Art Theatre
2025 E. 4th Street,
Long Beach,
CA
90814
2025 E. 4th Street,
Long Beach,
CA
90814
21 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 51 comments
Please update, total seats 360 as per the Art Theatre website
Original architect was Robert C. Aldrich in 1924/5 who described the venue as a Spanish architectural theme with a sloped floor with six feet pitch for clear viewing angles. The Style D Wurlitzer organ was said to be the biggest in town.
Opened as Carter on January 22nd, 1925. Grand opening ad posted.
This was renamed Art on January 15th, 1949. I uploaded its first ad in the photo section.
I visited this theater today and liked it very much. It even has a curtain, which is rare these days. My only complaint is that the picture was very dark. It looked like the xenon bulb had seen better days. The movie I saw today was flat, and it took up the entire screen. How do they present a scope picture? Is it in the same aspect ratio as the flat picture, or do they have a top masking that can be lowered?
Hey, major congratulations to the Art’s 2nd anniversary (since re-opening). This place has really grown to be a centerpiece of Retro Row…I couldn’t imagine Long Beach without the Art!
That “Recent exterior view” at the top of the page isn’t so recent anymore… ;–)
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y2nbx55
Night photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y4ndk3f
Nice photos.
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ckkuk3
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, May 1950:
Art J. Thomas, who recently purchased the Lee in Long Beach and renamed it the Art, appointed Harold Stevert as manager of the house.
BillyG- thanks for the kind words. We need all the word of mouth and dedicated custormers that we can get, as staff costs are keeping us from being profitable at this point.
Simon-we have great pictures on our website: www.arttheatrelongbeach.com Does anyone know how we can put one of those new pictures up on this site to replace the existing picture? THanks
I went to the theatre last night for a viewing of The Changeling and all I can say is Bravo for the theatre’s wonderful transformation. The sound was great, the seats and space between rows were comfortable, the screen, stage and art deco touches were subtle and elegant! Even the two venues attached were doing a nice business (an extension of a coffee house and wine bar). Great job to the new owners!!!
Simon-I will post those pix asap
Finally! Congrats to all who slaved. I moved to Oregon one year ago and longed for this classic cinema to be restored before departure.
Any night shots of the facade and interior pics? Pleeeeeeeeze?
This article from the Contra Costa Times discusses an Art Deco expert who advised on the restoration of the Art:
http://tinyurl.com/5v2fam
They did a nice job with the renovation. Here are some photos take today:
http://tinyurl.com/3n4grs
http://tinyurl.com/4eeuy6
http://tinyurl.com/47jpnn
http://tinyurl.com/3n9wcm
http://tinyurl.com/3qjg32
It is so gratifying to see Long Beach’s last operating historic movie theatre (and nearly the last one standing) so beautifully restored, updated, cared for, and promoted. With relatives in southern California, hopefully I can manage a trip to the Art one of these days. All the movie palaces that graced downtown Long Beach are gone, but at least this wonderful little gem remains.
Good luck, Mark. I hope you do well.
Thanks for all your patience. Visit www.arttheatrelongbeach.com for all the info you need. Please sign up for our mailing list when you visit the site for updates, offers, and special events.
Art Theatre starts screenings tonight Aug, 22 I will be there!!
Update: seats are delivered and will be installed by tuesday. Coffee bar is just about done. Our first film will be “Man on a Wire” about the tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers in NYC in ‘74. Looking fwd to see you all there sooner or later!
Thanks for your patience everyone. We hope to be open on Aug 15 if all goes to plan, but construction and utility companies being what they are, our “hard” opening date is Aug 21. Our first film will either be Woody’s latest or the doc “Man on a Wire”, depending on studio policies. I think you will be impressed with our new historic gem of a theatre.
I took some pictures of the renovation last night (the 3rd) on my way home:
http://tinyurl.com/6ngfp5