West Coast Theaters were originally Gore Bros, who later partnered/sold out with Skouras and Fox – I can’t get the whole story straight. My mother cashiered at this theater probably in the mid thirties. Thriftimart was also Smart and Final – I rememer being in the offices and seeing a beautiful stairway going up and my dad telling me that my mom had worked there before marriage. My mom was a Gore and a niece of the “Gore Bros.”
My cousin and I went to the Crest almost every Saturday during the 50’s .. it was a quarter to get in and we got a another quarter for snacks. Plain popcorn was 15 cents and candy was 6 cents. It was always a double feature and the manager, Mr. Francis, knew my mother was a Gore (and the Gore Bros. started the West Coast Theaters) so he always let us sit in the loges (which usually cost extra) and didn’t kick us out when he should have. In the 50’s, you could send two 9-11 year olds out to the movies by themselves and not worry. I don’t remember what year I saw Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Day of the Trifids but I still hate horror movies and won’t watch
them. The Towne Theater down the street just wasn’t as “cool”. Those were the days……..
Gore Brothers: To the person that is looking for information on Mike, Abe and Issie Gore .. my grandfather was Sam Gore, your father’s brother. There was also Herman, Jake and Sophie and I think a Charles. My grandfather died in the 30’s but my sister and I know a little bit of the history from our mother. She used to make comments about her 31 first cousins, of which you must be one. Please email me at or let me know how to get in touch through this website.
West Coast Theaters were originally Gore Bros, who later partnered/sold out with Skouras and Fox – I can’t get the whole story straight. My mother cashiered at this theater probably in the mid thirties. Thriftimart was also Smart and Final – I rememer being in the offices and seeing a beautiful stairway going up and my dad telling me that my mom had worked there before marriage. My mom was a Gore and a niece of the “Gore Bros.”
From L.B. Heritage.com
Reginald F. Inwood’s name first appeared in the Long Beach
Press-Telegram in 1928, as architect of the Art Deco Belmont Shore Theater at 4918 E. 2nd St., corner of St. Joseph Ave. George T. Gayton was the contractor. The theater, completed in 1929, was owned by H. A. and W. C. Woodworth and was built especially for “talkies.†The building included seven stores on the first floor and apartments above. It reputedly cost $120,000.The exterior of the theater was painted blue-green and had geometric ornamentation. A portion of this décor can still be seen on the exterior, but the murals inside that featured Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt, a snake charmer, and exotic birds have been removed.
My cousin and I went to the Crest almost every Saturday during the 50’s .. it was a quarter to get in and we got a another quarter for snacks. Plain popcorn was 15 cents and candy was 6 cents. It was always a double feature and the manager, Mr. Francis, knew my mother was a Gore (and the Gore Bros. started the West Coast Theaters) so he always let us sit in the loges (which usually cost extra) and didn’t kick us out when he should have. In the 50’s, you could send two 9-11 year olds out to the movies by themselves and not worry. I don’t remember what year I saw Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Day of the Trifids but I still hate horror movies and won’t watch
them. The Towne Theater down the street just wasn’t as “cool”. Those were the days……..
Gore Brothers: To the person that is looking for information on Mike, Abe and Issie Gore .. my grandfather was Sam Gore, your father’s brother. There was also Herman, Jake and Sophie and I think a Charles. My grandfather died in the 30’s but my sister and I know a little bit of the history from our mother. She used to make comments about her 31 first cousins, of which you must be one. Please email me at or let me know how to get in touch through this website.