Recent research suggests the architect of this theater was not Edward Leodore Mayberry, Jr., as suggested in the above comment in 2010. In further researching Southwest Builder and Contractor, Mayberry did draw plans for E. L. McMurry for a brick theater in El Segundo. However, if you keep looking, there is a subsequent entry indicating a few months later Architects John P. Krempel and Walter E. Erkes with offices at 538 Bradbury Bldg were drawing plans for Mr McMurry’s El Segundo theater. The listed description and dimensions from this second entry are more consistent with the current theater. Mayberry’s design was for a much larger theater with seating up to 500 and was part two-story to accommodate the extra seating.
This research does not establish John P. Krempel and/or Walter E. Erkes as the architects of the theater still standing today at 140 Richmond Street, El Segundo, CA. This only indicates a set of architectural plans were to be prepared by this second firm for a theater in El Segundo that is of the approximate size of the current structure. Not being able to identify any other brick theaters built around this time in El Segundo, I feel comfortable stating it is LIKELY that this theater may have been designed by the architects Krempel & Erkes.
The information from the below two listings in Southwest builder and contractor was shared with the theater management prior to posting here.
Southwest builder and contractor. v. 55, June 11, 1920, page 13.
Brick Picture Theater Building. Arch. E. L. Mayberry, 468 Pacific Electric Bldg., is preparing plans for a part 1-story part 2-story brick moving picture theater building to be erected at El Segundo for E. L. McMurry. It will contain an auditorium to seat 500 people, two storerooms and four office rooms: 50X 150 ft., brick walls, pressed brick and plaster exterior, plate glass, cement and wood flooring, composition roofing, plumbing, wiring.
Southwest builder and contractor. v. 56-57:1, December 10, 1920. Page 16
Brick Theater. Archts. John P. Krempel and Walter E. Erkes, 538 Bradbury Bldg., are preparing plans for a one-story brick moving pictures building, 35X100 ft., to be erected at El Segundo for Mr. McMurry. Concrete foundation, brick walls, stucco exterior, cement floor, opera chairs, plumbing, wiring, heating, ventilating. Day Work.
Recent research suggests the architect of this theater was not Edward Leodore Mayberry, Jr., as suggested in the above comment in 2010. In further researching Southwest Builder and Contractor, Mayberry did draw plans for E. L. McMurry for a brick theater in El Segundo. However, if you keep looking, there is a subsequent entry indicating a few months later Architects John P. Krempel and Walter E. Erkes with offices at 538 Bradbury Bldg were drawing plans for Mr McMurry’s El Segundo theater. The listed description and dimensions from this second entry are more consistent with the current theater. Mayberry’s design was for a much larger theater with seating up to 500 and was part two-story to accommodate the extra seating.
This research does not establish John P. Krempel and/or Walter E. Erkes as the architects of the theater still standing today at 140 Richmond Street, El Segundo, CA. This only indicates a set of architectural plans were to be prepared by this second firm for a theater in El Segundo that is of the approximate size of the current structure. Not being able to identify any other brick theaters built around this time in El Segundo, I feel comfortable stating it is LIKELY that this theater may have been designed by the architects Krempel & Erkes.
The information from the below two listings in Southwest builder and contractor was shared with the theater management prior to posting here.
Southwest builder and contractor. v. 55, June 11, 1920, page 13. Brick Picture Theater Building. Arch. E. L. Mayberry, 468 Pacific Electric Bldg., is preparing plans for a part 1-story part 2-story brick moving picture theater building to be erected at El Segundo for E. L. McMurry. It will contain an auditorium to seat 500 people, two storerooms and four office rooms: 50X 150 ft., brick walls, pressed brick and plaster exterior, plate glass, cement and wood flooring, composition roofing, plumbing, wiring.
Southwest builder and contractor. v. 56-57:1, December 10, 1920. Page 16 Brick Theater. Archts. John P. Krempel and Walter E. Erkes, 538 Bradbury Bldg., are preparing plans for a one-story brick moving pictures building, 35X100 ft., to be erected at El Segundo for Mr. McMurry. Concrete foundation, brick walls, stucco exterior, cement floor, opera chairs, plumbing, wiring, heating, ventilating. Day Work.