Cinema Theatre

1122 N. Western Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90029

Unfavorite 9 people favorited this theater

Additional Info

Architects: Simeon Charles Lee

Functions: Church

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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The Cinema Theatre was opened on May 10, 1939 with the French movie “Ballerina” (La mort du cygne) starring Yvette Chauvire. It was converted from a former retail store by noted theatre architect S. Charles Lee, for exhibitor Louis Berkoff. It was an art house cinema for many years, then ran adult films. It is now a church.

Contributed by William Gabel

Recent comments (view all 39 comments)

William Dakota
William Dakota on March 15, 2009 at 3:40 pm

These Independent persons who always helped Federici and other Independent operators, never got the respect that is owed to them. If Conrad Button hadn’t always been there, when I needed him, the State theater in Pasadena, would have been in bad trouble. He worked with a few others who would always be available when a theater was in trouble. They would have and sell, very reasonably, parts for old projectors that would often break down. Most of them have now passed on. They did it because the theater operations were in their blood. They were never really retired. I don’t remember all of their names because Conrad was my main helper. A candy bar would be his reward, even though he was diabetic. From the beginning when I first met him, we were close friends.

Twistr54
Twistr54 on May 9, 2009 at 5:35 pm

I think this was a Pussycat Theatre when I lived there in 1981.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 10, 2009 at 4:59 pm

From Boxoffice magazine in March 1949:

An extensive remodeling job is underway at the Cinema Theater, Hollywood showcase recently acquired by Joe Moritz.

MovieMgr
MovieMgr on June 26, 2011 at 8:35 am

Updated and edited on June 26, 2011 I worked for a small chain of Art Theatres from 1963-1973. The company was Art Theatre Guild, Inc. Founded by Louis K.Sher in Bexley, Ohio in 1955. The company moved its HQ to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1963. I was promoted to manager in 1964 and sent to Tucson to operate the original Loft Theatre located at 6th & Fremont, which I also lived in. I also managed the Fine Art in Fresno, The Rockhill in Kansas City, Missouri. The Cinema in Hollywood, the Art Theatre in Dayton along with the Little Art in Yellow Springs, Ohio and The Bexley (then first twin theatre in America) in Bexley, Ohio along with the World Theatre in Columbus and the Opera House in Granville, Ohio. I was the manager of the Bexley and World theatres from 1969 – 1973.

adsausage
adsausage on April 23, 2016 at 10:20 am

Programmed ‘Underground Movies / Saturday at midnight’ in March 1970. Eight movies, all experimental/shorts. Admission was $2 and membership, a whopping 25 cents.

rivest266
rivest266 on September 19, 2019 at 4:58 pm

This opened with Ballerina (1937-France) on May 10th, 1939. Grand opening ad posted.

Betzee
Betzee on July 16, 2023 at 6:30 pm

Can remember driving by in the fall of 1989, after I had moved to the area, and it was still open. By that point, it wasn’t a movie theater I ever considered patronizing.

m00se1111
m00se1111 on July 16, 2023 at 7:40 pm

ok - so why would you not consider patronizing it. Seems odd to make that comment without any context.

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