My Dad just told me, that while he was working as an usher at the Golden Gate Theatre in the 1940’s, sometimes the Center Theatre needed ushers and would call up and borrow a few of the young men & women for the day. That was the practice for several of the theatres up and down Whittier Blvd even though they had different owners. I take this Fathers Day tale with a grain of salt but it sounds good. He worked for $.50 per hour back then.
I have a few photos from outside. Look to the right at the thumbnails for more photos. View link
I have been told that there may be an appeal filed which can be done but not likely to help matters. No one in North Long Beach wants it to be there. Very sad to say. I will drove by often and let you know if I see anything happening.
We lost yet another theatre in Long Beach today :–(
Saving the tower and the terrazzo will be a reminder to all of Long Beach of the many theatres of significant beauty and importance they took down in the name of progress! I think I will go place flowers at the theatre this afternoon With a tear in my eye for sure.
I got in to the Granada the other day and tried to snapped off a photo of the interior but got caught! I got one but it’s way fuzzy. Not sure why they are such a pain about pictures. I told them I was with the LAHTF (LA Historic Theatre Foundation) and just wanted to document that it was still there and looked good and that we where happy the church was taking such good care of it. But my words were lost in translation as the man in charge did not speak english and the young man was not saying as much as I was for sure. I will not stop trying.
It did not look Art Deco really except for a little bit of painting and the terrazzo out front, but the spanish decor is still there and I forgot to look for the “P” for Post at the proscenium as the glowing cross on the stage was distracting.
HELP! They want to demolish The Atlantic Theatre! Please help!
From Facebook “Save The Atlantic Theatre: Preservation of historic buildings achieves more than just communicating the past. When we save an important piece of our heritage, we energize the local community with pride, with identity, with foundation, with roots——-thereby allowing a ‘blossom’. These types of buildings, this theatre, play a unique role by defining the distinctive character of every individual neighborhood or community—-North Long Beach in this case."
Facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/yjzqg7t
What you can do to help: Write letters!
Letters of support for the adaptive reuse of the Atlantic Theater should be addressed to the Redevelopment Agency and Councilman Val Lerch from the 9th District, where the Atlantic Theater is located. Please request that staff distribute copies of your letter/email to the RDA Board.
Long Beach Redevelopment Agency
333 West Ocean Blvd.
3rd Floor
Long Beach CA 90802
Phone: (562) 570 – 6615
Fax: (562) 570 – 6215
Val Lerch 9th District Council Member
Letters: Val Lerch, Vice Chair City Council
333 Ocean, 14th Floor
Long Beach , CA 90802
E-mails:
Even though the Atlantic Theater (5870 Atlantic Avenue) is eligible as a city and state landmark and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and even though the EIR on the project declares adaptive reuse of the theater as a viable, and in some respects, preferable option, the City and the developer support a development alternative that would result in the theater’s demolition.
Keeping this landmark structure will enable this North Long Beach neighborhood to use its architecture and history as a unifying theme for economic and civic revitalization. Many cities across the nation are fostering civic and neighborhood pride by utlizing that unique sense of identity based on the city’s historic built environment.
Please help and write a letter or email! Meeting is on Dec. 7th 2009. I will repost as soon as we know more about what will happen next.
They are meeting gin about the Golden Gate Theater so there is still time to get letter written. The Commission is not very happy to alter the interior of the theater BUT would rather do that then see it sit empty for more years to come. We at the LAHTF hope the owner will get a renter in there that will turn in back into a theater again not a CSV. More info View link
Please write to and we will take your letters to the Planning Commission personally on Nov. 4th.
My father worked there as a teenager so I grow up with many stories about the place but never got to go myself. It was a church by the time I was around then empty for to many years.
I bought a postcard showing the theatres of Rizal Ave.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smgerdes/4906939650/ so worth the $2! Don’t you think?
I bought a postcard showing the theatres of Rizal Ave.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smgerdes/4906939650/ so worth the $2! Don’t you think?
Thanks Ken for posting your photo! Sure great to see it up close!
so glad they did away with the facade of the 1950’s! What were they thinking!
Found a great old photo here of it but need to get them to correct the location but can seem to get it done. We’ll know at least:
View link
Just found out that my Dad was an usher at the Strand in the 1940’s. A great Father’s Day tale but I need to find out more info.
My Dad just told me, that while he was working as an usher at the Golden Gate Theatre in the 1940’s, sometimes the Center Theatre needed ushers and would call up and borrow a few of the young men & women for the day. That was the practice for several of the theatres up and down Whittier Blvd even though they had different owners. I take this Fathers Day tale with a grain of salt but it sounds good. He worked for $.50 per hour back then.
