I am very sad to learn that your sister died in 1990. Even though I didn’t know her well I do remember her at Montebello. And because over the years while occasionally browsing through my “archive” I would run into her Derrick Diary article and her picture, she has always been in some way a part of my life. So I am sad at your loss and, in my own way, my loss.
If you can’t find the article I have, I’ll be happy to email you an attachment of it if you give me your email address. Mine is
How funny about Anthony Loya Studio!
Best,
John Ferry
David Grissanti, are you related to Yvonne Grisanti (is she your sister?)? I graduated from Montebello in ‘66. I didn’t know Yvonne well but she wrote for the Derrick Diary and I was in the drama department; she gave me a “glowing” review for the yearly Drama Night. It meant a lot to me at the time. In fact I still have the clipping, which includes her picture.
If you are related, I hope she’s well.
My entry regarding the Golden Gate Theater is up above and starts with “In 1960-61 I lived on Luis Place…"
Luis Place, by the way, was close to where you lived. It was a small street one block up from Whitier Blvd. and behind the Anthony Loya Studio.
John Ferry
In 1960-61 I lived on Luis Place just a couple of blocks from the Golden Gate Theater. I was 13 at the time and I remember going to see movies there at least once a week. I have spent many a night there. This was, indeed, a truly magnificent theater! Around 1961-62 we moved to Montebello, but I still continued to frequent the Golden Gate. I now live in Santa Barbara, but just before the Whittier earthquate, (my timing may be off here) my wife and a friend of ours happened to be back in East LA and the theater was already shut down. However, the main entrace was open and we simply walked in. I wouldn’t normally do this, but it was too tempting. Once inside, we were met by some attendant who took pity on us and let us roam the theatre on our own. We went all over. the curtain to the procenium was open, leaving the screen fully exposed and I remember noticing not only how large the screen was, but how it’s size was so appropriate in relation to the dimentions of the house. It was a wonderful experience and a bit sad to see the this great movie house abandoned. My only regret was not having a camera with me!
The first movie I ever saw there was “The Rat Race,” followed by movies like “Psycho,” “Elmer Gantry,” “Birdman of Alkataraz,” a reissue of “On the Waterfront,” and “The Wild One” and so many more. Funny that I don’t recall the last film I ever saw there.
Apologies for going on and on, but stumbling on to this site compelled me to write this.
David Grisanti,
I am very sad to learn that your sister died in 1990. Even though I didn’t know her well I do remember her at Montebello. And because over the years while occasionally browsing through my “archive” I would run into her Derrick Diary article and her picture, she has always been in some way a part of my life. So I am sad at your loss and, in my own way, my loss.
If you can’t find the article I have, I’ll be happy to email you an attachment of it if you give me your email address. Mine is
How funny about Anthony Loya Studio!
Best,
John Ferry
David Grissanti, are you related to Yvonne Grisanti (is she your sister?)? I graduated from Montebello in ‘66. I didn’t know Yvonne well but she wrote for the Derrick Diary and I was in the drama department; she gave me a “glowing” review for the yearly Drama Night. It meant a lot to me at the time. In fact I still have the clipping, which includes her picture.
If you are related, I hope she’s well.
My entry regarding the Golden Gate Theater is up above and starts with “In 1960-61 I lived on Luis Place…"
Luis Place, by the way, was close to where you lived. It was a small street one block up from Whitier Blvd. and behind the Anthony Loya Studio.
John Ferry
In 1960-61 I lived on Luis Place just a couple of blocks from the Golden Gate Theater. I was 13 at the time and I remember going to see movies there at least once a week. I have spent many a night there. This was, indeed, a truly magnificent theater! Around 1961-62 we moved to Montebello, but I still continued to frequent the Golden Gate. I now live in Santa Barbara, but just before the Whittier earthquate, (my timing may be off here) my wife and a friend of ours happened to be back in East LA and the theater was already shut down. However, the main entrace was open and we simply walked in. I wouldn’t normally do this, but it was too tempting. Once inside, we were met by some attendant who took pity on us and let us roam the theatre on our own. We went all over. the curtain to the procenium was open, leaving the screen fully exposed and I remember noticing not only how large the screen was, but how it’s size was so appropriate in relation to the dimentions of the house. It was a wonderful experience and a bit sad to see the this great movie house abandoned. My only regret was not having a camera with me!
The first movie I ever saw there was “The Rat Race,” followed by movies like “Psycho,” “Elmer Gantry,” “Birdman of Alkataraz,” a reissue of “On the Waterfront,” and “The Wild One” and so many more. Funny that I don’t recall the last film I ever saw there.
Apologies for going on and on, but stumbling on to this site compelled me to write this.