Start your Los Angeles area historic theatre explorations by heading to one of these major sections: Downtown | North of Downtown + East L.A. | San Fernando Valley | Glendale | Pasadena | San Gabriel Valley, Pomona and Whittier | South, South Central and Southeast | Hollywood | Westside | Westwood and Brentwood | Along the Coast | Long Beach | [more] L.A. Movie Palaces |
To see what's recently been added to the mix visit the Theatres in Movies site and the Los Angeles Theatres Facebook page.

[more] Los Angeles Movie Palaces

A guide to historic neighborhood theatres all around the Los Angeles area.


During the 1920s and into the 1930s the Los Angeles area got many terrific movie palaces built outside of the historic theatregoing areas covered in the sections of this site dealing with downtown, the westside and down the coast.

In hundreds of far flung neighborhoods there are (or in many cases, were) wonderful Spanish Revival designs such as the Fox Florence and a delightful array of art deco creations including the Leimert in Leimert Park, the Warner in Huntington Park and the Fox Pomona.

All of the studios were interested in having opulent venues in the neighborhoods to show off their movies to the greatest advantage. Sometimes they made booking arrangements with other studios or circuits, sometimes they built their own palaces.

Here in this section you'll find information on just a few of my favorite historic theatres in Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

The criteria for inclusion here have been somewhat random. Of course there's the idea that the buildings of greatest architectural interest should be included. But I've also given weight to those that are just survivors -- still running movies after many of their competitors have dropped.

Of the ones that have vanished, some have merited inclusion due to location, sometimes the availability of historic photos or, occasionally, just curiosity on my part. If you can't find what you're looking for you could also consult the Main Alphabetical List. There is also a main Theatre List by Address as well as separate lists by address for the Westside, Along the Coast, San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley/Pomona/Whittier.

-- Bill Counter


 
Artesia


Beverly Boulevard  
See the Westside Theatres section.


Brentwood
See the Westwood and Brentwood Theatres section.

Broadway - north of downtown  
| Cinemaland | Daly Theatre | Federal Theatre | Starland Theatre |

Broadway downtown  
See the Broadway section for the full survey.

Broadway - south of downtown
| AAA Theatre | American Theatre | Century Theatre | Mayfair Theatre | Mission Theatre | World Theatre |

Burbank
| Burbank / Victory Theatre | Coffee Cinema | California Theatre | Cornell Theatre | Loma Theatre | Magnolia Theatre | Major Theatre | Rose Theatre | Twin City Theatre | See the San Fernando Valley survey page for more listings.

Canoga Park
| Baronet / Boulevard Cinema | Holiday Theatre | Canoga / Park / Madrid Theatre |

Avalon Theatre - Catalina
Catalina Island 
| Avalon Theatre | El Encanto Playhouse | New Strand/Riviera Theatre | Strand Theatre |

City Terrace
| Terrace Theatre | Wabash Theatre |

Compton
| Fox Compton | Symphony Theatre | Tower Theatre |

Covina Theatre - Covina
Covina & West Covina
| Capri Theatre | Covina Theatre | Empress Theatre | Star Theatre |

Crenshaw Boulevard

Culver City  


 
East Hollywood
See the Westside Theatres section.


Echo Park
See the Westside Theatres section.


El Segundo
| Old Town Music Hall |


Fairfax 


Figueroa St. downtown
 See the Downtown: Hill St. and Farther West section.


Fullerton  
| Fox Fullerton |

Gardena 
| Embassy Theatre | Gardena Cinema | Gardena Theatre - 1939-1955 |   

Glassell Park
| Division Theatre | Glassell / Dale Theatre |



Hermosa Beach
| Hermosa / Cove / Bijou Theatre |

Hollywood
See the Hollywood section. Also see Hollywood Christmas.





La Cienega Boulevard
See the Westside Theatres section. 
 
