Art Theatre
2025 E. 4th Street,
Long Beach,
CA
90814
2025 E. 4th Street,
Long Beach,
CA
90814
21 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Art Theatre -- Long Beach (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Robert C. Aldrich, Hugh Gibbs
Firms: Schilling & Schilling
Functions: Movies (Foreign), Movies (Independent)
Styles: Spanish Colonial, Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Carter Theater, Lee Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
562.438.5435
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 22, 2008 — Art Theatre re-opening August 15th
- Mar 7, 2008 — Art Theatre to come back even greater
- Sep 22, 2006 — Art Theatre Update
- Sep 5, 2006 — Queen Mary to show Rocky Horror
- Jul 28, 2006 — Art Theatre in Long Beach Changing Hands
- Nov 18, 2004 — The Long Beach Area's Last Remaining Seats
Originally the Carter Theater which opened on January 22, 1925 with Priscilla Dean in “The Siren of Seville”. It had 636-seats and the theatre was decorated in a Spanish style and equipped with a Style D Wurlitzer pipe organ.
Remodeled into an Art Deco style by the architectural firm Schilling & Schilling in 1934 it was renamed Lee Theatre, operating until 1947, when after further remodeling to the plans of architect Hugh Gibbs, it was renamed Art Theatre. This classic art house cinema was going strong for many years.
The Art Theatre closed on March 8, 2008 and was renovated, reopening on August 22, 2008 with a reduced seating capacity for 360-seats.
Contributed by
George Haider
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Recent comments (view all 53 comments)
Nice photos.
Night photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y4ndk3f
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/y2nbx55
That “Recent exterior view” at the top of the page isn’t so recent anymore… ;–)
Hey, major congratulations to the Art’s 2nd anniversary (since re-opening). This place has really grown to be a centerpiece of Retro Row…I couldn’t imagine Long Beach without the Art!
I visited this theater today and liked it very much. It even has a curtain, which is rare these days. My only complaint is that the picture was very dark. It looked like the xenon bulb had seen better days. The movie I saw today was flat, and it took up the entire screen. How do they present a scope picture? Is it in the same aspect ratio as the flat picture, or do they have a top masking that can be lowered?
This was renamed Art on January 15th, 1949. I uploaded its first ad in the photo section.
Opened as Carter on January 22nd, 1925. Grand opening ad posted.
Original architect was Robert C. Aldrich in 1924/5 who described the venue as a Spanish architectural theme with a sloped floor with six feet pitch for clear viewing angles. The Style D Wurlitzer organ was said to be the biggest in town.
Please update, total seats 360 as per the Art Theatre website