There was an ad for the Plaza in the Torrance Herald in June 1942. The Plaza called itself “The Friendly Family Theatre”. The phone number was 299. Adult tickets were 30 cents, and child tickets were 11 cents.
The manager of the drive-in back in the early fifties was Joe Greene, as I mentioned in 2009. He was also an actor. In reading the local archives, there were a couple of occasions when he was an actor in the film that he was showing at the theater.
The Torrance Library recently digitized local papers going back to 1913. I have posted the link below. If you search for Harbor Drive-in, there are many entries about its colorful manager Joe Greene, along with ads, mostly in the 1950s.
The caption on the photo was continuing problems at the Belmont Bar, which can be seen in the photo. The bar and its troublesome patrons are long gone.
Advertised at 24333 Narbonne in the Torrance Herald, in June 1942. Keno Saturday and Sunday. Free Auto Park.
There was an ad for the Plaza in the Torrance Herald in June 1942. The Plaza called itself “The Friendly Family Theatre”. The phone number was 299. Adult tickets were 30 cents, and child tickets were 11 cents.
The manager of the drive-in back in the early fifties was Joe Greene, as I mentioned in 2009. He was also an actor. In reading the local archives, there were a couple of occasions when he was an actor in the film that he was showing at the theater.
Here is a nice view of the Follies:
http://tinyurl.com/43beddx
The theater lives on in the Googlemobile photo. Michael Moore’s “Sicko” was playing at that time.
This is a billboard on the Sunset Strip circa 1974. I thought it was interesting:
http://tinyurl.com/3v8twjg
This was most recently a nightclub called Revolver, but that has now closed. The building is once again vacant.
Here is the article:
http://tinyurl.com/3qr39a4
I think this is where the Lucille’s and Barnes & Noble currently stand. If I am off course let me know.
There was an article about this theater and digital projection in the LA Times today.
The current view looks nothing like the old pictures. Completely redeveloped.
This one is still listed as renovating? Last item was a year ago.
The Torrance Library recently digitized local papers going back to 1913. I have posted the link below. If you search for Harbor Drive-in, there are many entries about its colorful manager Joe Greene, along with ads, mostly in the 1950s.
http://www.torranceca.gov/libraryarchive/
Here is another photo. One could say this one is the spitting image of the others, perhaps.
http://tinyurl.com/6ft8gwo
It looks like whatever was around here years ago was paved over for a freeway.
This little building has survived for a hundred years. It should have a plaque.
So it should be laundromat instead of drug store.
The caption on the photo was continuing problems at the Belmont Bar, which can be seen in the photo. The bar and its troublesome patrons are long gone.
Here is a 1975 article about the park that was supposed to replace the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/3stw4m6
You can see the Banner, and the Regent farther down, in this 1981 photo from the LAPL:
http://tinyurl.com/3ss9ubf
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/48lhwfr
I think most of the Google photos were taken in 2007. Supposedly they will send the car around next year for updated photos.
Here is a photo from May 1978:
http://tinyurl.com/6hmpo3r
Here are some 1984 photos of the Stella/Ritz:
http://tinyurl.com/4wzrt4q
http://tinyurl.com/4w7q54u
http://tinyurl.com/49oocbo
This appears to be the Picfair after the riots in 1992:
http://tinyurl.com/4tdf6x9
Thanks for providing the address.