I could say this much – The Palace is across from the Los Angeles Theatre, the Orpheum is just a couple of blocks west of the Palace, located on Broadway as well.
Back in 1987, a friend of mine worked in the concession stand. Just about every week I would go watch a movie there. He showed me the entire movie theatre, including the crying room and both balconies. He told me that there was undergroung tunnels that connected some of the theatres together. I can’t confirm that being true, but I thought I’d share it since it sounds interesting. There use to be a private screening room on the basement level, where the bathrooms are. Last year I attended the LA conservancy “last remaning seats” movie viewing and noticed that the private screening room was empty. The room was just adjacent to the ladies restroom. Now the room is a standing lounge area.
I was born in ELA in 1970, I was born at the Los Angeles Community Hospital. We lived on Eastman and Whittier Blvd. I remember my grandmother telling me about the Chicano riots, I remember the cruising on Whittier Boulevard in the 70s and 80s. I remember the stores on Whittier Blvd; Stones Furniture, Western Auto, Wenger (still exists) and so on.
I grew up going to the Boulevard and Golden Gate theatres. I heard there use to be a theatre around Fetterly and Whittier.
In regards to Downtown, my grandfather was a pachuco.
I use to go there in the 80s. A friend of mine worked there so I saw every room, including the balconies. Therer is a crying room on the balcony level. The seats are elevated so when kids were seated they could see the show behing an enclosed room with a glass window.
I lived a block away from the Brooklyn Theatre. I saw Nightmare on Elm Street. After the movie house closed in the late 80s, they converted into a swap meet. The MTA bought the propert to build a subway station.
The 1927 Golden Gate Theatre, one of Los Angeles' most significant neighborhood movie palaces, is in escrow for purchase by a private development firm. The new owner, the Charles Company, intends to remove most of the theater’s interior features to accommodate retail use, most likely a Walgreens Drug Store. The 1,454-seat theater, at the prime corner of Whittier and Atlantic Boulevards in unincorporated East Los Angeles, has sat vacant for over a decade and has been repeatedly threatened with demolition. The theater, in the Spanish Churrigueresque style, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The theater was built by developer Peter Snyder, known as the “Father of the East Side” and its architects were William and Clifford Balch, who were also involved in the design of the El Rey Theatre on Wilshire Blvd. and the Fox Theatre in Pomona. The Vega Building, the historic retail building that once wrapped around the theater, suffered damage from the Whittier Earthquake and was demolished in the early 1990s. The Conservancy will be working with the new buyer, as well as County Supervisor Gloria Molina’s office, to seek retention of the theater’s historic interior features, such as the proscenium, lobby, clamshell-shaped concession stand, and mezzanine level, while encouraging a positive reuse of this long-vacant historic property.
Gary, thanks for your posting. I live near the old Strand Theatre. My grandparents use to go to the movies in the 40s and 50s. As a kid I used to go to other old movie theatres in the area, such as the Boulevard Theatre, Golden Gate, Brooklyn Theatre, and Garmar Theatre.
Oops, I meant to say south of the Palace Theatre.
Paul
Jenni,
I could say this much – The Palace is across from the Los Angeles Theatre, the Orpheum is just a couple of blocks west of the Palace, located on Broadway as well.
Back in 1987, a friend of mine worked in the concession stand. Just about every week I would go watch a movie there. He showed me the entire movie theatre, including the crying room and both balconies. He told me that there was undergroung tunnels that connected some of the theatres together. I can’t confirm that being true, but I thought I’d share it since it sounds interesting. There use to be a private screening room on the basement level, where the bathrooms are. Last year I attended the LA conservancy “last remaning seats” movie viewing and noticed that the private screening room was empty. The room was just adjacent to the ladies restroom. Now the room is a standing lounge area.
Sorry, I was born in 1970.
Does anyone remember “Lucky Lanes” on Atlantic and Pomona Blvd? Caddy-corner from Pep Boys(still there today)?
Paul
I believe the bowling alley was called – “Whittier-Atlantic Bowling Alley”.
Where was the Center Theatre? Between what streets?
Rupert & Rick,
Thanks for the info!
Do you guys have any info on Marcel & Jeanne’s French Cafe, which was 2 blks east of the Garmar? Or was Gardunos around in the 50s?
Paul
Anthony,
I really enjoyed reading your comments.
I was born in ELA in 1970, I was born at the Los Angeles Community Hospital. We lived on Eastman and Whittier Blvd. I remember my grandmother telling me about the Chicano riots, I remember the cruising on Whittier Boulevard in the 70s and 80s. I remember the stores on Whittier Blvd; Stones Furniture, Western Auto, Wenger (still exists) and so on.
I grew up going to the Boulevard and Golden Gate theatres. I heard there use to be a theatre around Fetterly and Whittier.
In regards to Downtown, my grandfather was a pachuco.
I remember the lights on the ceiling. In the 80s, the price for admission was $1 for students.
I saw the following movies: Scanners, Stripes, Take this job and Shove it, and bill murray’s Meatballs.
I am going to see Some Like it Hot there on June 2, sponsered by Turner Classic Movies. The Los Angeles Conservancy is hosting the event.
Robert, did you ever go to the private screening room in teh basement?
I use to go there in the 80s. A friend of mine worked there so I saw every room, including the balconies. Therer is a crying room on the balcony level. The seats are elevated so when kids were seated they could see the show behing an enclosed room with a glass window.
According to my Grandmother, the building is intact.
I lived a block away from the Brooklyn Theatre. I saw Nightmare on Elm Street. After the movie house closed in the late 80s, they converted into a swap meet. The MTA bought the propert to build a subway station.
The 1927 Golden Gate Theatre, one of Los Angeles' most significant neighborhood movie palaces, is in escrow for purchase by a private development firm. The new owner, the Charles Company, intends to remove most of the theater’s interior features to accommodate retail use, most likely a Walgreens Drug Store. The 1,454-seat theater, at the prime corner of Whittier and Atlantic Boulevards in unincorporated East Los Angeles, has sat vacant for over a decade and has been repeatedly threatened with demolition. The theater, in the Spanish Churrigueresque style, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The theater was built by developer Peter Snyder, known as the “Father of the East Side” and its architects were William and Clifford Balch, who were also involved in the design of the El Rey Theatre on Wilshire Blvd. and the Fox Theatre in Pomona. The Vega Building, the historic retail building that once wrapped around the theater, suffered damage from the Whittier Earthquake and was demolished in the early 1990s. The Conservancy will be working with the new buyer, as well as County Supervisor Gloria Molina’s office, to seek retention of the theater’s historic interior features, such as the proscenium, lobby, clamshell-shaped concession stand, and mezzanine level, while encouraging a positive reuse of this long-vacant historic property.
Gary, thanks for your posting. I live near the old Strand Theatre. My grandparents use to go to the movies in the 40s and 50s. As a kid I used to go to other old movie theatres in the area, such as the Boulevard Theatre, Golden Gate, Brooklyn Theatre, and Garmar Theatre.