Grove Theatre
276 E. Ninth Street,
Upland,
CA
91785
276 E. Ninth Street,
Upland,
CA
91785
2 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
At the Grove Theatre Productions (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Western Amusement Company Inc.
Architects: Jack M. Corgan
Functions: Performing Arts
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
909.920.4343
Nearby Theaters
Located in Old Town Upland, the 831-seat Grove Theatre and attached shops were opened on February 5, 1947 with Dana Andrews in “Boomerang”. It was built for the Western Amusement Company. The façade is dominated by a pylon-like tower on the left-hand side, which has the theatre named mounted vertically on three sides. The rather plain auditorium had all seating on a single floor, and the Grove Theatre was equipped with air-conditioning.
Since 1990 it has been operated by Sherry Kinison who bought and renovated the theatre. Sherry is the producer of the Grove’s live theatre which stages family-oriented plays and operates a school that give instruction in all aspects of the performing arts to youth and adults.
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin notes that Sherry along with her husband Bill helped manage the career of Bill’s brother, the late comedian Sam Kinison. Bill keeps busy as a local businessman, involved in community activities and government.
The Daily Bulletin says that the Grove Thetare is “becoming one of the premiere theatres in the area”. The public is invited to join the Grove by becoming a patron or a season ticket holder.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
“Ben Hur” was playing in April 1970. Admission was 50 cents:
http://tinyurl.com/yb5a7u
I lived in or near Upland in the ‘50’s and '60s.
Saw “Alice In Wonderland” “Bambi” the 1956 re-release of “King Kong"
"Love Me Tender” a re-release of “Man Who Knew Too Much” with"Trouble
with Harry" as 2nd feature, “The Bold & The Brave” and many more.
the admission was 50cents for adults 35 cents for kids. Nice neighborhood theater.
Here is a 1948 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yqkevs
Opened in 1947, robbed in 1949 (from the LA Times):
Feb. 7 – Burglars who forced entrance to the Grove Theater, 276 E. 9th Street, obtained $60 cash from the office of manager Ben Adams, police reported.
Here are some April 2008 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/6qmwse
http://tinyurl.com/6blvtu
http://tinyurl.com/5p7yz8
http://tinyurl.com/644ve5
http://tinyurl.com/5vrt4w
http://tinyurl.com/59oe57
http://tinyurl.com/5plkwp
At the time Western Amusement was building the Grove they already owned an existing theater called the Upland. As of July 6, 1946, according to a Boxoffice item of that date, the company was operating fourteen southland houses. They had just purchased Bard’s Adams and Bard’s Fremont from Mike Bard (this is the first time I’ve ever heard that there even was a Bard’s Fremont.) They had also acquired the San Gabriel Theatre in San Gabriel from O.W. Lewis.
Other Western Amusement houses mentioned by name were the Campus, Hunley, and Vista, all in or near Hollywood. The company also operated two theaters each in Victorville, Orange, and Fillmore, and a single house in Glendora.
Western Amusement was formed in 1944. It had originally been planned by Texas showman R.E. Griffith, who died before the company was organized, but Ted Jones, who had been associated with Griffith Theatres for many years, continued the project.
By the time the Grove opened, Western Amusement had expanded to 22 theaters, according to the February 22, 1947, Boxoffice item about the Grove’s opening. There is a small photo of the opening night of the Grove, at which Roddy McDowall acted as master of ceremonies.
The L.A. Library’s California Index has cards making reference to two theater names in Upland. They were the Lyric, in 1914, and the Colonial, in 1930. I haven’t found either mentioned in Boxoffice. Given the time spread, either or both might have been earlier names for the Upland Theatre, which I’ve found mentioned in Boxoffice no earlier than 1939.
Plain the auditorium may have been, but a notable feature was the soundproof booth at the back, where patrons could take their crying children. It had a glass window and the sound was piped in. Gave the place a period feeling. I recall watching Zabriskie Point (awful) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (much better) at the Grove.
Here are listings I’ve found for the Lyric /Colonial / Studio / Upland:
In the 1912/13 and 1914 city directories it’s listed as the Lyric at “cor 2nd Av & C.”
In 1919/20 it’s the Colonial, “2nd Av nr C.”
In the 1923/24, 26 and 28 directories it’s listed as the Colonial at 310 2nd.
In 1931 it’s the Upland at 318 2nd — it’s the Studio in 1934 at 318 2nd.
The Upland again in 37/38 and 45/46.
Listed as the Upland at 310 N. 2nd in 1948, 49 and 51.
Linkrot repair: The February 22, 1947, Boxoffice item (with photo) about the Grove Theatre in Upland is now at this link.
Saw WALL STREET here in 1988, and they held a women’s film festival in ‘93. Lost track of the place afterwards. Frankly, I assumed it had been demolished!