Wow! My parents took me here all the way from the Westside, back in the mid to late 70’s, when I was a little kid, and we went there quite a few times. I honestly don’t remember the theatres though, because we never saw any movies there, but I remember just about everything else that everyone here on this site is mentioning, the rides, the great places to eat. I remember a GREAT pizza place, in the food court, by the front entrance. I remember buying a couple of the old 45 records here. Or maybe, it was at the K-Mart(or was it a Zody’s?)next to the mall. I could swear they had a record store in the mall in the mid to late 70’s though. I remember the Haunted House Ride being there in the mid to late 70’s. Wasn’t there also a spinning ride, like the tea cups at Disneyland? I think it was near the carousel, or it may have been part of the carousel itself. Wow! Great, great memories!
LisaN, or anyone else who may be able to answer this. How’re the Bridge Theatres over in LA(Westchester area)? I still haven’t seen a movie there. I go to the Landmark all the time, and this weekend, I’m going to check out a movie at the ArcLight in Sherman Oaks, and see how that compares to the Landmark, but I’ve heard the Bridge is nice too. I think some of the theatres there are more expensive than the Landmark($12 every night, including weekends), and the ArcLight($14 on Friday nad Saturday nights), but I’m not sure. What do people here think of the Bridge?
Yes, I remember that Blue Chip Stamp redemption store. I actually mentioned it in my first post on here. My parents used to get those, and I remember my mom redeeming her stamps over there. I think the Blue Chip Stamp store, as well as the stamps themselves, went out by the mid 70’s. Was Chess and Games over on that side of the street? For some reason, I was thinking it was over at the old Westland Shopping Center(before the Westside Pavilion opened up), between Overland and Westwood, by the Little Folk Shop, See’s Candies, JJ Newberry’s, Vons Market. I forgot that it was by the Picwood Theatre, Captain Video Arcade, and the Picwood Bowling Alley.
Hey LisaN, yes, I’ve heard about the Lone Ranger Restaurant that used to be there. I don’t remember it, as I think I was only about 2-3 years old, when it went out of business, and my sister didn’t start taking me over there until I was 5-6 years old from 1972-74. There were about 5, or 6 Lone Ranger restaurants in LA, and from what I’ve heard and read from other sites on the internet, the real Lone Ranger himself(Clayton Moore) used to appear at them, including the one on Pico and Westwood, pose for pictures, sign autographs, and once in a while, give out a silver bullet to someone. I’m wondering though, if once the bank went up there, did it remain a bank until the Westside Pavilion expansion went up in the mid to late 80’s, or was there ever another fast food place, or burger joint in that spot, in the 70’s and 80’s?
Hey JoelB, yes, thankfully those places that you mentioned are still around. I actually had a late night burger at Apple Pan a couple of weeks ago, when I drove over from Simi Valley to the Westside, and I went over to the Landmark Theatres this past Saturday night, and had dinner at Juniors Deli. I’m glad they’re still around too. Tito’s is still as good as ever too. I ate there a few months ago. I’m glad some of those classic places are still here in LA.
Hey neeb, yes, I’ve been on Mark Evanier’s website a few times(he’s actually added a few places on there, since I went on it the first time). It’s a great site, and I’d actually forgotten about some of those places on his site for many years, before his site reminded me of those places. It was that site that really started making me nostalgic again for the places that are no longer here in LA, and eventually led me here to this Cinema Treasures page, and the great theatres that are no longer around here in the LA area.
According to Wikipedia, he dropped out of high school(it doesn’t say what high school though), and he would’ve graduated around ‘71, so my friend was a little off on the year, if he did go to Uni. My mom worked Danny Elfman’s grandmother at Kaiser Hospital in West LA in the 80’s. The man is very, very talented.
A friend of mine, who graduated from Uni in ‘75, told me he graduated from Uni the year before him, but I’m curious. I’ll try to check it on Wikipedia. They have a lot of that kind of info there.
Wow unihikid, you moved even further away from LA than I did! A lot of people miss the Carthay Theatre, and they also mention that the building that’s there now is not only just another office building, but of course, it lacks the history of nice architectual and historical buildings, such as the Carthay Theatre.
Hey Tony R, I think you may have graduated in the same class as Danny Elfman from Oingo Boing. If I’m not mistaken, he also graduated from Uni in ‘74. Uni was a great school back then. Now they’re the Wildcats, instead of the Warriors.
