United Artists Torrance Theatre
2735 Pacific Coast Highway,
Torrance,
CA
90505
2735 Pacific Coast Highway,
Torrance,
CA
90505
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Grand opening ads and picture uploaded.
I think it was called The Haystack. I was an assistant manager at that theater in the early 80s. Our midnight show was “Song Remains the Same” 1 of the movies we showed at that time was “Private Benjamin”
I think I experienced this one toward the end of its run, early 80’s. Distinctly remember seeing lots of movies there though, including Time Bandits, Mr. Mom, Superman III and Romancing the Stone. Also, does anyone remember a western-themed burger place somewhere nearby? I can’t figure out if I imagined that or not!
We had a year pass to UA theaters in the late 70s, and therefore spent a lot of time at this one and the UA Del Amo. I distinctly remember seeing MOONRAKER there.
I lived within a few blocks of the UA Torrance Theatre, at the time of the robbery-murders in the late 70s. Very sad and scary. Loved the Rolling Hills Plaza..The Parasol Restaurant, and Revel’s bakery..which I work a few weeks for, and found a higher paying job.
I went to a party in 1973 with my brother and my wife to be. It was being given by the man who turned the murderer of the Rolling Hills Theatre people as well as 2 more the very next night at the Thrifty drug store on Yukon in Torrance. the murderer committed suicide in jail. The informant was involved with 2 bikers being stabbed to death outside a bar in Hermosa earlier,The papers all implicated 2 people being involved with these murders but only one was accused of the crime. my personal involvement in this story always made me wonder about that 2nd suspect. By the way they were all killed by a knife by having their throats cut by the cowardly scum that did this
I worked at this theatre as a teenager up unitl the the last week. This was a truly great theatre with curtains that opened at the beginning of the movie, a balcony, and 600 or more seats. I loved working there and was sad when they closed it and demolished half of it. The last movie to play there was the “Untouchables”…it played there for almost three months.
Hi Kelley, I remember you. Local 150 used to send me there to work in projectionist Joe Gillams place many times. I worked there on and off in late 1975. Do you remember MASH, Bananas, Young Frankenstein and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest that was shown there during that time?
So many midnight movies. I remember the nurse on duty for those with weak hearts.
I worked at UA Torrance as the house manager under Al Lee from late 1975 to 1977.
Anyone at this sight from that time period?
The theater end of the structure was torn down in the late 80’s. As for the structure seen in the arial photo, I believe it was the northern end of the old theater building or directly adjacent to it and was renovated again recently to accomodate a spa and a couple of resturants.
I worked at the UA Torrance from 1973 to ‘75 or so. This was during the time of Rolling Hills Theater murders. I remember the projectionist Joe Gilliam, a really great guy to talk to after the last picture started and the lobby cleared. The manger was Al Lee and then later Mrs. Alvarez co-managed. Names that come to mind – Carol, Cydna, Tim, Craig, Bill.
The theater was a good showcase for wide screen films. The link to aerial photos provided by Jeff Arellano shows the remaining back half of the building. The front was the theater which was connected toan office complex. This I beleive is visible in the photos.
The UA theatre building was closer to PCH back in the 70’s when I worked there. At the time there was only room for a row of parked cars facing PCH and an access lane. This picture shows two rows of parked cars so this isn’t the same building unless someone moved it a few yards north.
I don’t think so. As I remember it the building was much closer to PCH.
Is this the UA Torrnace?
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I saw “Hey There, It’s Yogi Bear” as a child in 1964. In later years I worked the booth on and off in 1975 and 1976 when regular projectionist Joe Gillam took off. This theatre had a wide auditorium which made for great scope pictures. There was a stage under the screen. This theatre was equipped for 4-track magnetic sound.
The U.A. Torrance was located at 2735 Pacific Coast Highway, according to the theater listings in The Los Angeles Times of February 10th, 1971.