Thanks for the link Ken. Joe, I guess my memory wasn’t so bad after all. The 1952 aerial image of Western and Imperial avenues show the Rio very near the northwest corner of the intersection as well as Scrivner’s drive-in on the southwest corner. It looks just exactly as I remember it.
I think we’re missing the big picture here about digital cinema. We need to look ahead just a bit to the future. This is teething time for digital film. First, since the producers are totally paranoid about piracy, there will be no discs or other recorded media at an individual theater. The programs will be a heavily encrypted signal sent via fiber optic cable. Since this method offers huge bandwidths, it will allow for a very high resolution image. Problems such as pixilation and other projection errors will be solved by the advancing technology and will not be a problem. Secondly, the cinema technology is moving at such a rapid pace, 3D cinema will be a viable venue sooner than we think. 3D is one of the long term goals of producers to get audiences back into the theaters. No home theater system will be able to replicate the experience (at least in the foreseeable future) of a huge high resolution three dimensional image with extraordinary sound that a large theater / movie palace could provide.
The Fais-Do-Do website gallery has one black and white photo that shows what may be the remains of the proscenium from the original Variety Theater in the background.
I believe that “park” is actually the entrance to the Metro Red Line Hollywood station. You can see the escalator going down to the underground station in the aerial image. I have not been by that location in many months. They (Metro) may have sold the air rights above the station for development.
Ken, Glendale fire inspector John Orr was convicted of numerous arson fires in Glendale and surrounding areas in the middle 80’s. I wonder if the 1987 fire at the Montrose was part of his handywork?
My family moved to Inglewood in 1953 and I remember a small Army anti-aircraft installation just south of the Century Drive-in at the corner of 104th street and Yukon ave. There were several gun emplacements and bunkers. Being 7 years old at the time I was impressed by all the hardware. This facility was de-activated soon after and the land remained vacant for some time. I believe Morningside High School had already been built across 104th street. Needless to say the family took advantage of this great drive-in on many occasions.
Well Joe, I guess my memory is not that good. In my mind it seemed the place was closer to Imperial. I do remember (accurately I hope) a joke/magic/novelty store in the corner of the building that I, as a kid, found totally cool. I would love to see an image of the Rio as well as a photo of the Western/Imperial intersection from that era.
I saw several movies in this neighborhood house. It was a quonset hut style of architecture. Google Maps/Satellite shows a Burger King and parking lot occupying the spot where this theater was. It’s definitely history.
Am I the only one who gets the message “This image or video has been moved or deleted” when I click on the countless Photo Bucket links on this website?
As with DanW, I too long for the halcyon days of San Diego. I remember going to see “Earthquake” in “SenseSurround” at the Loma. There were subwoofers lined up all across the floor in front of the stage. The film ran for several weeks and I often wondered if there was any structural damage from all the low frequency vibration.
I lived behind the Food Giant market on the corner of Crenshaw and Imperial. I saw such gems as West Side Story and one of my noir favorites, Experiment in Terror there. In those days of my youth, I was fascinated by all things cinema along with theater arts at Morningside high school. I managed to make the acquaintance of the projectionist whose name was Clark. He let me watch as he made changeovers and we talked about projectors, sound systems and other theaters he had worked at. Does anyone know who the architect was? My memory is a bit fuzzy but I believe the interior was a maroon color with gray accents.
Thanks for the link Ken. Joe, I guess my memory wasn’t so bad after all. The 1952 aerial image of Western and Imperial avenues show the Rio very near the northwest corner of the intersection as well as Scrivner’s drive-in on the southwest corner. It looks just exactly as I remember it.
I think we’re missing the big picture here about digital cinema. We need to look ahead just a bit to the future. This is teething time for digital film. First, since the producers are totally paranoid about piracy, there will be no discs or other recorded media at an individual theater. The programs will be a heavily encrypted signal sent via fiber optic cable. Since this method offers huge bandwidths, it will allow for a very high resolution image. Problems such as pixilation and other projection errors will be solved by the advancing technology and will not be a problem. Secondly, the cinema technology is moving at such a rapid pace, 3D cinema will be a viable venue sooner than we think. 3D is one of the long term goals of producers to get audiences back into the theaters. No home theater system will be able to replicate the experience (at least in the foreseeable future) of a huge high resolution three dimensional image with extraordinary sound that a large theater / movie palace could provide.
The Fais-Do-Do website gallery has one black and white photo that shows what may be the remains of the proscenium from the original Variety Theater in the background.
I believe that “park” is actually the entrance to the Metro Red Line Hollywood station. You can see the escalator going down to the underground station in the aerial image. I have not been by that location in many months. They (Metro) may have sold the air rights above the station for development.
Still vacant with a for lease sign in the window.
Does anyone know the date it was demolished?
Ken, Glendale fire inspector John Orr was convicted of numerous arson fires in Glendale and surrounding areas in the middle 80’s. I wonder if the 1987 fire at the Montrose was part of his handywork?
My family moved to Inglewood in 1953 and I remember a small Army anti-aircraft installation just south of the Century Drive-in at the corner of 104th street and Yukon ave. There were several gun emplacements and bunkers. Being 7 years old at the time I was impressed by all the hardware. This facility was de-activated soon after and the land remained vacant for some time. I believe Morningside High School had already been built across 104th street. Needless to say the family took advantage of this great drive-in on many occasions.
Does any one know what happened to Phillip Bierley the manager of the El Rey in middle sixties?
Does any one know what happened to Phillip Bierley the manager of the Hermosa circa 1966-67?
The Southside theater on Vermont was also designed by Clarence J. Smale and appears to have strong similarities to the Rio. How similar were they?
Well Joe, I guess my memory is not that good. In my mind it seemed the place was closer to Imperial. I do remember (accurately I hope) a joke/magic/novelty store in the corner of the building that I, as a kid, found totally cool. I would love to see an image of the Rio as well as a photo of the Western/Imperial intersection from that era.
I saw several movies in this neighborhood house. It was a quonset hut style of architecture. Google Maps/Satellite shows a Burger King and parking lot occupying the spot where this theater was. It’s definitely history.
Could that radio station have been KBCA the famous early FM jazz station?
Am I the only one who gets the message “This image or video has been moved or deleted” when I click on the countless Photo Bucket links on this website?
As with DanW, I too long for the halcyon days of San Diego. I remember going to see “Earthquake” in “SenseSurround” at the Loma. There were subwoofers lined up all across the floor in front of the stage. The film ran for several weeks and I often wondered if there was any structural damage from all the low frequency vibration.
Patrick, my brother and I remember your father (and you) when we lived on Will Rogers street.
I lived behind the Food Giant market on the corner of Crenshaw and Imperial. I saw such gems as West Side Story and one of my noir favorites, Experiment in Terror there. In those days of my youth, I was fascinated by all things cinema along with theater arts at Morningside high school. I managed to make the acquaintance of the projectionist whose name was Clark. He let me watch as he made changeovers and we talked about projectors, sound systems and other theaters he had worked at. Does anyone know who the architect was? My memory is a bit fuzzy but I believe the interior was a maroon color with gray accents.