I have a question for all of you. JoelB, William, LisaN, or D. Packard, maybe you remember, because I can’t, but besides the bank on the corner, and(in the early to mid 80’s), the Captain Video Arcade, was there, or wasn’t there also a fast food place, or a burger joint on the southwest corner of Pico and Westwood in the 70’s and 80’s? For example, the spot where the Barnes and Noble Books is now. Even though it was before my time, I know from other people mentioning it, there was a Scot’s in the 60’s, and then a few other places, including a Lone Ranger Restaurant for a very short period of time around 1970, but I’m wondering if there were any other fast food places there in that spot afterwards, in the 70’s and 80’s. I just can’t remember. Does anyone else here remember if there were?
Yes Joel, I remember that Pioneer Chicken pretty well. I ate there at least times. Pioneer Chicken’s another chain’s that’s now pretty much defunct. I think there may be 1, or 2 left. I also remember the 76 gas station.
I see. So Lamemmle’s operated the Twin, and then Landmark took over, when they re-opened inside the Westside Pavilion. On the top floor, near the food court I believe.
Great, great memories! Does anyone remember that other theatre, down by Overland, next to the May Company. I think they may have been a Laemmle’s, or affiliated with Laemmle’s, and I think it was a 2-screen, or a twinplex, and they showed mostly indies, and foreign films. I saw a few movies at that theatre over the years, and I think it was incorporated into the Westside Pavilion, on the top floor, near the food court. Yes, I really miss the Westside. I try to get over there as much as possible. As a matter of fact, I’ll probably catch a movie at the Landmark Theatres over on Pico and Westwood tomorrow night. Simi Valley’s pretty boring, compared to the Westside. Actually, it’s really boring, compared to the entire LA Basin, and I try to get of Simi as much as possible.
I don’t remember the Scotch and Sirloin, but I do remember The Velvet Turtle very well. That was on Sawtelle, between Pico and Olympic. My parents took me there for my birthday in 1985. I remember Oshman’s Sporting Goods also. Also, Damiano’s Mr. Pizza on Pico, down the street from the Apple Pan. There was also a Damiano’s on Robertson, near where I grew up. My parents and I used to eat there quite often, and the only Damiano’s still remaining, on Fairfax, across the street from Canter’s Deli. The owner’s daughter went to Uni, and graduated in my class.
Unihikid, I also went to Uni(class of ‘85), and I’m probably around your age, since you said you were about 13 when the Picfair closed, and I think it closed around 1979-'80. Unfortunately, the Stadium on Pico closed right after I was born, and I don’t think I ever saw any movies, even as a little kid, at the Lido, or the Picfair Theatres. The Carthay Theatre also closed down when I was 1, so I never got to experience that theatre either. I sure miss the Picwood, and the Palms though. I also miss living over on the Westside. I’d be over there in a heartbeat, if it weren’t so damn expensive to live there. I’m really getting tired of Simi Valley!
Haineshisway, I was born in 1967. My parants lived in an apartmnet on Chariton and Cadillac, when I was born, moved over to another apartment on Chariton and Guthrie about a year later, and then in September, 1969, moved to the home that I grew up in and lived in until I moved out at 19, on Olin St, between Robertson and Canfield, so I probably remember a lot of the same places that you do. My older brother actually worked at Big Town Market for a short period of time in 1971-72, so I remember the corner of Pico and La Cienega very well. I honestly can’t remember where the Lido Theatre was. Was it right on the corner of Pico and La Cienega, and if so, which corner? By the way, the Chinese restaurant that you’re thinking about on Pico, just east of La Cienega, was Kowloon. Wan-Q’s was actually on the north side of Pico, 1 block east of Robertson, on the corner of Pico and Wooster. Both Kowloon’s, and Wan-Q’s are long gone, but I think the Twin Dragon Chinese Restaurant, on Pico
and Holt, is still there. I remember my mom used to take me to the Montgomery Wards shopping center when I was a kid. There was a Woolworth’s there, a Thrifty’s, a Shopping Bag Market, which later became a Fazio’s, a Bob’s Big Boy, a Gallenkamps shoes(I think that’s how it was spelled), and of course, Montgomery Wards, and stores inside of that building, next to Wards. I remember my mom liked shopping at the Daylite Market across the street(now long gone). You may also remember the minature golf course on La Cienega, up by Cashio(that closed in 1977), and a pizza stand that my dad claims was some of the best pizza he’s ever had, Pizza Prince, on La Cienega, between Pickford and Cashio.
Hey JoelB, if you grew up near Pico and Sepulveda, you’d definitely remember Flakey Jake’s. That was a really good place. By the way, I graduated from Uni the year after you did, ‘85.
