Roxy Cinema
417 1/2 N. Brand Boulevard,
Glendale,
CA
91203
417 1/2 N. Brand Boulevard,
Glendale,
CA
91203
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I saw Battlestar Galactica there in Sensurround (summer ‘79), Dark Crystal (opening night, 1982), Labyrinth (1986), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986).
After my research on newspapers.com, Roxy Theatre (known as Pacific’s Roxy) was closed on Monday, July 31, 1995. Last films as clipped from Sunday, July 30th were a double feature, “Congo” and “Braveheart”.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95458091/last-films-playing-at-pacifics-roxy-in/
From my mistake a long time ago, it didn’t closed on August 10, 1995.
Beyond the Stars Palace shut down in 2015.
It is now a banquet hall called Stars on Brand.
“The Rocketeer” was presented here (when it was Pacific’s Roxy) in 35mm Dolby Stereo beginning on Friday June 21, 1991.
Great work on the Majestic, Joe! You’ve found another one!
Thanks for the information on the Majestic, Bill. A card in the L.A. Library’s California Index says that the Majestic was designed by architect Paul V. Tuttle. (He also designed Glendale’s Carnegie Library, opened in 1914 and demolished in 1977.)
The L.A. County Assessor’s office lists a big lot at the northwest corner of Broadway and Maryland with three buildings on it, one of which was built in 1912, with an effective construction date of 1970. The other two date from 1921 and 1990, but all three have been remodeled to have a unified facade style. The 1912/1970 structure has 13,110 square feet. The Majestic’s building was 70x94 feet, according to the California Index entry, which would give it about 6,580 feet on each floor, or a bit over 13,000 square feet. The current address 115 E. Broadway is in that building, which, judging from Google’s satellite view, has a frontage of about 94 feet on Broadway and is about 70 feet deep. I’m pretty sure this is the Majestic’s building, still standing, but altered beyond recognition.
I think you must be right about the name Lincoln being an AKA for the Palace Grand. I’ll leave a comment on Cinema Treasures' Palace Grand page, noting this new AKA.
The Majestic Theatre —
Here’s the word from George Ellison at the Glendale Public Library:
“The Majestic Theatre only appears in two Glendale City Directories. They are 1913-1914 and 1915-1916. The address was 1105 West Broadway. The 1917 Directory has two other businesses at that address. They did not move to another Glendale address. After the 1918 renumbering it became 115 East Broadway.”
Hi, Joe —
I live in Sacramento so I’m limited to what resources the State Library has. Which in city directories for Glendale means only back to 1930 — and nothing in that one for the Lincoln.
I did find a hit in the 1928 Los Angeles phone book (which has an alphabetical Glendale section at the rear). Lincoln is listed as at 129 N. Brand. I’m going to be reckless and say it’s a last fling AKA for the Palace Grand (usually listed as 131 N. Brand). Nothing in the 29 phone book for it.
State Library is missing the 1912 and 1913 LA phonebooks. Couldn’t find the Majestic in 1914. But perhaps either the theatre had vanished or listing was under the owner’s name. These LA phonebooks have a classified for LA but not for the Glendale or other out of town exchanges.
I sent an e-mail to Glendale research wizard George Ellison at the Glendale Library. He’s the one who came up with addresses for me for the 1910 Glendale Theatre.
See my Glendale Theatres page for info on that one — also not on CT yet I believe. I’ll let you know any news. Best Wishes!
The name on the theater’s marquee is “Beyond the Stars Palace.” Googling that full name you can find the theater’s official web site.
The Los Angeles County assessor’s office gives the construction date of the building on this parcel as 1938.
BillCounter: If you still have access to any old Glendale city directories, could you look up two theaters that appear to be missing from the Cinema Treasures database? There was a Lincoln Theatre, mentioned in Exhibitor’s Herald & Moving Picture World of June 2, 1928, and the Majestic Theatre, which was to be opened on February 3, 1912, according to the January 21, 1912, issue of the Glendale News. The Majestic was located on 4th Street (since renamed Broadway) east of Brand.
Wow Thanks for putting up the picture I worked at the ROXY from 83 – 88 In 83 it was called SRO ROXY (Sterling Recreation Organization) then in Pacific Theatre took over Last time I seen it was a heart break It had been changed over to this star place I got to see all the changes,but I impressed the manager when as we were walking through I could discribe all the old stuff that was in it He knew then that I had indeed worked there Lots of fond memories in the old Roxy The picture brings them all back even if it was before I started working there I miss her She was like a second home to me I still got our troupy we won as SRO I was the last SRO employee there The whole place changed when Pacific took over Most left because it wasn’t the fun place to work like it had been under SRO Again “Thanks” for putting up this picture We had one manager “Ray Wright” who had lots of inside & outside pictures of the Roxy during the mid-80’s,but I think he died in the 90’s & all those pictures are all gone I might have a few,but nothing like he had
Perhaps that “1945” opening date at the top should be revised. It’s in the 1939 Glendale city directory.
