it was a historial landmark. The colleges uses the marquee to post messages. Isn’t that a landmark too? How stupid are these people that run the city of Azusa.
The lot is now paved,and used as a parking lot for the college anyway. What damage could be done by projecting an image on the screen. Are these city people crazy? Give them a little power, and it goes to their head.
I think it would be great for the students to use the screen a weekend or two a year to show a movie. Bet they would draw a good crowd too! Shame on the City of Azusa.
Had a problem with the city of San Pedro when a museum wanted to have fund raiser at the City owned Grand Theater. They were going to show Tora! Tora! Tora! on Dec 7 of 02. The city counselwoman Janice Hahn said NO, because it would offend Japanese! Public pressure forced her to to change her decision, and the event was a big success!
The Columbia, built in the years of discrimination, had a separate balcony for blacks when it was built.
They would enter on the left side of the theatre in an alley between buildings with stairs to the balcony.
The Lorraine theater is a single screen theater built in 1922 and remodeled in an Art Deco Style 1937 when sound was added. A second theater was built down the street called Lorraine II in 1998. The state of the art sound system was added in 1992
Before this was a movie theater it was an Alexanders Supermarket. A local grocery store chain like Ralphs.This was one big open space divided up into 6 screening rooms. I remember the two front screens were larger and I know at least one of the screens was capable of showing 70mm prints. When they converted it to a movie theater I remember there were support poles for the ceiling in some of the smaller theaters. You had to pick your seat to be sure a pole was not in the center of your view of the screen. It is very sad to see how this area declined. I grew up in Burbank and Valley Plaza was the place to go for everything. Department stores like Sears, Penneys, May Company Ice Skating , restaurants and more. Valley Plaza started in 1051, It was the best place to shop and probably the only large outdoor mall in the San Fernando Valley in the early 60’s. The area is full of boarded up buildings, street vendors, and homeless encampments. Very sad we allowed it to end up this way.
Will re-open as Malibu Cinemas on November 15th 2006.
The building, like many in this town and area, is made of adobe, and wood. Stucco was placed over the adobe, but can be seen exposed at the rear of the building where the stucco has fallen off.
The present “Lyric Theatre” was built in 1916 as an Opera House. It opened as the “Carrizozo Theatre"
In 1918 the name changed to "Crystal Theatre”, and began to show silent movies. First Silent Movie shown was “Till I come Back To You”.
When sound movies came along, it reopened with sound on June 13th,1931,and re-named “Lyric Theatre”. First Sound Film shown was
“THE LAST PARADE”.
It remained open until 1979 when it closed due to some rating dispute over the Exorcist . In 1981, the theatre was bought by the person that lives in the theatre. He also owns the three buildings north of the theatre as well. I have photos as soon as you are able to take them.
I talked to a student at the college. He told me the students wanted to use the screen to show a movie for a fund raiser. The City of Azusa would not let them. Said it was a historial landmark. The colleges uses the marquee to post messages. Isn’t that a landmark too? How stupid are these people that run the city of Azusa.
The lot is now paved,and used as a parking lot for the college anyway. What damage could be done by projecting an image on the screen. Are these city people crazy? Give them a little power, and it goes to their head.
I think it would be great for the students to use the screen a weekend or two a year to show a movie. Bet they would draw a good crowd too! Shame on the City of Azusa.
Had a problem with the city of San Pedro when a museum wanted to have fund raiser at the City owned Grand Theater. They were going to show Tora! Tora! Tora! on Dec 7 of 02. The city counselwoman Janice Hahn said NO, because it would offend Japanese! Public pressure forced her to to change her decision, and the event was a big success!
The Columbia, built in the years of discrimination, had a separate balcony for blacks when it was built.
They would enter on the left side of the theatre in an alley between buildings with stairs to the balcony.
CORRECTIONS TO THE LORRAINE THEATRE
The Lorraine theater is a single screen theater built in 1922 and remodeled in an Art Deco Style 1937 when sound was added. A second theater was built down the street called Lorraine II in 1998. The state of the art sound system was added in 1992