Arlington Theatre
2517 W. Washington Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90018
2517 W. Washington Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90018
3 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: United Theaters of California
Previous Names: New Arlington Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The New Arlington Theatre was built in 1923 and operated by the United Theaters of California chain. The Arlington Theatre was still open in 1957.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
I should correct that statement. Besides the Arlington and Colonial, the other United theaters were the Anaheim, Eagle Rock and Strand, the last on Catalina Island.
If it’s vacant, status should be closed.
The building at 2517 West Washington Boulevard was erected in 1923, according to a property profile report by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. The 6000+ sq. ft. building on a 10,000 sq. ft. lot at this location had to have been the second home of the Arlington Theatre. The L.A. library’s California Index contains a card citing an article in the January 30, 1920 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor which announced alterations to the Arlington Theatre at 2488 West Washington Boulevard. It had to have been that location at which the Robert-Morgan organ mentioned in Lost Memory’s comment above was installed in 1921.
The February 22 issue of the same publication that year announced that the Arlington Theatre had been sold. A City Planning Department property profile of 2488 Washington reveals that the building on the site today was built in 1988, so the first home of the Arlington is gone.
Now here’s the interesting wrinkle in all this: 2488 W.Washington is the address given at CT for the Maynard Theatre (aka Gem, according to William.) If, as ken mc’s comment of June 3, 2007 says, the United Arlington Theatre was still being advertised in The Times as being at 2488 W. Washington in 1925, and this building at 2517 W. Washington was built in 1923 (per the planning department’s property profile), then either this building was converted to a theatre at some date after its construction, or it opened as a theatre with a different name which we have yet to identify.
Also, Cinema Treasures' Maynard Theatre entry needs to be updated to show United Arlington Theatre as an aka.
It does seem possible that this house might have opened as the New Arlington Theatre. In the 2004 TerraServer aerial view, the building certainly looks as though it had been built as a theater,which reduces the likelihood that it was converted to theatrical use sometime after construction.
The two theatres were very close, the newer one (seen in this expanded view of the photo at the top of the page) being a few doors west of Arlington on the north side of Washington, and the older United Arlington being a couple of doors east of Arlington on the south side of Washington.
As the older theatre had the big “United” blade sign, it could be that it was known primarily by that name locally, which would have reduced the confusion that might arise from the partly-shared name. Given that both were neighborhood theatres, it wouldn’t have mattered much if people from outside the area were confused.
There’s not much left to show it was a theater:
http://tinyurl.com/22ywkm
http://tinyurl.com/2c8tsw
http://tinyurl.com/26ohty
Does anyone know if this theater listing refers to the theater on this page?…or is it the Maynard?
(March 9, 1914 LA Times)
Comfortably Heated-THE
ARLINGTON THEATER
John J Tully Proprietor
Washington at Arlington Sts.
Admission 10 cents
Changes of Program Sunday Monday Wednesday Friday
vokoban: As the New Arlington wasn’t built until 1923, the 1914 reference must be to the first Arlington/Maynard.
This building is still standing although the front of the building is all modern and looks considerably expanded. Looks like an office building; in good shape, looks like it’s being used but no sign to give any indication what’s in there. The auditorium section is still standing and the roof looks in good shape.
Good find RonP! This is most likely the same place: (June 23, 1954 LA Times) By Cal Whorton If you want a laugh that’s even better than a ring full of huffing and puffing grapplers, then I suggest you catch Howard (Hangman) Cantonwine in his latest role of skater. Cantonwine, former football player at Iowa who estimates he’s wrestled in at least 6000 matches, is off on a new business venture. He’s just opened the doors of his Skatium on W Washington Blvd. neat Arlington.
Here’s another thing about Skatium but two door down. I guess their business license was suspended in 1980: http://2zing.com/ca271630/skatium-inc