Alpha Theatre

4065 Gage Avenue,
Bell, CA 90201

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 23, 2014 at 3:30 am

This theater for which the May 21, 1921, issue of Building & Engineering News said plans were being prepared was probably the Maybell Theatre, but it turned out that the original architect didn’t design the house after all:

“BELL, Los Angeles Co., Cal.

“One and two-story brick and terra cotta theatre, store and office bldg. Owner — Dr. T. G. De Vaugh and J. V. De Vaugh. Architect — J. T. Payne. 426 Western Mutual Life Bldg. Los Angeles.”

The item got the names of the clients wrong (it was supposed to be T. G. De Vaughn and J. V. Spaugh) according to the documents generated by a court case that ensued. De Vaughn and Spaugh found that Payne was not a licensed architect, and so they had a Mr. Zeller prepare new plans for their theater and supervise its construction, much to the displeasure of Payne, who subsequently sued.

The upshot is that the Maybell Theatre as built was designed by architect Julian T. Zeller, who a few years later also designed the Alcazar (aka Liberty) Theatre a couple of blocks east.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 24, 2010 at 6:18 pm

Thanks KenMC for the pictures.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 5, 2009 at 1:00 am

The remodeling was quite extensive, so Lee should be credited. Also the aka Maybell Theatre should be added.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 5, 2009 at 12:44 am

I note that S. Charles Lee has not been added as the architect. Is that because he may have only done the remodel in 1938?

JasonEVega
JasonEVega on August 5, 2009 at 12:30 am

UPDATE: The theater has been sold. A public notice of ownership application has been posted outside. The new owner plans to turn the theater into a Family Mexican Restaurant. The previous owners renovated and preserved the Art Deco interior. No word on whether the new owners will reatin the architectural significance of the building.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 21, 2009 at 6:50 pm

The re-opening of the remodeled Maybell Theatre took place early in 1938. Here’s something from Boxoffice Magazine, February 5, 1938: “With the opening last week of Frank Valuskus' new Bell Theatre in Bell, Fox West Coast is rushing work on its new Bell house, now almost completed. Valuskus, operating at ten cents, will have two FWC houses as competition, the circuit’s Alcazar also coming in that zone.”

(Note: The correct spelling of the name of the owner of the Bell Theatre was Valuskis.)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 30, 2008 at 8:52 pm

The L.A. County Assessor’s office gives 1922 as the original construction date for this building. With the other evidence in comments above, that should confirm that this theater was the Maybell, opened in 1922, and remodeled by S. Charles Lee in 1937.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 9, 2008 at 11:59 pm

“Available for corperate events”. I bet the corperations just flock to their door when they see that sign.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 16, 2006 at 5:49 am

The Alpha Theatre was featured in the Better Theatres section of Motion Picture Herald, 5/28/1938. The architect is named there as S. Charles Lee.

Interestingly, Southwest Builder and Contractor of 10/15/1937 carried the announcement that S. Charles Lee was preparing the plans for a complete remodeling of the Maybell Theatre in Bell for Fox West Coast Theatres. I wonder if the Alpha could have been the remodeled Maybell?

JasonEVega
JasonEVega on May 11, 2004 at 7:00 pm

The City of Bell or any interested residents should consider getting the site on the Historical Places Register. It would be a great asset to the city to have a working theater and restore it to it’s glory days. Anyone interested, please contact me.

JasonEVega
JasonEVega on May 11, 2004 at 6:57 pm

The Alpha Theater is currently being used as Las Trancas Banquet Hall. After the theater closed, it was renovated into a Hall and named Alpha Hall, until it’s current owners purchased the building and changed the name in 2003.

William
William on September 11, 2002 at 3:51 pm

This former Fox house seated 656 people and was located at 4065 E. Gage Ave. in the city of Bell.