I also remember going to the Palms Theatre on Motor Ave with my parents, the Meralta, or Miralta(can’t remember how it was spelled)in Culver City, and the Culver Theatre. I’m not sure if the Pacific Stadium Culver Theatres that are in Culver City now is where the Meralta was, and the Culver Theatres down the street from there now, is where the old Culver Theatre was. Does anyone on this site know? My sister worked at the Fox(I think that’s what it was called)on Wilshire, 1 block east of La Cienega, in Beverly Hills, back in the mid 70’s. That theatre’s long gone now. I think the one on Beverly Blvd, near Fairfax, is still around. The Stadium on Pico, near Robertson(not far from where I grew up), the Picfair, on Pico and Fairfax, and The Carthay Theatre, in the Carthay Circle area, were all before my time, but I’ve heard that those were great theatres too.
Wow! What great memories! I know I’m a little late on this site, but I did a search on Google for the Picwood Theatre in West LA, and it brought me here. I grew up in West LA(Beverlywood area), went to University High(even though I lived 2 blocks from Hamilton, there was no way my parents would let me go there). I was a little kid in the 70’s, and a teeneager in the 80’s. I saw Earthquake with my older sister at the Picwood, when I was a little kid, Apocalypse Now, and ET with my parents, and the Jazz Singer by myself. I remember the other things that used to be on that block, across the street, and down the street. There was the old Westland Mall(I think that’s what it was called), where the Westside Pavilion is now. There was the May Company, of course, at the east end of the mall, a Baskin Robbins, and I believe, a Wherehouse Records, in the courtyard, next to the May Company. The old strip mall itself had a Vons Market, a See’s Candies, a J.J. Newberry’s, a Little Folks Shop, a Chess & Games, and a Drug King at the west end. There were other businesses too, but those are the ones that I remember. Next to the Picwood was the bowling alley, the Captain Video Arcade in the early to mid 80’s, a Blue Chip Stamps, which went out of business by the mid to late 70’s, and across the street, on the north side of Pico was the House Of Pies. I have great, great memories of all of those places!
Wow! My parents took me here all the way from the Westside, back in the mid to late 70’s, when I was a little kid, and we went there quite a few times. I honestly don’t remember the theatres though, because we never saw any movies there, but I remember just about everything else that everyone here on this site is mentioning, the rides, the great places to eat. I remember a GREAT pizza place, in the food court, by the front entrance. I remember buying a couple of the old 45 records here. Or maybe, it was at the K-Mart(or was it a Zody’s?)next to the mall. I could swear they had a record store in the mall in the mid to late 70’s though. I remember the Haunted House Ride being there in the mid to late 70’s. Wasn’t there also a spinning ride, like the tea cups at Disneyland? I think it was near the carousel, or it may have been part of the carousel itself. Wow! Great, great memories!
LisaN, or anyone else who may be able to answer this. How’re the Bridge Theatres over in LA(Westchester area)? I still haven’t seen a movie there. I go to the Landmark all the time, and this weekend, I’m going to check out a movie at the ArcLight in Sherman Oaks, and see how that compares to the Landmark, but I’ve heard the Bridge is nice too. I think some of the theatres there are more expensive than the Landmark($12 every night, including weekends), and the ArcLight($14 on Friday nad Saturday nights), but I’m not sure. What do people here think of the Bridge?
Yes, I remember that Blue Chip Stamp redemption store. I actually mentioned it in my first post on here. My parents used to get those, and I remember my mom redeeming her stamps over there. I think the Blue Chip Stamp store, as well as the stamps themselves, went out by the mid 70’s. Was Chess and Games over on that side of the street? For some reason, I was thinking it was over at the old Westland Shopping Center(before the Westside Pavilion opened up), between Overland and Westwood, by the Little Folk Shop, See’s Candies, JJ Newberry’s, Vons Market. I forgot that it was by the Picwood Theatre, Captain Video Arcade, and the Picwood Bowling Alley.
Hey LisaN, yes, I’ve heard about the Lone Ranger Restaurant that used to be there. I don’t remember it, as I think I was only about 2-3 years old, when it went out of business, and my sister didn’t start taking me over there until I was 5-6 years old from 1972-74. There were about 5, or 6 Lone Ranger restaurants in LA, and from what I’ve heard and read from other sites on the internet, the real Lone Ranger himself(Clayton Moore) used to appear at them, including the one on Pico and Westwood, pose for pictures, sign autographs, and once in a while, give out a silver bullet to someone. I’m wondering though, if once the bank went up there, did it remain a bank until the Westside Pavilion expansion went up in the mid to late 80’s, or was there ever another fast food place, or burger joint in that spot, in the 70’s and 80’s?
