Upland Theatre
318 N. 2nd Street,
Upland,
CA
91786
318 N. 2nd Street,
Upland,
CA
91786
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Western Amusement Company Inc.
Architects: Homer W. Glidden
Previous Names: Lyric Theatre, Colonial Theatre, New Upland Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Lyric Theatre was opened in 1913. In 1915 it was expanded to the plans of Los Angeles based architect Homer W. Glidden and renamed Colonial Theatre. In 2009 the Inland Daily Bulletin took a look back at Upland and Ontario in May of 1915. The women of Ontario were protesting “Neptune’s Daughter", starring Annette Kellerman, which they called immoral. The silent movie was to appear at the Euclid Photoplay in Ontario, a competitor to the Colonial Theatre in Upland. Despite the outcry and with the help of free publicity, the Photoplay was packed the first night. The Los Angeles Times also covered this story on May 20, 1915, naming the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union as the protest leaders.
Not to be outdone, the manager of the Colonial Theatre planned to show an even more daring picture, “The Hypocrites", directed by Lois Weber. In the film a statue came to life to expose a naked Margaret Edwards. There was to be a matinee for women only and the evening show with no one under 16 allowed, “because of the danger of immature minds not being able to properly understand the picture". Newspaper accounts say that this film was even banned by the censorship board in the supposedly cosmopolitan city of Los Angeles but was shown to large crowds anyway. Ironically an LA Times interview with the film’s young star, Miss. Edwards, gave her age as 16 years!
The Colonial Theatre appeared in the Suburban and Neighborhood Theatre Guide of the LA Times periodically through the 1920’s. It was closed in February 1930 for a refit, reopening as the New Upland Theatre on June 12, 1930 with Richard Barthelmess in “Son of the Gods”. An LA Times news story from October 1938, in an article unrelated to the theatre, mentions Herbert G. Adams as the owner. The Film Daily Yearbook of 1940 listed the theatre as having 400 seats.
The Upland Theatre was closed on May 26, 1947 with Antonio Brava in “Los Misterios del Hampa” & Dorothy Lamour in “Rainbow Island”. The theatre was listed in the 1950-51 Film Daily Yearbook. The demolition date is unknown and presently the site is a bank parking lot. Relevant comments can be found under the Grove Theatre in Upland.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
The November 7, 1914, issue of Southwest Contractor & Manufacturer ran an item about an addition to the Lyric Theatre in Upland. The addition was to be 34x50 feet, and the theater was to get a new pressed brick front, marble and tile lobby, and other improvements as well. The $4,500 project was designed by Los Angeles architect Homer W. Glidden.
I wonder if the Lyric got a new name along with the remodeling job? The Colonial/Upland Theatre might be the same house.
The Lyric Theatre opened in 1913. It was expanded in 1915 as the Colonial Theatre. It closed in February of 1930 for an extensive retrofit re-opening in the sound era as the New Upland Theatre opening with “Son of the Gods” on June 12, 1930. The venue closed as the Upland Theatre on May 26, 1947 with a double feature of “Misters del Hampa” and “Rainbow Island.”