Americana 5

I started as an usher at the Americana in 1964 when it opened with Michael Shirar as manager. The phone recording was, “you have reached the Americana Theatre, the Valley’s newest and most unique motion picture show case.” Yes, Morrie Gilruth was the projectionist and didn’t work matinees as posted above because he would come in right after to work the second shift as it paid overtime! I also dated his daughter Sandy. I went to assistant manager under Bob Cartier and Del Lesser and then manager in 1965 before going to the Embassy Theatre at 331 Western Ave. in L.A. I became friends with Phil Ahn, owner of the Moongate next door and hired his sister’s daughter as cashier. On one ocassion we “film tagged” with the Panorama Theatre and ole Morrie sure knew what he was doing. Then there was the bowling alley and the Red Barn across the street – those were the days. I wouldn’t go by there now…

MY NAME IS DENNIS LIVINGSTON II. MY GRANDFATHER STANLEY LIVINGSTON WAS THE MANAGER OF THE AMERICANA FOR MANY YEARS. HE WAS A VERY KIND GENTLEMAN AND HAD A LOT OF GREAT FRIENDS. HE SOON LEFT THE AMERICANA TO BECOME JOINT OWNERS WITH MY FATHER AT THE PEPPERTREE 3 CINEMAS. IF YOU KNEW MY GRANDFATHER OR FATHER AND SHARE ANY MEMORIES WITH THEM I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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Part of the Robert Lippert chain of theatres, the-sometime Americana 5 Cinemas was located at 8700 Van Nuys Boulevard, Panorama City 91402.