California Theatre
341 N. Brand Boulevard,
Glendale,
CA
91203
341 N. Brand Boulevard,
Glendale,
CA
91203
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From the Glendale Public Library’s Flikr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glendalepubliclibrary/3598097801/in/photostream
Here is part of an article in the LA Times dated 2/7/31:
HOAX BANDIT SHOT TO DEATH
Gun-Like Cigarette Case used in Theater Hold-Up Spells Doom to Robber When officer Fires
GLENDALE-A bandit who put his faith in a cigarette case shaped like a pistol unthinkingly pointed the mock weapon tonight at the heart of a policeman who had detected him in a hold-up of the cashier at the California Theater here, and an instant later fell dead on the sidewalk with six bullets from the policeman’s service revolver in his body.
The bandit, with the futile contrivance of shining metal still in his hand, was taken first to Glendale Emergency Hospital and then to the morgue, where he was identified from papers in his pocket as L.J. Wright, apparently about 30 years of age, from Metzger, Oregon.
The Lexington Hotel and the Glendale News-Press building that are visible to the left of the California Theatre in the Oviatt and the LAPL photos are still standing, as shown in the exterior photo on the page for the Lexington Hotel, which is now called the Brandwood Hotel.
The California would have been behind the red convertible in that photo, where the B of A is now. So there’s still a good percentage of vintage buildings on that block, other than the missing theater. It’s the other side of the street, and a few blocks farther on this side, that’s primarily new offices.
I think it was next to where the the Bank of America is now, just in from Lexington, next to JAX Bar and Grill jazz club.
A search on “Theaters California Glendale” at the picture catalog of the California State Library will fetch seven early photos of the interior of this theatre, as well as a dozen of the Capitol Theatre down the street, and one William Reagh shot of the Alex to boot.
This whole block is now office buildings, I think.
In the 1940s, the California was being operated by Fox-West Coast Theatres. Southwest Builder & Contractor of November 7, 1941, contained an item saying that architect S. Charles Lee had prepared plans for remodeling the California Theatre in Glendale. Alterations to the foyer, lobby, ticket booth and front were to cost $12,000.
The Oviatt Library 1936 photo to which ken mc linked on October 27, 2005, is no longer at that URL. For now, it is here.
From the Oviatt Library Digital Collection:
View link
1937 Christmastime view of Brand Blvd, Glendale. The California Theater can be seen at the right. LAPL collection.
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics25/00047169.jpg
The California theatre was located at 341 N. Brand Blvd.