Before the board ate his comments, moviemanforever said:
“moviemanforever > May 26, 2003 5:23 PM EDT
In the summer of 1971, the Tiffany adopted a policy of showing two films for 49 cents! I went here for the first time to see "Where’s Poppa?” plus “Joe.” A unique element of the Tiffany was the entrance to the auditorium. The entrance was located to the right side of the screen and in the middle of the auditorium. When someone entered the auditorium, there was a walkway that split the rows of seats in half, similar to a concourse in a larger venue. The Tiffany was closed for a number of years, then reopened in 1977 with a
revival policy similar to that of the Fox-Venice and Beverly Cinema. The opening features were “Auntie Mame” and “Gypsy.” The Tiffany was also popular for its midnight showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” which played for several years. I remember the theatre was very clean and the lobby resembled a classy storefront, with lots of glass and extensive lighting.
Hey, Knat – before the board ate your comment, it was:
“Knatcal > May 10, 2003 4:40 PM EDT
In 1980, I saw "Moonraker” in one of the converted balcony theatres. The pitch of the theatre was steep. It was not a great place to see a movie. In the mid-1990s, I returned to the theatre to see some Sam Neil and Elle MacPherson movie I don’t remember just to see the theatre again. This was right before the theatre’s closing. The balcony conversion theatres had alreay been closed. I still remember the grandeur of the downstairs restrooms and lounge area and the lobby. Let’s hope that the Schubert Organiztion does revitalize this venue as it is definately worth perserving."
The theatre (also referred to as the New Yost) was located at 307 Spurgeon Street, designed by architectural firm of Boller & Boller (1925).
Old board said:
“GaryParks > Apr 27, 2002 5:21 PM EST
In fall 1996, I saw and photographed this theatre, which appeared then as it does in the above photo. It had ceased its longtime use as a Spanish-language movie and live act house, and was being used for church services like the Fox West Coast nearby. The stagehouse flytower is unusually shaped, and, at least at the time of my observation, still had wonderful painted signage in Spanish on it, extolling the virtues of this teatro / cine.”
This theatre was located at 308 North Main Street. The Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties notes that this has been “Administratively removed from the Register on April 8, 2002 at the property owner’s request as a religious organisation”.
Old board said:
“lopresti > Jul 24, 2003 12:01 AM EDT
In 1945 and to late 1945, I worked as assistant manager at the Fox Redondo theatre. Dudley A. Winscott was the manager. I worked as assistant manager / acting manager at the Strand Redondo late 1945 to early 1946.”
This is actually the location of Club Cafe Fais-Do-Do in Los Angeles – the Fais-Do-Do Ballroom, to be precise. If you look at http://www.faisdodo.com/ and click on Tour, there are some photographs which clearly display an existing marquee. Chances are that that marquee marks the spot of the Variety (not to be confused with the Variety Arts Centre on Figueroa). I’ll drive by and check what the condition of the space is.
Your comments for this Holly and the Holly on Hollywood got mixed up. The style of the Holly at this address was Art Deco and the architect was S. Charles Lee. Board glitch in the switchover, perhaps?
