Norwalk Theatre

ORCon:

What publication did you find that remodeling information in?

Are there any accompanying photos?

Thanks,

Adam

I am looking for pictures of the Norwalk Theater. I would like to talk to anyone who would be willing to share scans of their phots taken from any and all angles. I would like to build a model of the theater.

I am a veteran of the 50’s kiddie matinees. I saw ALL of the now classic sci-fi movies from front row, center. Those are my happiest childhood memories.

I can be contacted at: adamlove(at)ca(dot)rr (dot) com

I would especially like to hear from Harold Taylor and Randy Henderson.

Anyone there when this theater was torn down? I wish I could have been there to grab a souvenir from the rubble.

I practically lived in the Norwalk theatre from around 1958 through the early 60's. I admit some memories may be foggy, but I fondly recall the William Castle stuff ("House on Haunted Hill" being my favorite), The "Abott and Costello Meets______" series, The Sinbad movies, and "Journey to the Center of the Earth," etc., along with those wonderful all afternoon cartoon marathons. Kids could be fairly rowdy back then during the showings....roughnecking and chasing each other around the theatre and throwing popcorn (and even popcorn boxes) at the screen. The manager would invariably stop whatever was showing, walk out and stand in the front of the auditorium where he would proceed to reprimand us by saying that if we kept up our rude behavior he would shut down the theatre and send us all home. We would be sufficiently shamed for a few minutes after he left and then the rowdier kids would start up again. That wonderful film loving manager never did make good on his promise to close things down. I recall (as someone posted earlier) that he got a kick out of creating a scary ambience whenever a horror film was playing by decorating the lobby with spider webs, coffins, and other assorted props. I do wish I could recall his name. He was a good man and, it goes without saying, a very patient one. 
                I may be wrong about this, but I believe I saw Psycho at this same theatre (no ratings or age restrictions back then) and of course I was absolutely terrified and deeply disturbed. It's a big leap from watching Abbot and Costello being chased by the wolfman to a naked Janet Leigh being stabbed in the shower! 
                All in all, that theatre gave me some of the best memories of my life and it is a joy to hear your recollections as well as to share my own with you. Keep it up because I never tire of it. : )   
                

wow memories i had there. from 49 cents to 59 cents to 99 cents is what i remember. also recieved my first kiss there. at age of 12. also became very popular with us kids during time hip hop movement started and break dancing was the thing. the theater was known to be the place to go to to see other kids break dancing so away i went with my ghetto blaster … wow to be young. I really enjoyed reading every ones memories

Yes,,,,it was a XXX Porn Theatre in 1982….I know, because I worked there part time, selling tickets, and running the concession stand……good times…..even had to put up with relgious zealots supergluing the locks so no one could enter….“Doing the Lord’s Work”, even if it was destruction of property. It must’ve worked ‘cause I saw in 1984 it turned into a family theater, on this site. It was called Norwalk Twin Cinemas….they showed 70’s raunch porn….ah, the good ole daze…..seeing John C. Holmes on a Giant Screen. God Bless that old place. ;⁾

Here is a 1984 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/m97qvk

Hi, Mike: I wish I caouls have had your experience of working at the Norwalk Theatre. I spent many of my most fondly-remembered 1950’s childhood hours sitting in the dark in that old building.

No one I knew ever knew in the 50;s and 60’s ever called it the Norwalk Theatre. It was known by one and all simply as “The Show”.

The Norwalk Theatre (by then doing business as the Norwalk Tin Cinemas) was indeed an X-rated theatre for a brief time.

Here is a link to a picture of picketers in front of the Norwalk:

http://tinyurl.com/2pj3ft

Protesters managed to get it re-converted to a family theatre.

The Norwalk was listed in this 1925 Paramount ad in the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/32a5wd

Here is a November 1981 article after the theater was twinned:
http://tinyurl.com/35e74w
http://tinyurl.com/37l5bz

I remember the Norwalk Theatre very fondly. I attended movies there in the 50’s when you could see two western shoot’m up’s and 50 cartoons and a couple serials in an afternoon. The early horror movies were very popular as was “Abbott & Costello” I remember seeing “War of the Worlds” with my good buddy and “The Wizard of Oz” with my older sister Trish. If I’m not mistaken they even had a raffle for a bycycle between movies somtimes. I was surprised to see that a fellow high school classmate of mine Harold Taylor managed the theatre in the 70’s. I joined the Navy after school in 1960 and never got a chance to come back. Those were some of my best days.

I also attended movies at the Norwalk in the early 50’s as did my parents. One summer I worked for a manager helping to clean and such meager duties. I wish I could remember his name. It was a nice neighborhood theater. After 1958 I don’t know much about it except it was sad to see it being demolished.

The California Index quotes Southwest Builder & Contractor issue of 4/15/1927 announcing plans for the Norwalk Theatre. It was to cost $30,000, to seat about 600, and was to be built for a company called Principal Theaters. The name of the architect is not mentioned.

It is so great to hear from someone who actually managed the old Norwalk, though my memories are about 20 years earlier. I’ll always remember the coffin in the lobby for HOUSE OF USHER. Also, in those late 50’s, early 60’s years, they did kiddie matinees in a big way – with printed flyers the week before, made a real production of it at 25 cents a head. Glad to hear it never went porno.