Congratulations! I can’t wait for the next road trip to check it out!
The Theatre is still there and here are photos of the interior from last year, plus some old photos:
http://tinyurl.com/eastlagoldengatetheatre
We at the LAHTF hope we can get inside and get current photos and video of the theatre before the CVS moves in, but no promises.
I have a few photos from outside. Look to the right at the thumbnails for more photos.
View link
I have been told that there may be an appeal filed which can be done but not likely to help matters. No one in North Long Beach wants it to be there. Very sad to say. I will drove by often and let you know if I see anything happening.
We lost yet another theatre in Long Beach today :–(
Saving the tower and the terrazzo will be a reminder to all of Long Beach of the many theatres of significant beauty and importance they took down in the name of progress! I think I will go place flowers at the theatre this afternoon With a tear in my eye for sure.
I can’t believe that no one has a photo of this place which was in use until the ‘70’s. I’ll dig around.
I got in to the Granada the other day and tried to snapped off a photo of the interior but got caught! I got one but it’s way fuzzy. Not sure why they are such a pain about pictures. I told them I was with the LAHTF (LA Historic Theatre Foundation) and just wanted to document that it was still there and looked good and that we where happy the church was taking such good care of it. But my words were lost in translation as the man in charge did not speak english and the young man was not saying as much as I was for sure. I will not stop trying.
It did not look Art Deco really except for a little bit of painting and the terrazzo out front, but the spanish decor is still there and I forgot to look for the “P” for Post at the proscenium as the glowing cross on the stage was distracting.
1911:
http://tinyurl.com/yak4jgl
I have heard that the building and theatre are up for sale!
WOW! I shop in that mall all the time now and never knew. Only been here 16 years. Missed out on the Lakewood too :–(
View link
I just did a Google street view and the block is a parking lot!
Could it be true?
If you Google Street View as of today it will make you sick. But glad to hear it is looking better.
sorry to read the terrazzo was not saved.
BTW the street address is on Kings with an “s”.
View link
HELP! They want to demolish The Atlantic Theatre! Please help!
From Facebook “Save The Atlantic Theatre: Preservation of historic buildings achieves more than just communicating the past. When we save an important piece of our heritage, we energize the local community with pride, with identity, with foundation, with roots——-thereby allowing a ‘blossom’. These types of buildings, this theatre, play a unique role by defining the distinctive character of every individual neighborhood or community—-North Long Beach in this case."
Facebook page: http://tinyurl.com/yjzqg7t
What you can do to help: Write letters!
Letters of support for the adaptive reuse of the Atlantic Theater should be addressed to the Redevelopment Agency and Councilman Val Lerch from the 9th District, where the Atlantic Theater is located. Please request that staff distribute copies of your letter/email to the RDA Board.
Long Beach Redevelopment Agency
333 West Ocean Blvd.
3rd Floor
Long Beach CA 90802
Phone: (562) 570 – 6615
Fax: (562) 570 – 6215
Val Lerch 9th District Council Member
Letters: Val Lerch, Vice Chair City Council
333 Ocean, 14th Floor
Long Beach , CA 90802
E-mails:
Even though the Atlantic Theater (5870 Atlantic Avenue) is eligible as a city and state landmark and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and even though the EIR on the project declares adaptive reuse of the theater as a viable, and in some respects, preferable option, the City and the developer support a development alternative that would result in the theater’s demolition.
Keeping this landmark structure will enable this North Long Beach neighborhood to use its architecture and history as a unifying theme for economic and civic revitalization. Many cities across the nation are fostering civic and neighborhood pride by utlizing that unique sense of identity based on the city’s historic built environment.
Please help and write a letter or email! Meeting is on Dec. 7th 2009. I will repost as soon as we know more about what will happen next.
The Address listed is all wrong but since it’s gone I guess it doesn’t matter. It was at the corner of Carson and Nores Way, Lakewood CA.
http://www.yesterdayla.com/Graphics/lakewood2.jpg
View link
View link
(I can see my house in that last one)
View link
View link
View link
View link
View link
and what they wanted it to look like (which would have been nicer):
View link
View link
They are meeting gin about the Golden Gate Theater so there is still time to get letter written. The Commission is not very happy to alter the interior of the theater BUT would rather do that then see it sit empty for more years to come. We at the LAHTF hope the owner will get a renter in there that will turn in back into a theater again not a CSV. More info View link
Please write to and we will take your letters to the Planning Commission personally on Nov. 4th.
My father worked there as a teenager so I grow up with many stories about the place but never got to go myself. It was a church by the time I was around then empty for to many years.