Palms Theatre

3751 Motor Ave. Palms (Los Angeles), CA 90034  | map |  

Opened: Around 1928. In its later years it was an independent neighborhood sub-run house with many loyal customers.  Motor Ave. is three blocks east of Overland Ave. The theatre was a half a block north of Venice Blvd. Nearby were the Culver Theatre and the Meralta.

It's uncertain what the ghost images are all about in the photo above but the underlying view of the Palms shows the theatre running "Love" with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, a version of "Anna Karenina" that was released by MGM in 1928. The photo is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

Seating: 599 is the number on Cinema Treasures, evidently from a Film Daily Yearbook. In 1971 the L.A. Times gave the capacity as 713.

Architect: Unknown

 

 

A 1928 photo, without the added collage of the LAPL version. It appears on page 98 of the Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles" by Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Amy Ronnebeck Hall and Marc Wanamaker. There's a preview to browse on Google Books. The image has also appeared as a post for the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

In the 30s the theatre was operated by A. H. R. Miller. George Garrigues, in his book "Los Angeles's The Palms Neighborhood" (Arcadia Publishing, 2009). Thanks to Jonathan Weiss for finding the link to page 71 on Google Books where the author comments, based on an October 15 ad: 

"In 1937 A.H.R. Miller, theater owner, was giving away '88 pieces of dinner service' to entice people to see Frank Morgan in 'The Outer Gate' and Gene Autry in 'Rootin’ Tootin’ Rhythm.' He was boasting of his new 'high fidelity RCA sound.'"

 

 

A 1938 look at the Palms facade that's featured on page 99 of "Theatres in Los Angeles." The photo can also be seen on the Classic Hollywood and Photos of Los Angeles Facebook pages. The photo makes an appearance on page 71 of the Arcadia Publishing book "Los Angeles's The Palms Neighborhood." 

With an investment of about $1,100 James Allen and Merritt Stone took over the operation in 1951 from Ralph Hines. He stayed on as projectionist. Jonathan Weiss references a note from the owner of the Palms Bike Shop that indicates Allen at some point also became the owner of the property: 

"Palms Theater was across the Street. Jim Allen owned the theater and the building next door. Builder of Allen's building built them both."

 

The Palms in 1954. Thanks to Mark Smith for locating the photo. Note the fancy new Skouras-style boxoffice. The photo makes an appearance on page 102 of the 2009 Arcadia Publishing in his book "Los Angeles's The Palms Neighborhood" by George Garrigues. He credits the image to the Culver City Historical Society. 

 

The theatre in 1960 running "Psycho." The Bison Archives photo from "Theatres in Los Angeles" has also appeared on the Classic Hollywood and Photos of Los Angeles Facebook pages. There's also a cropped version (and a re-post) as posts on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. The photo makes an appearance on page 103 of the 2009 Arcadia Publishing in his book "Los Angeles's The Palms Neighborhood" by George Garrigues. 

 

A 1971 article in the Times:

 

Thanks to Jonathan Weiss for locating this June 8, 1971 L.A. Times article.

A letter to the editor appearing in the Times issue of June 20, 1971. It's another item located by Jonathan Weiss. For more about the area's history visit his website CheviotHillsHistory.org.

 

A 1976 view from the collection of Evan Peter. "Shampoo" was a March 1975 release, "The Fortune" was out in May 1975. Evan shared the photo in a post for the Lost Angeles Facebook group where he commented: "I worked as an usher in 1970. Carrying on after his bro, here is my younger brother (upper right in the bow tie) in 1976. The owners Jim and Merritt, center row in suits. Good times." 

 

Palms owners James Allen and Merritt Stone also ran the Meralta Theatre beginning in 1968. They stuck around at the Palms until later in 1976 when they leased it to Great Western Theatres.   

A 1985 article in the Times:

 

This was the May 19, 1985 article that appeared in the L.A. Times when the end was near. Thanks to Jonathan Weiss for locating the article.  

 

 

A 1985 shot of manager Don Nakagiri at the Palms. It's a photo by Chris Gulker that's in the Herald Examiner collection of the Los Angeles Public Library.  

Status: The property was sold in 1980 and the theatre closed in May 1985. It was demolished soon after closing. There's now a post office on the site. 

Screenwriter Mark Evanier looked back in a 2002 article:

"It isn't there now but there used to be a wonderful old movie house in Culver City called the Palms Theater. It was a friendly place to see a film — not fancy but comfy, not plush but cheap. The big, first-run movies went to the fancier theaters in Westwood, all of them affiliated with national chains. The Palms, fiercely independent to its dying day, usually offered up two second-run pictures, with a few trailers and a cartoon sandwiched between.