Hey, William, the board ate your previous comments about the Meralta (actually in Culver City, not Los Angeles):
“William > Feb 18, 2003 2:48 PM EST
During the early 1930s, the Meralta Theatre was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. The master lease was under a chain called Principal Theatres Corp.. Fox subleased theatres from the Principal chain. It was listed in Fox West Coast records as Fox West Coast Theatres, Principal Division. The Meralta has been demolished since the early 1990s. It was replaced by a new Culver City building. The Meralta theatre was a medium sized theatre; very plain in its style. During its last years it ran as a budget house, before being razed. Culver City had its first little theatre on Main Street, on the site of The Culver Hotel. The theatre occupied the main floor, with the city offices above, where the early trustees met. When Harry Culver built his Hotel Hunt (now the Culver Hotel) in 1924, the city moved down the street to Van Buren Place. The theatre moved into a new structure in the 9600 block of Culver Boulevard and was known as the Meralta. It was in the same block as the Western Union, Southern California Water Co., Pulone’s "Sweet Shop,” (where my mother met my father), the Edison Co., Holland’s Draperies, attorney R. H. Coombs, Mayo D. Wright Insurance and the Blaine-Walker Building which housed the early courthouse . Will Rogers acted as the Master of Ceremonies to open the new theatre while Thomas Ince provided the movie, “The Galloping Fish” for viewing. “Meralta” was derived from owners' Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta’s surnames. They lived above the new plush theatre. It appears, from old directories, that Merrill also had a real estate office and later an insurance office, first on Irving Place, then on Culver next to the theatre. In a 1990 interview, retired principal Gladys Chandler, described Pearl Merrill, who served on the Board of Education, as “forceful, positive, with a big heart.” She told me that Merrill traveled all over the country at her own expense to interview teachers. During World War II, the Meralta Theatre caught fire. There was a wartime moratorium on building, so the city allowed the theatre to relocate temporarily to the second floor auditorium of the city hall (corner of Culver and Duquesne). The projection booth remained until the city hall was demolished to make way the new city hall, which opened in 1995. The rebuilt Meralta Theatre operated for many years. The Meralta Plaza was constructed on the site of the old Meralta Theatre as a redevelopment project in 1983."
This is the same theatre as the Art Theatre, currently operating in Long Beach (cf. /theaters/1142/)) The façade is the same. It may have operated as the Lee from 1935 through 1955.
Before the board ate his comments, moviemanforever said:
“moviemanforever > May 26, 2003 5:23 PM EDT
In the summer of 1971, the Tiffany adopted a policy of showing two films for 49 cents! I went here for the first time to see "Where’s Poppa?” plus “Joe.” A unique element of the Tiffany was the entrance to the auditorium. The entrance was located to the right side of the screen and in the middle of the auditorium. When someone entered the auditorium, there was a walkway that split the rows of seats in half, similar to a concourse in a larger venue. The Tiffany was closed for a number of years, then reopened in 1977 with a
revival policy similar to that of the Fox-Venice and Beverly Cinema. The opening features were “Auntie Mame” and “Gypsy.” The Tiffany was also popular for its midnight showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” which played for several years. I remember the theatre was very clean and the lobby resembled a classy storefront, with lots of glass and extensive lighting.
This theatre was located at 735 South Brand Boulevard.
This theatre was located at 122 South Brand Boulevard.
This theatre was located at 3731 San Fernando.
This theatre was located at 139 South Brand Boulevard.
This theatre was located at 207 East Seaside Boulevard.
The Knightsbridge Theatre’s website is http://www.knightsbridgetheatre.com/
Hey, Knat – before the board ate your comment, it was:
“Knatcal > May 10, 2003 4:40 PM EDT
In 1980, I saw "Moonraker” in one of the converted balcony theatres. The pitch of the theatre was steep. It was not a great place to see a movie. In the mid-1990s, I returned to the theatre to see some Sam Neil and Elle MacPherson movie I don’t remember just to see the theatre again. This was right before the theatre’s closing. The balcony conversion theatres had alreay been closed. I still remember the grandeur of the downstairs restrooms and lounge area and the lobby. Let’s hope that the Schubert Organiztion does revitalize this venue as it is definately worth perserving."
This theatre is located at 618 State Street, telephone number 805 963 9503.
The theatre (also referred to as the New Yost) was located at 307 Spurgeon Street, designed by architectural firm of Boller & Boller (1925).
Old board said:
“GaryParks > Apr 27, 2002 5:21 PM EST
In fall 1996, I saw and photographed this theatre, which appeared then as it does in the above photo. It had ceased its longtime use as a Spanish-language movie and live act house, and was being used for church services like the Fox West Coast nearby. The stagehouse flytower is unusually shaped, and, at least at the time of my observation, still had wonderful painted signage in Spanish on it, extolling the virtues of this teatro / cine.”
This theatre was located at 308 North Main Street. The Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties notes that this has been “Administratively removed from the Register on April 8, 2002 at the property owner’s request as a religious organisation”.
