While the paint on it’s exterior may be peeling, the Rialto Theater remains the jewel of South Pasadena. The lobby is as elegant today as ever, although the auditorium itself could use some work.
The Warner Theater in Huntington Park still stands proudly along Pacific Boulevard, the crown jewel of a mostly Art Deco-Moderne style downtown that was built in the 1920’s and 1930’s and remains surprisingly intact. The City of Huntington Park is attempting to buy the theater from it’s present owner, with intentions of turning it into a playhouse or special event theater. In spite of the fact that it has been empty for years, the Warner is probably the handsomest still-standing former movie palace in Southern California.
My name is Larry, as a matter of fact, and I grew up at the corner of Columbus and Clark. But I think the Larry you’re referring to was Larry Babiak—at least I think his first name was Larry (it’s been a while!). The Babiaks moved in the early Sixties directly across Clark from my family, and Larry’s sister, Mary Jane (or M.J., as she goes by now) and her husband, Dan, still live in the house. Larry joined the Marines and became a chopper pilot right in the midst of the VietNam war, which wasn’t very good timing. He was killed in a chopper crash, and of course the whole neighborhood was in shock.
As for Burnett, I knew (and still am friends with) the Hishes at 5401, who lived back-to-back with our family. Carol, who still lives there, was my Mom’s best friend for 56 years. I also remember the Himilfarbs, the Brooks family, the Bornsteins, and the Hershausers (if I got that right). Ring any bells?
Now, the question is, what’s your real name? Rather than take up any more of Cinema Treasure’s precious space, why not drop me a line at
Looking forward to hearing from you.
By the way, do you remember Maria’s corn stand on Sepulveda? How about Hody’s Drive In at Ventura and Sepulveda?
As a kid growing up in the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks area, my family loaded into our 1954 Olds, and later on our 1961 Pontiac Catalina station wagon (does anyone remember station wagons?) dozens of times and spent Saturday evenings at this wonderful old drive in. I remember well my brother and I always had to ride on that carousel-type-thing that went around in circles, and I usually spent the first feature feeling slightly nautious from riding that thing right after dinner. Kids jumped on and off freely, and if someone got bruised a little they didn’t sue the owners. Of course, we also attended the Victory Drive In and the Sepulveda Drive In, closer to home, but the Van Nuys on Roscoe was the cream of the crop.
I rememember the Fox Van Nuys well, along with the other local area theaters—the Capri, the Rivoli, and the Panorama on Van Nuys Boulevard, and the Sherman, the La Reina, the Encino, and to the east, the Studio City Theater, all of course located on Ventura Boulevard. But doesn’t anyone else remember the Rivoli? About a year ago, I made the only Cinema Treasures entry for the Rivoli Theater. Granted, it was no La Reina, but it had wonderful neon and terrazo floors and all the things that we all miss so much.
I also grew up in the Fifties, specifically on the border of Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks (in fact, we just sold my folks home at 5400 Columbus after my Mom passed away—we owned that home for 56 years). I attended Kester back when it was just an ordinary school, along with Van Nuys Junior and Senior High Schools. I ate at the Big Donut Drive In at Kester and Sherman Way, mentioned above, enough times to get fat, and my family attended the wonderful Van Nuys Drive-In, the Victory Drive In, and the not-so-wonderful Sepulveda Drive In, which is now the huge park and ride lot for the new Metro Orange Line busses, the World’s slowest rapid transit line. And I ate at Chris and Pitts on Victory dozens of times,although there was a much better restaurant on Victory a bit further east called Ludlow’s, which was the best place to eat in the Valley.
I live in Burbank now, but still totally relate to Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks, having spent so much time there. And, by the way, I remember cruising on Van Nuys Boulevard on Wednesday nights and stopping in at Bob’s late at night like it was yesterday.
The Moorish-style Theatre on High Street is still standing proudly in Moorpark’s wonderful “Old West” downtown. I hope the folks who live there appreciate what they’ve got—for this little gem is not a simulation, but the real thing. Will send a digital photo as soon as Cinema Treasures is able to accept photos again.
After eating lunch across the street at Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria (an amazing survivor of a more gracious era in Los Angeles history) the other day, I walked over to look at the State Theater. Of all the movie palaces on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, this one may have the least impressive exterior, but a visit inside of what is now used as a church reveals hidden treasure. The interior is still incredibly ornate, and is surprisingly well-preserved.
And the folks there are friendly, particularly if you can manage at least a little broken Spanish, as I did to gain entry.
