I would like to say that this is the Eureka Midway, but I can’t. In fact, I have no idea where this forlorn theater was located. If someone comes across this and recognizes it, let us know: http://tinyurl.com/34fg5b
“Two Minute Warning” was playing at the Studio in November 1976, according to an LA Times ad. You have to admire the casting in this film, which I remember fondly from the blimp crashing into the Rose Bowl (or possibly the Coliseum). In no particular order, the film starred Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam, Beau Bridges, Marilyn Hassett(?), David Janssen, Jack Klugman, Walter Pidgeon, Gena Rowlands, Brock Peters, David Groh (the husband on “Rhoda”), Anthony Davis (USC football star) and Joe Kapp (NFL quarterback). Probably worth renting for the cast alone.
An ad in the LA Times dated 1/26/30 mentions the Willowbrook Theater. It’s possible that this was another name for the Valuskis, but I can’t confirm based on the information available.
There’s another reference to the Merryland in 1930, per the LA Times, so it was probably the Merryland first, then changed to Columbia sometime in the thirties, and then lastly the unfortunately named Dorkel Theater, probably in the early forties.
There are several references to the Seville as a silent film theater in the twenties, but then nothing after that in the LA Times archives, excepting the story above. I don’t think the church on the property today was the original Seville.
The Clinton was showing a Charlie Chaplin double bill in November 1976, so there may have been a period where they were showing revival films or classics.
The indomitable Mrs. Robison won her lawsuit against some heavy hitters, according to this LA Times story dated 4/7/33:
Theater Owner Wins Film Suit
Inglewood Woman Awarded $35,336 Damages
Mrs. Fae Robison, erstwhile partner of the Seville motion picture theater in Inglewood, who used the provisions of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in a suit for damages against a number of motion picture producers, won a verdict for $35,336 damages and attorneys fees amounting to $3533. The suit was tried before United States District Court Judge Cosgrave.
Included in the list of defendants were First National Pictures, Inc, Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc, Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, Universal Film Exchange, Fox Film Corporation, Los Angeles Film Exchange Board of Trade and thirty two other film boards of trade.
The woman theater owner asserted in her complaint that the defendants entered into a conspiracy in December 1925 to place her Seville Theater in a second zone, subordinating her house to a nearby competitor, compelling her to exhibit second-run pictures instead of first-run which she had been displaying to her patrons. It was intimated that the defendants will take an appeal.
There has to be a limit on how many lofts you can put downtown and expect to be filled. I walked around for a while after I went to the library and saw that most of the buildings that I remember as vacant from the late nineties now converted to apartments. I also took a spin through the new Ralphs at 9th and Flower.
The Medallion will be facing Los Angeles Street, so the gentrification effort is apparently moving eastward. I believe the Westminster was torn down in the early 60s, so that parking lot has been there for a long time.
I would like to say that this is the Eureka Midway, but I can’t. In fact, I have no idea where this forlorn theater was located. If someone comes across this and recognizes it, let us know:
http://tinyurl.com/34fg5b
John Barrymore is at the top left. I don’t know who the man on the bottom left is.
“Two Minute Warning” was playing at the Studio in November 1976, according to an LA Times ad. You have to admire the casting in this film, which I remember fondly from the blimp crashing into the Rose Bowl (or possibly the Coliseum). In no particular order, the film starred Charlton Heston, John Cassavetes, Martin Balsam, Beau Bridges, Marilyn Hassett(?), David Janssen, Jack Klugman, Walter Pidgeon, Gena Rowlands, Brock Peters, David Groh (the husband on “Rhoda”), Anthony Davis (USC football star) and Joe Kapp (NFL quarterback). Probably worth renting for the cast alone.
Listed at 2500 E. Nutwood in a 2/29/76 LA Times ad. It was a GCC theater at that time. The feature was the Who’s “Tommy”.
