Imperial Theatre

Opened on December 19th, 1925. Grand opening ad posted.

earthquake shot, (postcard I bought) http://www.flickr.com/photos/smgerdes/5740195797/in/photostream

TLsloews you gotta go back to the UNICORN THEATRE site.

The Imperial is to the right of the train in this photo, probably circa 1940s:
http://tinyurl.com/262l5vd

The above picture in ken mc’s post is from around January 1932. The West Coast Theatre was playing “Stepping Sisters” (1/9/32) from Fox Film Corp. and the Imperial Theatre was playing “The False Madonna” (12/5/31) with Kay Francis & Conway Tearle from Paramount.

Here is a November 1973 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/yb8bwbd

Here is a letter to the editor of the Press-Telegram dated 3/28/76:

Mr. James Forman, assistant manager of the Imperial Theater, is to be commended for his susceptibility lo the concerned citizenry of Long Beach. In response to the orderly picketing and reasonable requests of the Long Beach chapter of the National Organization for Women and the North Long Beach Concerned Citizens, the cheap and repellent movie Snuff has been discontinued by the Imperial Theater. Community constituents should note that citizen responsiveness and responsibility has determined the standard of decency in our Long Beach community in this case. We are the difference between shabby, brutal and degrading depictions of sex and women and decency, safety and community hygiene. Be barometers of peace and decency. Stand in the way of violence and sexual sickness. Take that stand publicly. The Long Beach chapter of NOW thanks the theater for respecting the wishes of the community and ridding this city of a movie which brutalizes and degrades women.

Here is a December 1959 ad from the Long Beach Independent:
http://tinyurl.com/r5kkdb

Here is a 1980 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d47pyn

Here is a 1959 ad from the Press-Telegram:
http://tinyurl.com/2v5wvh

Here is the 1926 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/3xb3w5

Here is a 1928 photo:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014856.jpg

An article in Southwest Builder & Contractor, issue of October 2, 1925, announced that architect L.A. Smith was preparing plans for the Imperial Theatre in Long Beach. The theatre was remodeled from an existing building. The previous use of the building was not specified.

A 1933 issue of the same publication said that architect Clifford Balch had been hired to plan repairs to the exterior of the Imperial Theatre following damage in the earthquake of that year.

As the theatre was art deco in later years, some extensive remodeling must have taken place, which probably eliminated most or all of Smith’s earlier design.