Bell Theatre
3934 Gage Avenue,
Bell,
CA
90201
3934 Gage Avenue,
Bell,
CA
90201
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The lot on which the Bell once sat is now a boatyard.
The Fox (Alpha) theater has been sold. New owner plans to convert it into a restaurant. More info on the Alpha Theater page.
cinematreasures.org/theater/1982
Besides the Bell, Valuskis presumably had his eponymous theater in Los Angeles as well as the Grand in Buena Park.
From the January 29, 1938, issue of Boxoffice Magazine: “The new Bell Theatre, recently completed by Frank Valuskus, was opened Sunday, January 23, with Mr. Valuskus in charge. The house will operate on the ten-cent break.”
(Note: The correct spelling of the owner’s name is Valuskis.)
This was not the Maybell Theatre. The Maybell became the Alpha Theatre.
No trace of the theater remains today.
The Maybell was advertised in the LA Times in 1924. No other theaters in Bell were listed. Presumably this is an aka for the Bell.
The LA Times reported that a fire swept the Bell Theater on September 14, 1944. Damage was $50,000.
The Bell Theatre was a cowboy heaven in the late 40’s and early 50’s, owned by Fox theatres. Policy was always 2 western features. It was the first theatre to close in the area. All the kids would bring there cowboy hats and cap guns. Changed movies twice a week. I saw Little Beaver (Bobby Blake) in person a special show. I believe the feature they show with it was “The Terror of Tiny Town” A western with all midgets. Was great fun going there
Was this also known as the Maybell Theatre at some point?
From what I’ve learned from people who lived in the bell area in the 40s & 50s is that the bell was knowed as the cowboy or western’s theatre. It’s where they went on Saturday’s & Sunday’s to watch B western movies that featured stars like Tim McCoy, Bob Steel, Gene Autry and a young John Wayne and other stars of the era. Just east of bell is the city of bell gardens that in the 40s & 50s was the home of live country music. It was the gathering place for country & western singers because it was very much accepted there. Many bell gardens people loved going to the bell theatre because for 25 or 35 cents they could watch movies all day long.My sister when there as a young girl but can’t remember just when the bell closed it’s doors. I just when through a telephone book from 1952 and the bell is listed. How I wish I could go there tonight, It’s now a parking lot! How’s the Joni Mitchell song go.
The Bell Theatre was located at 3934 E. Gage .