Crest Theatre

4275 Atlantic Boulevard,
Long Beach, CA 90807

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres

Styles: Quonset Hut, Streamline Moderne

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This theatre was the world’s first pre-fashioned theatre.

This was also the first prototype for Fox Theatres in the Quonset Hut style, and opened January 23, 1947 with James Cagney in “13 Rue Madeleine”.

Fox was looking for an easier way to make theatres fast and cheaper after the war.

The Crest Theatre had a main floor of seats, then an early form of stadium seating in the rear (like later Fox houses such as the Fox Loyola Theatre).

The opening manager’s name was Harry Francis, who would go on to manage many other Fox and Mann Theatres till the mid-1990’s.

Harry managed the Crest Theatre for a long time. He also managed the Fox Village Theatre in Westwood, and opened the nearby National Theatre. His last theatre was the Bruin Theatre.

He worked for over 50 years in theatre management.

The Crest Theatre was closed on February 2, 1977 with Jeff Bridges in “King Kong” & Jogn Carradine in “Big Foot”. It became a church, but has since been demolished.

Contributed by William Gabel

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Recent comments (view all 72 comments)

avgraphicpro1946 on November 14, 2010 at 4:52 pm

I remember the Municipal Auditorium, the original Pike with the Plunge and the Public Library in Lincoln Park and of course, the Pacific Electric Red Cars. I also remember when they were shooting the movie, ‘It’s a Mad. Mad. Mad, Mad World.’ Does anyone remember the 5 cents per scoop of ice cream at Sav-On drug stores? (On a side note, the end of the movie, ‘The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms’ was shot at the Pike, not Coney Island.

Simon Overton on January 25, 2011 at 3:10 pm

My late friend, Joseph Musil, who owned the magnificent American Museum of Theatrical Design (aka: Salon of the Theatres) in Santa Ana, managed to rescue some of the wonderful brass floral lighting which traversed the ornate lobby and auditorium.

I also wonder what happened to his incredible collection of photographs and 35mm slide collection of historic southern California theaters, especially of Long Beach?

JohnMessick on June 19, 2012 at 5:55 pm

What a beautiful theater….Great marquee.

Simon Overton on July 3, 2012 at 10:18 am

Hello Tinseltoes… Sorry, I cannot download your photos. I’d love to have seen this theater!

sanelson_98 on December 6, 2013 at 4:56 pm

I worked for Mr. Francis near the end of his career at the Bruin. Great man.

dallasmovietheaters on September 13, 2015 at 4:52 am

Completed in 1946 and first film was shown January 23,1947.

Sillyheart55 on November 5, 2017 at 10:58 am

Does anyone have a photo of Harry Francis? I went to The Crest in the 1960s as a kid and remember a short, balding man working there all the time but don’t know if this was him or not. I’d remember if I could see a photo. Thanks.

BobBro on July 6, 2018 at 10:12 am

That was Mr. Francis. Although, I don’t recall him balding. He had curly hair. He loved the kids and would put on a Saturday kid’s show every week. He refused to play monster movies because he said our mothers would complain. But they always showed a film, “Crazy Races”, about ten or twelve cartoons (the last one they would run upside down and backwards) and they had birthday cake for any kids who had a birthday during the week. He would stand on the stage with a microphone after the movie and give out the cake and prizes for those who had the winning number for “Crazy Races.” Very fond memories.