La Mirada

La Puente
| Star Theatre


Larchmont
| Larchmont Theatre |

Leimert Park
| Leimert / Vision Theatre |

Long Beach
| AMC Marina Pacifica | AMC Pine Square | American | Art - 4th St. | Art - Pike | Atlantic | Bentley | Bijou | Byde-A-Wyle | Cabart | California | Cinemark | Circle Drive-In | Coughran Opera House | Crest | Dale | Ebell | Edison | Egyptian | Fairyland | Fox Belmont | Fox Long Beach | Front Door | Gaiety | Hart | Home | Imperial | Joyland | Kid Mexico's Miracle Block | La Petite | La Shell | Lakewood Center Theatres | Lakewood Drive-In | Lakewood Theatre | Laughlin | Long Beach Drive-In | Long Beach Theatre | Los Altos Drive-In | Lyceum | The Movie | Municipal Auditorium - 1905 | Municipal Auditorium - 1932 | Palace | Paradise | Pastime | Plaza | Queen Mary | Redondo | Regal Edwards Long Beach 26 | Regal UA Long Beach | Rialto | Rivoli | Ritz | Roxy | Santa Fe | Scottish Rite - Borgnine | State | Strand | Tabernacle | Tarrytown | Terrace | Theatorium | Towne | Tracy | United Artists | Victor | West Coast | Also see the Long Beach Theatres survey page. 

Long Beach Boulevard 
| Arden Theatre | Lynwood Theatre | Rivoli Theatre | Tower Theatre | Vogue Theatre |

Lynwood 
| Arden Theatre | Lynwood Theatre |

Los Feliz 
See the Westside Theatres section.

MacArthur Park 
| Beaux Arts Theatre | Westlake Theatre | Alvarado / Park Theatre | See the Westside Theatres section for more listings.

Main St. - north of downtown
| San Carlos Theatre |

Main St. - downtown
See the survey page on Main St. Theatres.

Main St. - south of downtown
| Chutes / Luna Park Theatre | Dreamland Theatre | Lucia / Crystal Theatre | Princess Theatre | Victor Theatre |

Manhattan Beach
| La Mar Theatre |

Maywood
| Egyptian / Maywood Theatre |

Melrose Avenue
See the Westside Theatres section.

Miracle Mile
| Bing Theatre / LACMA | new theatre /  LACMA | El Rey Theatre | Four Star Theatre | Geffen Theatre/Academy Museum | Mann Theatre/Academy Museum | La Brea Theatre | Ritz Theatre |

Monrovia
| Elite Theatre | Lyric / Crest Theatre | Mission Theatre | Colonial/Monrovia Theatre |

Montebello
| Cameo Theatre | Garmar Theatre | Montebello Theatre | Vogue Theatre |  

Monterey Park
| Monterey Theatre |

Montrose
| Montrose Theatre |

North Hollywood
| AMC Universal Cinemas | El Portal Theatre | Flicker: Old Time Movies | Lankershim Theatre | Valley / Guild Theatre | Valley Plaza 6 | Victory Drive-In |

North of Downtown
| Arroyo Theatre | Atwater Theatre | Cameo Theatre | Cinemaland | Daly Theatre | Dayton Theatre | Division Theatre | Eagle Theatre | El Sereno Theatre | Elysian / Studio Theatre Playhouse | Federal Theatre | Franklin Theatre | Glassell / Dale Theatre | Granada / Owl Theatre | Highland Theatre | Highland Park Theatre | Kim Sing / Carmen Theatre | King Hing Theatre | Park Theatre | San Carlos Theatre | Sierra Theatre | Starland Theatre | Sunbeam Theatre | York / Bob Baker Marionette Theatre |

Norwalk
| Norwalk Theatre |

Ocean Park
| Bob's Theatre | Brooks Theatre | Crescent Vaudeville Theatre | Dome Theatre - 1916-1924 | Dome Theatre 1924-1969 | Empress Theatre | Family Theatre | Grand Theatre | La Grande Theatre | La Petite Theatre | Ocean Park Auditorium | Ocean Park Casino | Ocean Park Municipal AuditoriumRosemary - c.1910-1912 | Rosemary - 1912-1913 | Rosemary 1913-c.1919 | Rosemary - c.1919-1924 | Rosemary - 1924-1969 | Seaside Theatre | Shell Theatre | Star Theatre | Starland Theatre | Wonderland Theatre |

Orange County  
| Fox Fullerton  | 
 
Pacific Coast Highway  

Pacific Palisades 
| Bay Theatre |

Palms
| Palms Theatre |
 

Pico Boulevard
See the Westside Theatres survey page. 
 
 
| Loma Theatre | Madrid Theatre | Magnolia TheatreMajor Theatre | Montrose Theatre | Pacific 4 / Galleria 16 / ArcLight / Regal Pacific Winnetka 21 | Panorama Theatre | Reseda Theatre | Rivoli / Capri Theatre | Rose Theatre | Sherman Theatre | Sherman Oaks Cinema I-II | Pacific Sherman Oaks 5 | Studio City Theatre | Topanga Theatre | Valley / Guild Theatre | Valley Music Theatre | Valley Plaza 6 | Van Nuys Drive-In | Victory Drive-In | Windsor House | See the San Fernando Valley survey page for more listings. Also see the Glendale Theatres survey page for listings in that city.

