Magnolia Theatre

I was an usher at the Magnolia for a couple years while I was in high school. Eventually became assistant manager until I went off to college in 1962. The owner/manager, Jack Grossman, was a good friend of my father, who worked for Columbia Pictures. It was a beautifully run and maintained neighborhood theatre, down to the smallest detail, including excellent sound and projection. A large curved screen was installed while I was working there. The projectionist was fastidious about keeping the picture in focus, an art that seems to have been lost in subsequent decades.

Grew up a couple of blocks from this theater. Only have two specific memories:

1) Seeing “Dr. Strangelove” with my Dad (this would have been during it’s original release), and us being the only two people in the theater laughing.

2) Seeing some cheesy Matt Helm double bill during my early adolescence.

I’d love to have someone set up a tour for theater enthusiasts. I’ve always been curious what the inside looks like (I know it was converted to a recording studio), and what theater features might still exist.

Roy,

This is Virgil. I’m sure you remember me? Did you stay in contact with Ron and if so, where is he at these days.

Virgil

Shawn (Juronimoo), what can you tell us about the building since you’ve acquired it? I have to assume that the floor is leveled and there’s little left to suggest it had been a theatre, but are there any artifacts left? Wall hangings, light fixtures, sconces, anything?

Roy,

I was inquiring about the items that you have for the Magnolia Theatre. I am the new owner of it and would be interested in the items that you have. Could you please contact me at . Thank you…. Shawn

P.S. If anyone has any great pictures of this theatre I would be interested in purchasing those as well…..

I posted back in 2008 that I have the original box office plate glass, four sides, with art deco scrolls from this theatre. I’ve been considering donating the the Burbank historical society, but if someone is interested in making me an offer, contact me. I also have an original art deco mirror from the lobby.

The Magnolia Theater appears in this YouTube clip of an episode of “Electrawoman and Dyna Girl”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PAgr36Fg5o

-DB: That photo has been posted at Cinema Treasures before, but I can’t remember which page it was on. I don’t think anybody was able to identify the theater.

Here is a link to the California Index card citing the May 17, 1940, Southwest Builder & Contractor article identifying Clifford Balch as the architect of the new theater to be built at the northwest corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Valley Street. It’s misidentified as the Major Theatre in the caption, but that is the location of the Magnolia Theatre.

Here is the other photo. I forgot that I took two.
http://tinyurl.com/ykqa3wl

The L.A. County Tax Assessor lists the address as 4403 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505

Thanks Lost memory for the photo of the Magnolia. I always wondered where the original box office had been. When I worked there from 74 to 1979 you could see in the terrazzo floor a shape that seem to indicate the BO was in the center of the entry way but no one who worked there then knew for sure. BTW, the theatre did not close due to lack of patrons as posted by GerryC above. The old man who ran the Magnolia and its sister theatre in Van Nuys called the Airport, lost his lease to the Magnolia from the family who owned the property. They decided in 1979 to sell. We heard even back then that Striesand was was the buyer and the building was to be converted to a recording studio. I found that ironic as I has seen numerous showing of her version of A Star is Born at the Mag. I believe that she and/or other investors were the original buyers as we learned when the studio was first completed it was called Evergreen. man, I sure miss those days!