La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

14900 La Mirada Boulevard,
La Mirada, CA 90638

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Related Websites

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Pacific Theatres, Stanley-Warner Theatres

Architects: Drew Eberson

Functions: Performing Arts

Previous Names: La Mirada Theatre

Nearby Theaters

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

The La Mirada Theatre was opened by Stanley-Warner Theatres on December 20 1962 with Anthony Quinn in “Barabbas”. In March 1968 it was taken over by Pacific Theatres, and used for movies until 1976 when it was purchased by the city and opened in 1977 as a performing arts center. This seems to be a rare conversion where a stage, fly loft, dressing rooms and all the amenities were added to a relatively modern movie theater. Since that time this beautiful theater, with a large balcony, has had success presenting musicals and other community events. Its popularity is shown by the March 2003 appearance of the Smothers Brothers when all 1,264 seats were sold out for their two-day appearance.

However, the center where the theater is located seems incapable of supporting a movie theater for any length of time. After Pacific Theatres gave up the La Mirada Theatre, they built some shoebox-size cinemas in a covered mall on the same property, which lasted until the mall was leveled in the late-1980’s to construct a big-box center.

Contributed by Ron Pierce

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

William
William on April 8, 2006 at 7:53 am

The La Mirada Theatre opened on December 20th, 1962.

CTCrouch
CTCrouch on April 8, 2006 at 9:01 am

To fully clarify the property’s second theatre (which is fully profiled, as “Movies 7”, on this site). Krikorian Premiere Theatres built a 7 plex on the opposite end of the property in 93'. It was sold to Regal in 96', closed in 03', and reopened as a discount house by Interstate (now Starplex Cinemas) about a year later. The current discount format has been quite successful.

RandyHenderson
RandyHenderson on October 31, 2006 at 3:10 am

Michael Coate is correct. The theater opened in December of 1962 with BARRABAS, as the Stanley-Warner La Mirada Theater. I know, because I was there.

WhittwoodJanice
WhittwoodJanice on March 2, 2007 at 8:14 am

I used to work at the La Mirada Theatre in the mid-1970’s. I started at the original theatre, which has now become the Performing Arts Center. Pacific Theatres then opened the La Mirada 4 Theatres in the La Mirada Mall and 2 more theatres were eventually added.

Some of the people I used to work with are Bob R., Dale M., Debbie C., Steve G., Bruce H., Ruth M., Mike P., Lori C., Debbie H., Jodi J., Janet G., Cindy H., Jeannette T., Christie H., many more that escape my thoughts at the moment, and last but not least, the incredible Mr. D.

If there are any former employees out there, I would love to hear from you.

What a great time it was!

I have a lot of fond memories from working there. The manager and employees were a fantastic group of people to work with. If there are any former employees out there or patrons with fond memories, too, I would love to hear from you.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on June 13, 2007 at 7:11 pm

Here is a photo of the entrance and marquee from the “Our La Mirada” website:
http://tinyurl.com/2ynfqf

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 18, 2007 at 4:22 pm

An LA Times ad dated 11/23/63 lists the address at 14900 Luitwieler Road in La Mirada.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 18, 2007 at 5:21 pm

I imagine they changed the street name to the more euphonious La Mirada when they started developing the area.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 1, 2007 at 8:12 pm

This November 1983 ad from the LA Times was from the mall phase:
http://tinyurl.com/ynkf8u

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