California 3 Theatre
6528 Pacific Boulevard,
Huntington Park,
CA
90255
6528 Pacific Boulevard,
Huntington Park,
CA
90255
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The building had a fire on 2/24/20, which appears in the Google current street view. The Los Angeles Theatres blogspot website has additional vintage photos and of the fire, but it won’t link here because CT reads it as Spam.
This reopened with 3 screens on September 1st, 1976.
Oh, I should say that it was a single theater with a very large balcony. After the remodeling project it became a typical Fox designed theatre. A very large stage. We changed into our work uniforms downstairs under the stage which had a large hallway with dressing rooms.
I was a doorman at this theater in 1951. Mr. Bradley was the manager and his daughter ran the candy counter. It was in the process of being remodeled. Up the street was the Warner’s theater.
well my daddys office is located in the building and its still intact =–)
The site should add to the aka California 3 Theatre since it operated and advertised under that name.
Here is a 1983 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d4zjw3
If they’ve altered signage while the place is closed, that suggests a possible re-opening, doesn’t it? Otherwise, why bother making the change?
The county assessor’s office treats this as 6524 S.Pacific, but it’s definitely the same property. The year of construction was 1925, which matches with the item in Southwest Builder & Contractor issue of January 4, 1924, which said that architects Arthur George Lindley and Charles R. Selkirk were preparing plans for the theatre.
Lindley & Selkirk were best known for designing churches, but there are two other theatres which can be attributed to them. They did the original Egyptian-style design for the Alexander Theatre in Glendale, and they were the architects of the Glendale Masonic Temple, which includes the Temple Theatre. Not a bad résumé.
I drove by there last week, and the sign says California 2 Theatres. I guess they lost a screen sometime in the past few months.
I agree.
Here is a June 2007 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2huvga
You may be right. I saw some similarities to the California in the closest building to to the right, but I’m no architectural expert.
I see no theatre in the picture. The main building has no theatre marquee or signage. The Park Theatre would be just north of the California, by a few stores if it was in the picture.
I was asking if that was the Park, looking north on Pacific. I don’t know if it’s the Park or the California.
Where is the Park Theatre in this picture? The would be a middle sized theatre (700 seats).
This appears to be the theater in 1925, but I am not 100% due to some differences in the architecture. LAPL says it’s Pacific Boulevard in HP. It might be the old Park:
http://jpg2.lapl.org/pics31/00050189.jpg
6528 Pacific is the correct address. I was there yesterday. The theater is closed and is available for lease. The marquee has also been removed. I took some photos which I will post later.
Advertised at 6528 Pacific in September 1974, per the LA Times. Features that day were “Macon County Line” and “Screaming Tiger”.
Today I toured the California Theatre as part of a fire department preplan. The structure is undergoing a transformation to be used for retail purposes. Plans call for most of the theatre to be sealed off and a level floor installed where once were mounted the main assembly area seating. There is still much to marvel at throughout the structure. I really do not think the current plans have much chance of success. Does anyone know when the theatre was constructed and if it has any “twin”? Thanks. Paul
I lived in Maywood and would often go to the California theatre on Pacific Blvd. It brings back such good memories. I also went to the Warner and the Alcazar in Bell.When I visit L.A. I always make it a point to go to pacific blvd just to see the theatres.
Here is an expanded version of the photo above, from the LA Library:
http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics35/00037266.jpg
The Lyric Theatre was part of the Fox West Coast chain at one time. I have a 1947 Los Angeles Examiner which lists it under Fox Theatres
Sorry about this one William. I started going to the theatres in Huntington Park in l952. The Lyric was never a part of the Fox chain of movie houses. I remember the Lyric as being some what of a run down house showing re-released films on the bubble bill. High Noon & Shane l956 just before both films went to t.v. I remember the Lyric haveing of all things, wood floors. I didn’t like going there at all. just to small of a theatre. Same for the New Park on Pacific Blvd.
The California Theatre was one of two Fox West Coast Theatres on Pacific Blvd in Huntington Park, the other being the Lyric. The California Theatre seated 1500 people.
I went to his theatre many times in the 50s & 60s. I also went to the New Park and the Warner, They were just down the street from one another. I remember the California closeing for a short time to install CinemaScope for “The Robe” in l953. The last time I went there was on New Years Eve l964. “Fate Is The Hunter” and “Good-bye Charle” This was a grand theatre.Huntington Park in the 50s & 60s was the place to go and see first run moies. I’m sorry to see what it has become.David Swain