Atlantic Theater

I remember seeing “Dr. No” at the Atlantic. That was probably 1962 or 63. Also went there for some Saturday matinees when I was younger. It was affiliated with the Lakewood Theater (on East Carson Street) at that time. I grew up in California Heights and my grandparents lived in Bixby Knolls. So the Towne and the Crest were my mainstays. But I have always been fascinated with movie theaters, even when I was a kid, and wanted to go to a movie in every theater in Long Beach.

It’s terrible how cities don’t believe in historical value anymore. I remember that The Crest Theater was gone by 1979, then it was The Towne and now it’s the Atlantic Theater. Oh boy! They saved the spire for the new building! Sad … The people making the decisions must be under 40 years old. They think that EVERYTHING over 40 is old. They probably think the same thing of people.

I also find it sad that I’m unable to see anything in the new library that mentions the theater at all. I expected there to be something about the history of the site…

The top part of the tower was preserved, and mounted onto the new library building, which has been completed. I do not know if any other features of the theatre were incorporated anywhere else in the new building.

Several months ago, in mid-2014, I drove out to the site of the Atlantic. Not only is the building gone without a trace, but there seems to be no sign of future development at the site, not even a sign proclaiming the construction of a library, or anything, there. I’m wondering if the neighborhood has become the victim of a development scam of some sort, a promise of a library, and preserved portions of the theatre, only to be left with nothing. I hope not. I’ll be interested to see if anyone has any news.

Today, January 25, 2014, a ‘celebration’ was held marking the beginning of this theater’s demolition. The 1941 theater is being destroyed after many years of neglect to make way for a new library. The RKO-like spire, the theater’s terrazo floors, fountain and tile work will be incorporated into the library’s design plan. I will post some photos.

Hi Guys. the date is coming up fast. is anyone suppose to be or going to be on site when they start demo? to point out what is being saved, and instructions of how it’s to be saved? don’t trust the RDA one bit. they write up pretty papers of promises. everything they say their going to do has ten ways of doing it and they choose which way. like the saving of the historical Jergens Trust Building concrete cherubs & moldings. i came across recently in the library’s community data digital archives photo’s of LB a picture of one of the LB salvage yards and there up against the chain link fence was the cherubs and all the moldings stacked up on the ground and the cherub has two foot high weeds growing up out of her bosom and under her chin where they are cracked apart. obviously stacked with a fork lift. nothing has ever gone into the plan of using them again as said they would. once again it’s a case of they promised they would, but never said when.. i’ll mark the date.. the 25th is on a Saturday? i’m betting LB isn’t even doing the razing or the building of the center or library. they hired it out instead of the city doing the job. the city doesn’t work on Saturdays and pay any work of overtime! we’ll see. i’ll go check out the data base LBPL to see if it’s to date. Deb

thanks MJ. we moved to 1074 Market in 59 when i was 9. then ironically to the little house south side of the Library. the one they are now saying is old and i forget the word (RDA word)but is what the excuse or reasons of ‘needing’ a new library built once the theater is razed. LB BS! i’m now at Market on Cerritos. across the street from where i started 54 years ago. ha. the new. and the gone. i remember more that’s gone than what’s new. not impressed.

out of curiosity why isn’t the Oriental Theater still listed beings it did exist before it was torn down and the La Shell was built in it’s place? just wondering.

i grew up going to the Atlantic Theater from 1959-1966. i seen many movies there as well as the Towne & Crest. until i seen these pic’s i’d forgotten about the fountain and the beautiful flooring. in the last 54 years i’ve lived within a few blocks of it and now retired i’m only but two blocks away. i drive up and down Atlantic at all times coming and going, but i haven’t gone up & down it seeing anything until i used your street view navigation. what i saw was a property razed street (by the RDA) with what says city now owned white fencing covering all of it. and they say that the property 6.? acres there where the theater stands is needed to build a NLB community center? needed? there’s more property directly across the street running from South st. to 59th st. and twice that two blocks farther down from razing the motel many years back. nothing has been built or used for on any of the land they’ve taken. i know they’ve bullied most out of their properties and yelled blithe, pubic nuisance or anything that enables them to force sale to them. the one person that was in favor of the theater excluded himself from the vote. i don’t know what LBC is up to but i know that all this property condemned and taken has a big retail resale price compared to what they gave the past owners. looking in the LBPL Community info base & history annex their not done yet by a long shot. that’s what my dad said when they razed his favorite bar which was The Back Door behind the Front Door Theater next door. thanks for letting me have my say. i must admit i have’t even gone that way to see if is been taken down yet. i will.

I lived in the Carmelitos housing project during my High School Years and would walk past the Atlantic every day on my way to and from Jordan High School. I spent nearly every weekend at the Atlantic (mostly) and Towne and Crest depending on the movie(s) playing at the time. It’s really sad to see it just a shadow of it’s former self. I had many good memories there and even got kicked out once for playing a one inch long harmonica during the movie. Good times.

Thanks M Gerges.