Balboa Theatre
8713 S. Vermont Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90044
8713 S. Vermont Avenue,
Los Angeles,
CA
90044
5 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cabart Theaters Corp, Fox West Coast Theatres
Architects: Lewis Arthur Smith
Functions: Studio
Styles: Spanish Colonial
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Aug 17, 2010 — ISO: Theater seats
The Balboa Theatre opened in April 6, 1926 with Wallace Beery in “Behind the Front”. It was built for and operated by West Coast Theatres. By 1950 it was operated by Cabart Theaters Corp. After closing it housed a mosque belonging to the Nation of Islam, but they moved out of the building in 2009. By 2015 the building had been converted into production studios.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 35 comments)
Jim Wurbel… I have no idea what happened to St. Michaels Girl’s High School. Mount Carmel is long gone… but still has all-years Reunions. I was in L.A. last year for a birthday for Uncle Joe… 98 years young. I drove by the church on Manchester… there was a wedding taking place… bride and groom on the front steps… pictures being taken, rice being thrown… St. Michaels looked like a cathedral. It’s good to know people are still participating in the parish. Maybe I’ll have to attend a Sunday Mass after I retire. I hope all is well with, and those you love in this New Year… Steve Cannon
Here is a 1983 photo, pre-mosque:
http://tinyurl.com/dn9wl7
Here are some photos taken yesterday:
http://snipurl.com/ihyds
http://snipurl.com/ihyiw
http://snipurl.com/ihyob
The mosque has moved out. The building is for sale.
Hello To Steve Cannon and Allen Finley. Jimmy Page here. Let’s go dwon to Machester and one half block east and get taps on our shoes again!
I remember that Steve Cannon. He was a grade ahead of me and had a really pretty girlfriend named Roberta! I spent many Saturday afternoons at the Balboa watching the matinees. What a beautiful place! I also went to St. Michael’s Elementary School and Mt. Carmel. In fact, I went to a reunion at SMS a few years ago. They also have a website. Great memories of the Balboa. When I moved to Northern California in the early 70s, I discovered a similar theater treasure in the Senator Theater in Chico, CA. It seemed quite similar to the Balboa until it was cut up into a multiplex then restored as a concert venue.
I lived at 624 East 91st Street when my next door neighbors the DeContreas' at 626 went to Mount Carmel. I attended manu a night game and watched Mount Carmel beat Serra in our great brown and white uniforms. Teh I moved to 9001 Orchard Avenue at 90th and Hoover for Bret Harte Junior High. This is when I discovered the Balboa of course. Remember the Congress Theater down on 76th and Vermont? Platt’s Records? We finally moved to 109th Place and Normandie for Washington High. Finley was on Classmates under Bret Harte for awhile. Steve Cannon is probably still on Classsmates inder Washington High. Im e mail is jimmypage2622002 at yh dot com.
Wow… what a blast from the past… Platt’s records and taps on our shoes. The older I get, the more I realize how lucky we were to grow up in the 50’s and 60’s. I went to Mount Carmel for one year, and then moved to San Diego with my parents in 1965. I make it back to L.A. about once a year, and try to drive by the old house on 85th St. I just retired after 38 years from the Port of San Diego. I’ve bought a fixer-upper at the beach, just to keep my old ass busy. Between fishing, surfing, my Photography bussiness, and the house… I’ll have plenty of things to keep me occupied. And Bill, yes, Roberta DiMartini was quite pretty, if I do recall. My old cohort John Vignery told me she married Wayne Philips after high school. As I look back, it’s nice to see all the positive memories of childhood in L.A. shine through. Take care. E-mail me if you want. Steve
The building is now home to the Pan Andreas West Theatre Studios. The 23,000 square foot facility consist of 5 studio sound stages with 3 levels, several dressing rooms,and make-up and wardrobe rooms.
article:
Balboa theatre opening Sun, Apr 4, 1926 – 61 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.com
No grand opening ad posted.