Here is one from 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/yehwo8n
Here is a 1981 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/ycwqsvl
Actually, let me check it out in person to double-check, but I’m pretty sure it’s leveled. But I’m certain the address is wrong. Anything north of Broadway is North Brand.
Also, the address is wrong. It’s NORTH Brand, not South Brand. And it is definitely not live stage entertainment, unless you hire a band for your event. The floor is leveled.
Is it a live theater? It seems to just be a rental hall.
Shouldn’t this theatre be listed as the Roxy Theatre, rather than Star’s Palace?
cvcv
Here are some photos taken a few days ago:
http://tinyurl.com/dbe6at
http://tinyurl.com/coow8f
http://tinyurl.com/cu6y5t
Here is a 1984 photo:
http://snipurl.com/gk70h
From my February/March 1981 SRO Spotlite newsletter:
by Patrick Lancaster, Assistant Manager, Roxy Theatre
The magic of movies… it has lured many a youngster into its grasp. But when it captured the heart of 15-year-old Jim Richardson in 1914, it never let go.
At 81 years old, Mr. Richardson can still be found behind the doorman’s podium every Friday and Saturday night ready to do what he loves most: work at SRO’s Roxy Theatre in Glendale.
He has served 65 years in the theatre business, starting as an usher at Glendale’s first real movie house, the Palace Grand in 1915. He has worked at more than ten different theatres in his career.
Having worked in more theatre chains than he can remember, Mr. Richardson rates Sterling as one of the best. “SRO is very organized and efficient. It is a very well run company,” he said.
Mr. Richardson retired from theatre life in 1964, but it didn’t take long for one of the local theatre managers to realize that he couldn’t get along without him. In 1967, he was hired as assistant manager at the Roxy Theatre, which at the time was privately owned, and he adds, “I’ve been there ever since.”
“Carl Meeker was manager of the Roxy at the time, and it was he who asked me to come back,” Mr. Richardson said. Since that time, Mr. Meeker retired, and a series of managers followed.
The faces at the Roxy may have changed over the years, but the kind-hearted soul ready to tear tickets at the door remains the same. During the summer, Mr. Richardson made it a family affair when his 16-year-old grandson Art was hired to work at the theatre.
For the past 13 years, the Roxy has had Jim Richardson, and he’s likely to be there for some time to come.
“I have never felt happier working any place else,” he said. Being at the Roxy is really wonderful."
He adds, “I’ll be here as long as I’m needed… maybe, ‘til I’m 100!”
From the same 1979 SRO Spoltlite:
by Diana S. Nilsson
When “Battlestar Galactica” opened some unusual things began happening at the Roxy Theatre in Glendale, California. The Roxy was shaken by sensurround daily, was visited by a cyclone warrior and friends, and we had our first experience with selling movie related paraphenalia.
When we ran our pre-opening ad for “Battlestar Galactica”, six college students had made uniforms that were replicas of the ones in the feature film. Wearing these, they came to the opening where two characters from the film, Imperious Leader and Lucifer, went down into the darkened auditorium during the intermission for a greater lighting effect.
We sold posters, jewelry, and transfers related to “Battlestar Galactica”. The sensurround was a success, as was the personal appearances and the newly remodeled Roxy Theatre.
From a 1979 SRO Spotlite newsletter:
SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SENIOR CITIZENS – Every third Wednesday of the month there is something special happening at the Roxy Theatre in Glendale.
Pacific Federal Savings sponsors a senior citizens film program in which different full-length features are shown.
It’s evident that the films are enjoyed – attendance has increased from month to month, and now averages 500 people per program. Thanks to Pacific Federal and the employees of the Roxy for contributing in this way towards the senior citizens of Glendale.
Here’s photos of the current interior on the Beyond The Star’s Palace’s website
http://www.stars-art.com/gallery2.html
And here’s the main page:
http://www.stars-art.com/
Does it count as “Beyond The Star’s Palace aka Roxy Cinema/Open/Function: Live Performances,” or “Roxy Cinema/Closed/Function: Nightclub”? Or some other combination?
I’ve noticed that some theaters that are now nightclubs, like the Globe/Club 740, the Variety/Club Cafe Fais-Do-Do, are listed as “Closed,” while others like the Mayan are listed as “Open.” What’s the criteria for deciding the status?
The 1980s was a great time to live and work in Glendale. You could live walking distance from Brand Boulevard and have easy access to The US Theater, The Sands, The Glendale 1 and 2, The Alex, The Capitol, and at the North end, this one, The Roxy. A short drive away was the Pacific Eagle Rock, some Pasadena theaters, the Eagle Theater in Eagle Rock, The Burbank Drive-In, and a few on Vermont in Los Feliz (not to mention Hollywood Boulevard)! Believe it or not, Burbank had no indoor theater through most of the 80s! The Alex was nice, but The Roxy felt like a movie theater. One year, all of the Glendale theaters were competing with one dollar Tuesday Nights! It was always safe and you could park anywhere…even in front of the theater! Most memorable Roxy double-bill during this era: Emerald Forest and Silverado.