Hey JoelB, yes, thankfully those places that you mentioned are still around. I actually had a late night burger at Apple Pan a couple of weeks ago, when I drove over from Simi Valley to the Westside, and I went over to the Landmark Theatres this past Saturday night, and had dinner at Juniors Deli. I’m glad they’re still around too. Tito’s is still as good as ever too. I ate there a few months ago. I’m glad some of those classic places are still here in LA.
Hey neeb, yes, I’ve been on Mark Evanier’s website a few times(he’s actually added a few places on there, since I went on it the first time). It’s a great site, and I’d actually forgotten about some of those places on his site for many years, before his site reminded me of those places. It was that site that really started making me nostalgic again for the places that are no longer here in LA, and eventually led me here to this Cinema Treasures page, and the great theatres that are no longer around here in the LA area.
According to Wikipedia, he dropped out of high school(it doesn’t say what high school though), and he would’ve graduated around ‘71, so my friend was a little off on the year, if he did go to Uni. My mom worked Danny Elfman’s grandmother at Kaiser Hospital in West LA in the 80’s. The man is very, very talented.
A friend of mine, who graduated from Uni in ‘75, told me he graduated from Uni the year before him, but I’m curious. I’ll try to check it on Wikipedia. They have a lot of that kind of info there.
Wow unihikid, you moved even further away from LA than I did! A lot of people miss the Carthay Theatre, and they also mention that the building that’s there now is not only just another office building, but of course, it lacks the history of nice architectual and historical buildings, such as the Carthay Theatre.
Hey Tony R, I think you may have graduated in the same class as Danny Elfman from Oingo Boing. If I’m not mistaken, he also graduated from Uni in ‘74. Uni was a great school back then. Now they’re the Wildcats, instead of the Warriors.
I have a question for all of you. JoelB, William, LisaN, or D. Packard, maybe you remember, because I can’t, but besides the bank on the corner, and(in the early to mid 80’s), the Captain Video Arcade, was there, or wasn’t there also a fast food place, or a burger joint on the southwest corner of Pico and Westwood in the 70’s and 80’s? For example, the spot where the Barnes and Noble Books is now. Even though it was before my time, I know from other people mentioning it, there was a Scot’s in the 60’s, and then a few other places, including a Lone Ranger Restaurant for a very short period of time around 1970, but I’m wondering if there were any other fast food places there in that spot afterwards, in the 70’s and 80’s. I just can’t remember. Does anyone else here remember if there were?
Yes Joel, I remember that Pioneer Chicken pretty well. I ate there at least times. Pioneer Chicken’s another chain’s that’s now pretty much defunct. I think there may be 1, or 2 left. I also remember the 76 gas station.
Hey D. Packard, if you don’t mind me asking, what year did you graduate from Uni?
I see. So Lamemmle’s operated the Twin, and then Landmark took over, when they re-opened inside the Westside Pavilion. On the top floor, near the food court I believe.
That’s right! The Landmark Twin! The same Landmark chain that own those really nice theatres on Pico and Westwood now.
Sorry for the typo. I meant to say out of Simi as much as possible, of course.
Great, great memories! Does anyone remember that other theatre, down by Overland, next to the May Company. I think they may have been a Laemmle’s, or affiliated with Laemmle’s, and I think it was a 2-screen, or a twinplex, and they showed mostly indies, and foreign films. I saw a few movies at that theatre over the years, and I think it was incorporated into the Westside Pavilion, on the top floor, near the food court. Yes, I really miss the Westside. I try to get over there as much as possible. As a matter of fact, I’ll probably catch a movie at the Landmark Theatres over on Pico and Westwood tomorrow night. Simi Valley’s pretty boring, compared to the Westside. Actually, it’s really boring, compared to the entire LA Basin, and I try to get of Simi as much as possible.
I don’t remember the Scotch and Sirloin, but I do remember The Velvet Turtle very well. That was on Sawtelle, between Pico and Olympic. My parents took me there for my birthday in 1985. I remember Oshman’s Sporting Goods also. Also, Damiano’s Mr. Pizza on Pico, down the street from the Apple Pan. There was also a Damiano’s on Robertson, near where I grew up. My parents and I used to eat there quite often, and the only Damiano’s still remaining, on Fairfax, across the street from Canter’s Deli. The owner’s daughter went to Uni, and graduated in my class.
