Garfield Theater

Here is another photo from 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/d5ol5v

My best cinematic experiences were had in this theatre in the early 90’s with my pal, Jeff, watching fantastic HK double bills and choking on BBQ shrimp crackers washed down with a Janlibo.

I remember this theater well and loved watching movies here. I distinctly remember watching several of the original THE PLANET OF THE APES movies here and Irwin Allen disaster films like THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE and TOWERING INFERNO. If you grew up in Monterey Park/Alhambra in the 70’s, this is where you went to the movies. And, of course, the Monterey Theatre further south on Garfield. Also, the original THE HAT location was just across the street. Still is. And if you like pastrami, it’s the place to go.

I worked at the Garfield Theater from 1978 until 1982, when the Vinnikoffs sold the theater to a group that turned it into an Asian Movie Theater. I knew the manager that Dublinboyo mentions in his post and I had to drag him out of that same bar many a night (Mr. Bang?).

That theater was a real trip. It still had the original dressing rooms located under the main stage, which had thousands of signatures and dates written on the doors and walls. Some from the early 30’s and 40’s. We found several hidden rooms that you couldn’t access without some creativity (we had rock climbing gear!). Looked like rooms for an organist and other uses about half way up between the main floor and the ceiling. Climbing across the catwalks above the ceiling was very trippy as well. We all swore the place was haunted, based on the random noises and lights we would see flashing through there when no one was around.

I drove by that area late last year and was horrified to see that they turned that corner into a bunch of shops. There’s no sign of the Garfield Theater except for the vintage looking facade. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it. Heck, even Pizza Pub, which was caddy corner to the theater has been torn down and rebuilt as something else. The only thing remaining is The Hat!

My family owned this property from the late 80’s up until 2010. It was renovated into pacific square shopping plaza. I worked in the theater as a child, serving refreshments and sweeping up after shows. We often showed chinese movies for free, mainly for the seniors to have something to do and for a way for kids to be more in touch with their Asian roots. My grandfathers medicine shop was next to the theater for many years. We renovated it because no one was watching movies anymore, and we couldn’t justify devoting all the square footage to a theater that nobody went to. We were able to preserve the facade in effort to keep a piece of history in the city, which was no easy task. It would have been easier to demolish, but my dad was very much in love with the design and felt it should be preserved as a piece of history. We’ve since sold the building, but I have many original antiques that were removed from the theater if anyone is interested in seeing or hearing more about it.