Tower Theatre
111 N. Long Beach Boulevard,
Compton,
CA
90221
111 N. Long Beach Boulevard,
Compton,
CA
90221
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox West Coast Theatres
Architects: Simeon Charles Lee
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
The 1935 Tower Theatre was a district 3 Fox house. It was still open in 1956.
In 2009, the building currently stands with a new row of storefronts built onto the front facade. Part of the original terrazzo sidewalk remains. The auditorium still sits vacant.
Contributed by
William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
No, that was in January 1959 but on a different week. The Rivoli ad for Lianne was much larger.
Here are some photos taken today:
http://tinyurl.com/mvypfv
http://tinyurl.com/nhnwzc
http://tinyurl.com/lfd2xa
I worked at the Tower Theater first as an usher and then as asst mgr from 1956 to 1961 when I joined the AF. Mr Rodriguez was the mgr and my boss. Kids used to call him “Porky” but he was really a first class guy.
Mike Harrell
How was the neighborhood back then?
neighborhood was great. Could walk anywhere in town at any time with no problem. I lived near Alondra and Atlantic, a pretty good hike from the theater, and before I got a car would walk to and from work. Most of the time it was 11 or 12 at night before I got off and never had any problem
Mike Harrell
Interesting. Thanks.
The new row of store fronts to the right side of the former marquee is where a small theatre parking lot once stood.
Compton in the early and mid 1960’s was a safe and wonderful place to live. The Tower Theater was the home of several top films, including BULLIT, OLD YELLER and HOW THE WEST WAS WON. There was a city bus that ran down Compton Blvd, and another bus that ran down Long Beach Blvd. I have many fond memories of Compton.
My Aunt and Uncle lived in Compton, at 715 Mayo St, from 1924 until 1988. In that time it went from a nice little community to a war zone. That said, I have fond memories of weekends spent in Compton with Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Irving. They would come in to Hollywood, in their red and white Buick, on Friday night and whisk me off to their magic house surrounded by giant trees. She was a lawyer and he was a judge and the house was filled with books and mementos of their trips to exotic places. We’d pass the Tower, and the people lined up beneath the brightly lit marquee, and I would know we were almost there.
Our family went to many a .50C on Saturday afternoon double feature. Yes, it was pretty safe and a decent community then. We also used to go to the Compton Drive-In, the Arden Theatre in Lynwood as well as the State theatre either in South Gate or Huntington Park. We left in 1965 as we lived pretty close to Alameda and it was pretty dangerous.