Unihikid, I also went to Uni(class of ‘85), and I’m probably around your age, since you said you were about 13 when the Picfair closed, and I think it closed around 1979-'80. Unfortunately, the Stadium on Pico closed right after I was born, and I don’t think I ever saw any movies, even as a little kid, at the Lido, or the Picfair Theatres. The Carthay Theatre also closed down when I was 1, so I never got to experience that theatre either. I sure miss the Picwood, and the Palms though. I also miss living over on the Westside. I’d be over there in a heartbeat, if it weren’t so damn expensive to live there. I’m really getting tired of Simi Valley!
Haineshisway, I was born in 1967. My parants lived in an apartmnet on Chariton and Cadillac, when I was born, moved over to another apartment on Chariton and Guthrie about a year later, and then in September, 1969, moved to the home that I grew up in and lived in until I moved out at 19, on Olin St, between Robertson and Canfield, so I probably remember a lot of the same places that you do. My older brother actually worked at Big Town Market for a short period of time in 1971-72, so I remember the corner of Pico and La Cienega very well. I honestly can’t remember where the Lido Theatre was. Was it right on the corner of Pico and La Cienega, and if so, which corner? By the way, the Chinese restaurant that you’re thinking about on Pico, just east of La Cienega, was Kowloon. Wan-Q’s was actually on the north side of Pico, 1 block east of Robertson, on the corner of Pico and Wooster. Both Kowloon’s, and Wan-Q’s are long gone, but I think the Twin Dragon Chinese Restaurant, on Pico
and Holt, is still there. I remember my mom used to take me to the Montgomery Wards shopping center when I was a kid. There was a Woolworth’s there, a Thrifty’s, a Shopping Bag Market, which later became a Fazio’s, a Bob’s Big Boy, a Gallenkamps shoes(I think that’s how it was spelled), and of course, Montgomery Wards, and stores inside of that building, next to Wards. I remember my mom liked shopping at the Daylite Market across the street(now long gone). You may also remember the minature golf course on La Cienega, up by Cashio(that closed in 1977), and a pizza stand that my dad claims was some of the best pizza he’s ever had, Pizza Prince, on La Cienega, between Pickford and Cashio.
Hey JoelB, if you grew up near Pico and Sepulveda, you’d definitely remember Flakey Jake’s. That was a really good place. By the way, I graduated from Uni the year after you did, ‘85.
I also remember going to the Palms Theatre on Motor Ave with my parents, the Meralta, or Miralta(can’t remember how it was spelled)in Culver City, and the Culver Theatre. I’m not sure if the Pacific Stadium Culver Theatres that are in Culver City now is where the Meralta was, and the Culver Theatres down the street from there now, is where the old Culver Theatre was. Does anyone on this site know? My sister worked at the Fox(I think that’s what it was called)on Wilshire, 1 block east of La Cienega, in Beverly Hills, back in the mid 70’s. That theatre’s long gone now. I think the one on Beverly Blvd, near Fairfax, is still around. The Stadium on Pico, near Robertson(not far from where I grew up), the Picfair, on Pico and Fairfax, and The Carthay Theatre, in the Carthay Circle area, were all before my time, but I’ve heard that those were great theatres too.
Fairfax,
Wow! What great memories! I know I’m a little late on this site, but I did a search on Google for the Picwood Theatre in West LA, and it brought me here. I grew up in West LA(Beverlywood area), went to University High(even though I lived 2 blocks from Hamilton, there was no way my parents would let me go there). I was a little kid in the 70’s, and a teeneager in the 80’s. I saw Earthquake with my older sister at the Picwood, when I was a little kid, Apocalypse Now, and ET with my parents, and the Jazz Singer by myself. I remember the other things that used to be on that block, across the street, and down the street. There was the old Westland Mall(I think that’s what it was called), where the Westside Pavilion is now. There was the May Company, of course, at the east end of the mall, a Baskin Robbins, and I believe, a Wherehouse Records, in the courtyard, next to the May Company. The old strip mall itself had a Vons Market, a See’s Candies, a J.J. Newberry’s, a Little Folks Shop, a Chess & Games, and a Drug King at the west end. There were other businesses too, but those are the ones that I remember. Next to the Picwood was the bowling alley, the Captain Video Arcade in the early to mid 80’s, a Blue Chip Stamps, which went out of business by the mid to late 70’s, and across the street, on the north side of Pico was the House Of Pies. I have great, great memories of all of those places!