Hi everyone, There will be a meeting tomorrow night 1-6-09 at the Downey City Library to here public input on what should be done with the old Avenue Theater site. Here is the link to the Downey Patriot with all the info. Hope to see some of you there.
I have recently bee by the Avenue Theater and with a chipping away of little plaster around the front of the theater you an see the original brick. The theater is also for sale.
From what I remember back in the mid 1980’s the entrance was where the fabric store is today. It looked like it was a free standing building along with the bank.
This was a hand written copy of the news paper release. It was hard to read, so I put it together the best I could.
“Theatre Plans Being Drawn” Downey Champion 10-9-1919 P. 1
The Dual Lane lot on Crawford St. immediately S. of the Hotel Bldg. was purchased this week by Hogan Willford as a site for the new theatre building…. Architect Whittley … The building will be of brick and will contain 2 small offices in front with a wide lobby in the center leading to the theatre intrance…. will occupy approx. 100' and in the rear a room will be partitioned off for a wareroom. (This lot was formerly vacant)
I was looking at some old photographs and from what I can tell the Downey Theatre became the Victory and then the Avenue. The El Teatro was a completly different theatre.
I remember back in the 80’s when they demolished the theatre. My dad took me and my brother by to see it. The huge 50’s neon sign was torn off and you could see all the beautiful brickwork from the 20’s. A few days later my dad took us by again and it was all bashed in. What a waste.
I just read in the paper a few weeks ago that the Fox has been saved. I have only seen this theatre from the outside. It looks like very cool. Good job on raising the funds for restoration.
The Only Theater that I know of on Third St would be the Kirkorian it is a new theater built about 5 years ago. I have never heard of a theater on Paramount Blvd. I have heard of plan to convert the Avenue into a bistro along with a banquet room in the old auditorium. I would rather see it restored myself.
I live in Downey and as far as I know there were actually three theaters on Downey Ave. The El Teatro (Im not sure of the spelling) The Avenue, and The Merelta. They were built between the late teens or twenties. The Downey Historical Society has information and photographs of them at their Museum located at Imperial Hwy and Rives Ave. In Apollo Park. At one time they all had brick fronts. Only the Avenue remains, However the El Teatro building is still their and is now Popcorn Video.
Hi everyone, There will be a meeting tomorrow night 1-6-09 at the Downey City Library to here public input on what should be done with the old Avenue Theater site. Here is the link to the Downey Patriot with all the info. Hope to see some of you there.
View link
Bob, I have pictures of old Stonewood posted at flickr.com search Downey, California
Wow! That is an awesome old theater! My Grandfather was there for the grand opening.
I have recently bee by the Avenue Theater and with a chipping away of little plaster around the front of the theater you an see the original brick. The theater is also for sale.
Hey Bob,
If you are around you can contact me at www.downeyhistoricalsociety.org
From what I remember back in the mid 1980’s the entrance was where the fabric store is today. It looked like it was a free standing building along with the bank.
This was a hand written copy of the news paper release. It was hard to read, so I put it together the best I could.
“Theatre Plans Being Drawn” Downey Champion 10-9-1919 P. 1
The Dual Lane lot on Crawford St. immediately S. of the Hotel Bldg. was purchased this week by Hogan Willford as a site for the new theatre building…. Architect Whittley … The building will be of brick and will contain 2 small offices in front with a wide lobby in the center leading to the theatre intrance…. will occupy approx. 100' and in the rear a room will be partitioned off for a wareroom. (This lot was formerly vacant)
I was looking at some old photographs and from what I can tell the Downey Theatre became the Victory and then the Avenue. The El Teatro was a completly different theatre.
I remember back in the 80’s when they demolished the theatre. My dad took me and my brother by to see it. The huge 50’s neon sign was torn off and you could see all the beautiful brickwork from the 20’s. A few days later my dad took us by again and it was all bashed in. What a waste.
I just went by the theatre today. I have never seen it before, but I thought wow what a cool looking place. It must have been something in its day.
I just read in the paper a few weeks ago that the Fox has been saved. I have only seen this theatre from the outside. It looks like very cool. Good job on raising the funds for restoration.
The Only Theater that I know of on Third St would be the Kirkorian it is a new theater built about 5 years ago. I have never heard of a theater on Paramount Blvd. I have heard of plan to convert the Avenue into a bistro along with a banquet room in the old auditorium. I would rather see it restored myself.
I live in Downey and as far as I know there were actually three theaters on Downey Ave. The El Teatro (Im not sure of the spelling) The Avenue, and The Merelta. They were built between the late teens or twenties. The Downey Historical Society has information and photographs of them at their Museum located at Imperial Hwy and Rives Ave. In Apollo Park. At one time they all had brick fronts. Only the Avenue remains, However the El Teatro building is still their and is now Popcorn Video.