There were attempts to turn the Hemet into a live theater venue in 2002, according to this article in the Press-Enterprise:
http://tinyurl.com/35797n
Note the admission price went up a dime from 1950 to 1960. No wonder Ike was re-elected.
An ad in the LA Times dated 1/26/30 mentions the Willowbrook Theater. It’s possible that this was another name for the Valuskis, but I can’t confirm based on the information available.
There’s another reference to the Merryland in 1930, per the LA Times, so it was probably the Merryland first, then changed to Columbia sometime in the thirties, and then lastly the unfortunately named Dorkel Theater, probably in the early forties.
There are several references to the Seville as a silent film theater in the twenties, but then nothing after that in the LA Times archives, excepting the story above. I don’t think the church on the property today was the original Seville.
The Clinton was showing a Charlie Chaplin double bill in November 1976, so there may have been a period where they were showing revival films or classics.
The indomitable Mrs. Robison won her lawsuit against some heavy hitters, according to this LA Times story dated 4/7/33:
Theater Owner Wins Film Suit
Inglewood Woman Awarded $35,336 Damages
Mrs. Fae Robison, erstwhile partner of the Seville motion picture theater in Inglewood, who used the provisions of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in a suit for damages against a number of motion picture producers, won a verdict for $35,336 damages and attorneys fees amounting to $3533. The suit was tried before United States District Court Judge Cosgrave.
Included in the list of defendants were First National Pictures, Inc, Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc, Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation, Universal Film Exchange, Fox Film Corporation, Los Angeles Film Exchange Board of Trade and thirty two other film boards of trade.
The woman theater owner asserted in her complaint that the defendants entered into a conspiracy in December 1925 to place her Seville Theater in a second zone, subordinating her house to a nearby competitor, compelling her to exhibit second-run pictures instead of first-run which she had been displaying to her patrons. It was intimated that the defendants will take an appeal.
Here is a 1949 photo from the LAPL:
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics12/00025723.jpg
How could I be right or wrong? I was surmising, not asserting that the GG was too big for a drug store. I object.
It seems kind of large for a drug store, though.
I guess a Walgreens is a “positive re-use”, depending on how much is left after the renovation. Better than demolition, anyway.
They were not very receptive when I was walking around with my camera. I think an arrangement would have to be made before I go back there again.
Here are some photos from the USC archive. Some were posted before, but the USC link has been changed:
http://tinyurl.com/2erugt
http://tinyurl.com/2yyxhy
http://tinyurl.com/2bu8w3
http://tinyurl.com/27gczv
http://tinyurl.com/28r4tg
http://tinyurl.com/yuarf3
You’re right. An incorrect assumption on my part based on faulty photo review. Apologies.
Here are three photos from the LA Library dated 1987, 1938 and 1925, respectively. The last shows the Granada in place of the Fox:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics43/00041301.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics20/00019999.jpg
http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics01/00020001.jpg
It looks like the church is moving out. The building is for sale.
There has to be a limit on how many lofts you can put downtown and expect to be filled. I walked around for a while after I went to the library and saw that most of the buildings that I remember as vacant from the late nineties now converted to apartments. I also took a spin through the new Ralphs at 9th and Flower.
Does it say “Everything Not Over a Dollar” on the marquee? I didn’t see that before. That’s a bit of a syntactical problem, I think.
The Medallion will be facing Los Angeles Street, so the gentrification effort is apparently moving eastward. I believe the Westminster was torn down in the early 60s, so that parking lot has been there for a long time.
Joe, any idea if that’s the theater building? There aren’t any photos of the theater in existence, as far as I know.
Here are some photos from August 2007:
http://tinyurl.com/2gd42h
http://tinyurl.com/25bd2l
http://tinyurl.com/29hwpy
http://tinyurl.com/2d5ez2
http://tinyurl.com/yuu3sq
http://tinyurl.com/22bx8v
http://tinyurl.com/2z873g
http://tinyurl.com/2gy8tu
http://tinyurl.com/2gc6wz
http://tinyurl.com/2y9bs3