Old board said:
“lopresti > Jul 24, 2003 12:01 AM EDT
In 1945 and to late 1945, I worked as assistant manager at the Fox Redondo theatre. Dudley A. Winscott was the manager. I worked as assistant manager / acting manager at the Strand Redondo late 1945 to early 1946.”
Now operating as the Redondo Beach Cinema 3, this theatre is located at 1509 Hawthorne Boulevard.
The address of this theatre was 114 West 3rd Street.
This is actually the location of Club Cafe Fais-Do-Do in Los Angeles – the Fais-Do-Do Ballroom, to be precise. If you look at http://www.faisdodo.com/ and click on Tour, there are some photographs which clearly display an existing marquee. Chances are that that marquee marks the spot of the Variety (not to be confused with the Variety Arts Centre on Figueroa). I’ll drive by and check what the condition of the space is.
Whoops! I typed too soon! Now if you could only get information on the Meralto Theatre at 330 North Downey Avenue, a single screener in Downey…
If anyone has any way of contacting the former management, I would be exceedingly grateful for the information.
Old site said 450 seats. One of the so-called “Negro” theatres, it was a district 3 Fox house.
Your comments for this Holly and the Holly on Hollywood got mixed up. The style of the Holly at this address was Art Deco and the architect was S. Charles Lee. Board glitch in the switchover, perhaps?
Hey, William, the board ate your previous comments about the Meralta (actually in Culver City, not Los Angeles):
“William > Feb 18, 2003 2:48 PM EST
During the early 1930s, the Meralta Theatre was operated by Fox West Coast Theatres. The master lease was under a chain called Principal Theatres Corp.. Fox subleased theatres from the Principal chain. It was listed in Fox West Coast records as Fox West Coast Theatres, Principal Division. The Meralta has been demolished since the early 1990s. It was replaced by a new Culver City building. The Meralta theatre was a medium sized theatre; very plain in its style. During its last years it ran as a budget house, before being razed. Culver City had its first little theatre on Main Street, on the site of The Culver Hotel. The theatre occupied the main floor, with the city offices above, where the early trustees met. When Harry Culver built his Hotel Hunt (now the Culver Hotel) in 1924, the city moved down the street to Van Buren Place. The theatre moved into a new structure in the 9600 block of Culver Boulevard and was known as the Meralta. It was in the same block as the Western Union, Southern California Water Co., Pulone’s "Sweet Shop,” (where my mother met my father), the Edison Co., Holland’s Draperies, attorney R. H. Coombs, Mayo D. Wright Insurance and the Blaine-Walker Building which housed the early courthouse . Will Rogers acted as the Master of Ceremonies to open the new theatre while Thomas Ince provided the movie, “The Galloping Fish” for viewing. “Meralta” was derived from owners' Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta’s surnames. They lived above the new plush theatre. It appears, from old directories, that Merrill also had a real estate office and later an insurance office, first on Irving Place, then on Culver next to the theatre. In a 1990 interview, retired principal Gladys Chandler, described Pearl Merrill, who served on the Board of Education, as “forceful, positive, with a big heart.” She told me that Merrill traveled all over the country at her own expense to interview teachers. During World War II, the Meralta Theatre caught fire. There was a wartime moratorium on building, so the city allowed the theatre to relocate temporarily to the second floor auditorium of the city hall (corner of Culver and Duquesne). The projection booth remained until the city hall was demolished to make way the new city hall, which opened in 1995. The rebuilt Meralta Theatre operated for many years. The Meralta Plaza was constructed on the site of the old Meralta Theatre as a redevelopment project in 1983."
Also known as the Academy Theatre – may have had 600 seats at one point.
Initially a silent film theatre, this may have been referred to as the New Princess Theatre in 1935.
Also known as the Paris Theatre, this was located at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights.
This is the same theatre as the Art Theatre, currently operating in Long Beach (cf. /theaters/1142/)) The façade is the same. It may have operated as the Lee from 1935 through 1955.
This theatre was located at 127 West Ocean Avenue.