"The best thing about the Palms was its recorded announcement. I don't know who recorded them but he always commenced with 'Shalom, Bubala,' and he was always hysterical. My favorite, which I shall now attempt to re-create, came when they booked a double-feature of Walter Matthau pics. It went very much like this, and it will probably be funnier if you read it aloud...

"'Shalom, Bubala. This is the exotic Palms Theater on picturesque Motor Avenue in beautiful Culver City. This week, we are featuring 'Plaza Suite,' starring Walter Matthau and Lee Grant, Walter Matthau and Maureen Stapleton, and Walter Matthau and Barbara Barrie. We are also featuring 'A New Leaf,' starring Walter Matthau and Elaine May. In other words — Walter Matthau, ad nauseam. Here's your chance to get so sick of Walter Matthau you'll never have to see another Walter Matthau movie as long as you live.'

"'Drive up to the theater where our parking lot attendant, Walter Matthau, will show you where to park. Then buy a ticket from our box office attendant, Walter Matthau, and have it torn in half by our ticket taker, Walter Matthau. Visit our refreshment stand where our counterman Walter Matthau will gladly sell you a large, Walter Matthau-sized soft drink and a box of Jujubees, every one of them in the shape of Walter Matthau. You will be seated by our usher, Walter Matthau, and then our projectionist (Walter Matthau) will start the program, commencing with a Walter Matthau cartoon, a Walter Matthau newsreel, and coming attractions of more than seventeen thousand Walter Matthau films. Next week, we're featuring two more movies. We don't know what they are yet but we can guarantee you that they won't have Walter Matthau in them. In fact, we will give you a double-your-money-back No Walter Matthau guarantee.'

"If you read it the way the guy on the phone read it, it's hysterical. (And here's an interesting example of how just the right word is important in comedy. If you read the same speech with Jack Lemmon's name in there, it's only about half as funny. Try it and see.) I used to go to the Palms about once a month — sometimes with my parents, sometimes with a date — but I made a point of phoning each week to hear what the 'Shalom, Bubala' guy had to say. I wasn't the only one. People who had no interest whatsoever in going to the Palms Theater used to call in sufficient quantity that the Palms had to install extra phone lines.

"I can remember some of the movies I saw there — 'Airport,' 'Paint Your Wagon,' 'The Odd Couple'...(This last was obviously before the 'No Walter Matthau' policy went into effect). I even remember the first time I took a date to the Palms. It was 'Blue Water, White Death,' a documentary about sharks that I'd have passed on, had it not been for Liz. She wanted to see it and I was willing to take Liz anywhere, just as long as I could sneak my arm around her. I was just buying two General Admissions at the Palms (not from Walter Matthau) when Liz said to me, 'I feel I have to see this movie. I have a terrible fear of sharks.'

"I stopped in the doorway, right by the non-Matthau usher. 'Why do you have to see this movie if you're afraid of sharks?' I asked. 'I'm hoping that if I confront my fear, I will get over it,' she replied. Well, it sounded good in theory but she spent the entire movie with her nails dug into my arm and/or thigh, and left the Palms so upset that she asked me to take her straight home. This was not what I'd had in mind for the balance of the evening. I haven't seen Liz since that night. I have, however, seen her fingernail marks on my arm and thigh. And I haven't seen the Palms Theater since shortly after that. One day when I drove past, the marquee proclaimed, in lieu of movie titles, that it was 'Closed until further notice.' The next time I cruised Motor Avenue, it said, 'Closed forever.' And the next time, there was no marquee...or Palms Theater. It looks like Walter had the last laugh."

The article from Mark's blog POV Online appears on the Wayback Machine. Thanks to Jonathan Weiss for providing a link to it.

The Palms in the Movies:

We see the Palms as the Fox Geronimo in "All Hands On Deck" (20th Century Fox, 1961). The film, directed by Norman Taurog, is a musical starring Pat Boone, Buddy Hackett, Barbara Eden and Dennis O'Keefe.  See the Historic Theatres in Movies post for four shots of the set on the Fox lot they used for the interiors. Thanks to veteran projectionist Mike Schleigel for the information about the theatre's appearance in the movie. He notes that it was one of his favorite theatres to work in and he was there for years.

The Palms on TV:

Farrah Fawcett in the lobby in a "Charlie's Angel's" episode titled "The Big Tap Out." 

Fawcett heading up the stairs in the "Charlie's Angels" episode. Thanks to CStephanic for the screenshots. There's also a marquee shot along with these on the page about the Palms on Cinema Treasures.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Palms Theatre for lots of stories by patrons who miss the place.

Jonathan Weiss did a 2006 story about the Palms Theatre for the Palms-Village Sun. It can be seen on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Also on the Wayback Machine is a 2005 article about the Palms by Vaughn Aubuchon.

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