While the paint on it’s exterior may be peeling, the Rialto Theater remains the jewel of South Pasadena. The lobby is as elegant today as ever, although the auditorium itself could use some work.
The Warner Theater in Huntington Park still stands proudly along Pacific Boulevard, the crown jewel of a mostly Art Deco-Moderne style downtown that was built in the 1920’s and 1930’s and remains surprisingly intact. The City of Huntington Park is attempting to buy the theater from it’s present owner, with intentions of turning it into a playhouse or special event theater. In spite of the fact that it has been empty for years, the Warner is probably the handsomest still-standing former movie palace in Southern California.
Hi, SalvageSailor,
My name is Larry, as a matter of fact, and I grew up at the corner of Columbus and Clark. But I think the Larry you’re referring to was Larry Babiak—at least I think his first name was Larry (it’s been a while!). The Babiaks moved in the early Sixties directly across Clark from my family, and Larry’s sister, Mary Jane (or M.J., as she goes by now) and her husband, Dan, still live in the house. Larry joined the Marines and became a chopper pilot right in the midst of the VietNam war, which wasn’t very good timing. He was killed in a chopper crash, and of course the whole neighborhood was in shock.
As for Burnett, I knew (and still am friends with) the Hishes at 5401, who lived back-to-back with our family. Carol, who still lives there, was my Mom’s best friend for 56 years. I also remember the Himilfarbs, the Brooks family, the Bornsteins, and the Hershausers (if I got that right). Ring any bells?
Now, the question is, what’s your real name? Rather than take up any more of Cinema Treasure’s precious space, why not drop me a line at
Looking forward to hearing from you.
By the way, do you remember Maria’s corn stand on Sepulveda? How about Hody’s Drive In at Ventura and Sepulveda?
As a kid growing up in the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks area, my family loaded into our 1954 Olds, and later on our 1961 Pontiac Catalina station wagon (does anyone remember station wagons?) dozens of times and spent Saturday evenings at this wonderful old drive in. I remember well my brother and I always had to ride on that carousel-type-thing that went around in circles, and I usually spent the first feature feeling slightly nautious from riding that thing right after dinner. Kids jumped on and off freely, and if someone got bruised a little they didn’t sue the owners. Of course, we also attended the Victory Drive In and the Sepulveda Drive In, closer to home, but the Van Nuys on Roscoe was the cream of the crop.
I rememember the Fox Van Nuys well, along with the other local area theaters—the Capri, the Rivoli, and the Panorama on Van Nuys Boulevard, and the Sherman, the La Reina, the Encino, and to the east, the Studio City Theater, all of course located on Ventura Boulevard. But doesn’t anyone else remember the Rivoli? About a year ago, I made the only Cinema Treasures entry for the Rivoli Theater. Granted, it was no La Reina, but it had wonderful neon and terrazo floors and all the things that we all miss so much.
I also grew up in the Fifties, specifically on the border of Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks (in fact, we just sold my folks home at 5400 Columbus after my Mom passed away—we owned that home for 56 years). I attended Kester back when it was just an ordinary school, along with Van Nuys Junior and Senior High Schools. I ate at the Big Donut Drive In at Kester and Sherman Way, mentioned above, enough times to get fat, and my family attended the wonderful Van Nuys Drive-In, the Victory Drive In, and the not-so-wonderful Sepulveda Drive In, which is now the huge park and ride lot for the new Metro Orange Line busses, the World’s slowest rapid transit line. And I ate at Chris and Pitts on Victory dozens of times,although there was a much better restaurant on Victory a bit further east called Ludlow’s, which was the best place to eat in the Valley.
I live in Burbank now, but still totally relate to Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks, having spent so much time there. And, by the way, I remember cruising on Van Nuys Boulevard on Wednesday nights and stopping in at Bob’s late at night like it was yesterday.
The Moorish-style Theatre on High Street is still standing proudly in Moorpark’s wonderful “Old West” downtown. I hope the folks who live there appreciate what they’ve got—for this little gem is not a simulation, but the real thing. Will send a digital photo as soon as Cinema Treasures is able to accept photos again.
After eating lunch across the street at Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria (an amazing survivor of a more gracious era in Los Angeles history) the other day, I walked over to look at the State Theater. Of all the movie palaces on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, this one may have the least impressive exterior, but a visit inside of what is now used as a church reveals hidden treasure. The interior is still incredibly ornate, and is surprisingly well-preserved.
And the folks there are friendly, particularly if you can manage at least a little broken Spanish, as I did to gain entry.