San Gabriel
| Feldmiller Theatre | San Gabriel Theatre | San Gabriel Mission Playhouse |

San Gabriel Valley  
| Alhambra Theatre | American Theatre | Arcadia Theatre | Armory Opera House | Azusa / State / Village Theatre | Belvedere Theatre | Berry Grand | Capri Theatre | Covina Theatre | El Monte Theatre | El Rey Theatre | Elite Theatre | Empress Theatre | Family Theatre |Feldmiller Theatre | Fox Fullerton | Fox Pomona | Fraternal Aid Opera House | Gale Theatre | Garfield Theatre
 
| Liberty Theatre | Lyric / Crest Theatre | Lyric - Pomona | Mission Theatre | Monrovia Theatre | Monterey Theatre | Pomona Opera House | Rialto / Valley Theatre | Rosemead Theatre | San Gabriel Theatre | San Gabriel Mission Playhouse | Santa Anita / Cinemaland Theatre | Scenic / Roxy Theatre | Sierra Madre Playhouse | Star - Covina | Star - La Puente | Superba Theatre | Sunkist Theatre | Temple Theatre | Tumbleweed Theatre | Wardman / Whittier Village Cinemas | Whittier Theatre | Also see the survey pages on Pasadena Theatres and San Gabriel Valley Theatres.

San Pedro
| Alhambra Theatre | Auditorium TheatreBarton Theatre | Fox Cabrillo | Electric/San Pedro Opera House | Empire Theatre | Fisher's Theatre | Globe Theatre | Lyric Theatre | Majestic Theatre | New Theatre | Royal Playhouse | San Pedro Drive-In | Star Theatre | Strand Theatre | Victoria Theatre | Warner Grand Theatre |

San Pedro St. 
| Castle Theatre | Star Theatre |

Santa Monica
| Aero Theatre | AMC Santa Monica 7 | Arclight | Arena Cinelounge | Elmiro/Broadway 4 | Bundy Theatre | Criterion Theatre | Hitching Post | La Petite Theatre | Mayfair Theatre | Monica Film Center | North Beach Auditorium | NuWilshire Theatre | Orpheum Theatre | Pussycat Theatre | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium | Steere Opera HouseAlso see the Ocean Park listings. Consult the Along the Coast section for more listings up and down the coast.

Santa Monica Blvd.
| Bee Bee Theatre | Carmel/Paris Theatre | Cinematheque Club | Coast Playhouse | Crown Theatre | Loma/Paramount Theatre | Mayfair Theatre | Monica/Pussycat Theatre | Nuart Theatre | Royal Theatre | Tiki Theatre | Also see the Westside Theatres section.

Sawtelle
| Crown Theatre | National Theatre | Nuart Theatre | Royal Theatre | Wadsworth Theatre | Also see the Westside Theatres section.

Sepulveda Boulevard
| Loyola Theatre | Paradise Theatre |

Sherman Oaks
| La Reina Theatre | Sherman Theatre | Sherman Oaks Cinema I-II | Pacific 4 / Galleria 16 / ArcLight / Regal | Pacific Sherman Oaks 5 | Windsor House |
 
Signal Hill

Silver Lake
| Knightsbridge Theatre | Palms/Belmont Theatre |

Nubel Theatre - Bellflower

South Central
| AAA Theatre | Adams Theatre | Alto Theatre | American Theatre | Avalon Theatre | Balboa Theatre | Baldwin Theatre | Bard's West Adams | Boulevard Theatre | Carlton Theatre | Casino Theatre | Castle Theatre | Centro Theatre | Century Theatre | Chutes / Luna Park Theatre | Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw 15 | Congress Theatre | Crenshaw / Kokusai Theatre | Dixie Theatre | Dreamland Theatre | Ebony Showcase | Florence Mills Theatre | Florencita Theatre | Fox Figueroa Theatre | Fox Florence Theatre | Gentry Theatre

| Nate Holden PAC | Kinema Theatre | La Tosca Theatre | Leimert / Vision Theatre | Lincoln Theatre | Lucia / Crystal Theatre | Madrid Theatre | Manchester Theatre | Mayfair Theatre | Mesa Theatre | Mission Theatre | Princess Theatre | Rio Theatre | Rivoli Theatre | Bill Robinson Theatre | Rosebud Theatre | Savoy Theatre | Southside Theatre | Star Theatre | Sunbeam Theatre | Temple Theatre | Vermont Theatre | Western Theatre | World Theatre | See the South, South Central & Southeast theatres survey page for more listings.

South Gate
| Allen Theatre | Vogue Theatre | 

South Park
| Avalon Theatre |

South Pasadena
| Rialto Theatre | Ritz Theatre | South Pasadena Opera House |

Spring St. - downtown
See the Spring St. Theatres page on the Downtown Theatres site.

Spring St. - north of downtown
| King Hing Theatre |

Studio City 
| Nickelodeon | Studio City Theatre |

Sun Valley
| Lankershim Theatre |

Sunset Blvd.
See the Hollywood and Westside Theatres sections.

Temple City
| Temple Theatre |

Temple St.
| Ahmanson Theatre | Granada / Owl Theatre | Palms / Belmont Theatre | Rampart Theatre |

Torrance
| Grand/Torrance Community Theatre | Rolling Hills Theatre | Stadium/Pussycat Theatre | Torrance Theatre | United Artists Torrance |

Tujunga 
| Jewel Theatre | Tujunga / Rainbow / Canyon Theatre |

Universal City
 
Shrine Auditorium
USC - Exposition Park
| Boulevard Theatre | Deluxe Theatre | Fox Figueroa Theatre | La Tosca Theatre | Lucia / Crystal Theatre | Mission Theatre | Shrine Auditorium | Union Theatre / Velaslavasay Panorama | University / Realart / Trojan | Vermont Theatre |

Van Nuys
| Fox Van Nuys | Rivoli / Capri Theatre | Sepulveda Drive-In | Van Nuys Drive-In |

Venice
| California/Venice Theatre - Ocean Front Walk | Fox Venice Theatre | Neptune Theatre | Unique Theatre | Venice Auditorium | Venice Theatre - on the pier | Venice Theatre/Pacific Resident Theatre |

Vermont Ave. - north of Pico
See the Westside Theatres section.  

Vermont Ave. - south of Pico
| Balboa Theatre | Boulevard Theatre | Congress Theatre | La Tosca Theatre | Madrid Theatre | Southside Theatre | Temple Theatre | Vermont Theatre |

Walnut Park
| Lyric Theatre | Nadeau Theatre |

Washington Blvd.
| Arlington Theatre | Boulevard Theatre | Chutes / Luna Park Theatre | Culver Theatre | Ebony Showcase | Nate Holden Performing Arts Center | Maynard Theatre |

Watts
| Largo Theatre | Palace / Sonora Theatre | Yeager / Linda Theatre |

West Adams
| Adams Theatre | Arlin Theatre | Arlington Theatre | Bard's West Adams | Boulevard Theatre | Deluxe Theatre | LaSalle Theatre | Lucia / Crystal Theatre | Luna Theatre | Maynard Theatre | Riviera / Fremont Theatre | Variety Theatre |

West Hollywood
 See the Hollywood and Westside Theatres sections.

Westchester 
| La Tijera Theatre | Loyola Theatre | Paradise Theatre |

Western Ave. - north of Pico
| Cinema Theatre | Clinton Theatre | Embassy Theatre | Film Festival | Flick | CGV Cinemas | Sunset Theatre | Uptown Theatre | Wilshire Theatre | Wiltern Theatre | Windsor Theatre |

Western Ave. - south of Pico
| Alto Theatre | Carlton Theatre | Rio Theatre | Rivoli Theatre | Western Theatre |

Westside
See the Hollywood and Westside Theatres sections.

Westwood
See the Westwood and Brentwood Theatres section.

Whittier Theatre - Whittier

Whittier 
| Berry Grand Theatre | Gale Theatre | Family Theatre | Optic Theatre | Scenic / Roxy Theatre | Strand Theatre | Wardman / Whittier Village Cinemas | Whittier Theatre |

Whittier Blvd.
| Bell's Theatre | Boulevard Theatre | Cameo Theatre | Center Theatre | Crystal Theatre | Family Theatre | Garmar Theatre | Golden Gate Theatre | Ivy Theatre | Jewel Theatre | Montebello Theatre | Monterey Theatre | Royale Theatre | Star Theatre | Strand Theatre | United Artists / AlamedaVogue Theatre | Whittier Theatre |

Wilmington
| Avalon Theatre | Granada Theatre | Capitola Theatre |

Wilshire Boulevard corridor
See the Westside Theatres section.

Woodland Hills
| Art Theatre | Topanga Theatre | Valley Music Theatre |


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