Los Angeles Theatres: La Mar Theatre

228 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 | map |

Opened: July 30, 1938 with Loretta Young and Joel McCrea in "Three Blind Mice." The second feature was "Go Chase Yourself." It was just 4 blocks up from the pier, on the south side of the street between Manhattan Ave. and Highland Ave. Manhattan Beach Blvd. was once called Center St.

"The Oklahoma Kid" with James Cagney was a March 1939 release. "Never Say Die" with Martha Raye and Bob Hope was out in April. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo for a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. Also see a version of the photo on the Facebook page of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society.

Architect: Clifford A. Balch. Joe Vogel notes that he was named as the architect in an item appearing in the November 5, 1937 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor.

Seating: 750 at one time.

Initially it was operated by Pacific States Theatres, a company controlled by Adolph Ramish and the Gore brothers. Pacific States also built the El Rey on Wilshire and was also a partner in the Studio City Theatre.

By 1943 Fox West Coast had the La Mar, according to Bill Gabel. It's listed as the Lamar at 228 Center in the 1947 city directory and the La Mar (at the same address) in 1952. After 1973 it was an independent house operated by John Klee.

A 1975 ad for the La Mar. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it.

Klee sold it sometime prior to 1977 and took over the Marina 1-2-3 in Redondo Beach. The new operator was a Mr. Kirkorian.

A March 1977 ad appearing during the triplex remodeling. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. Former manager Randy Ruddy calls the tripexing job "miserable" and notes that Kirkorian then ran the place into the ground.

Closing: It closed c.1979.

Status: It was demolished in 1981. There's a new mixed-use building on the site.

1938 - A construction view that was featured in a post on the Facebook page of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society.

1940 - A photo in the collection of the Denver Public Library. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding it for a post on the Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. Linda Northam Barbour also had it on the Manhattan Beach Haunts That No Longer Exist private Facebook group.

1940s - A view from the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. It appeared on their Instagram feed. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting it when it showed up on a Manhattan Beach Facebook group.

1948 - The theatre appears up the hill on the left in this June fishing derby (and beauty contest!) photo. Ken McIntyre found it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. A version of the photo can also be seen on the Manhattan Beach Historical Society website.

1948 - "Kartoon Karnival - 20 of your Favorites." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding this July photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group. A version can also be seen in the historic photographs section on the Manhattan Beach Historical Society website.

c.1948 - A Christmas view looking up from Manhattan Ave. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. A version of it (without the tickets) can be seen on the Manhattan Beach Historical Society website.

early 1950s - A photo from the collection of Michael Hayashi. Thanks to David Zornig for spotting it for a post on Cinema Treasures.

c.1960 - A great look toward the pier discovered by Jim McGowan for a post on the Manhattan Beach Haunts private Facebook group. He identified it as 1961. It appears that the marquee was advertising a "Triple Horror Show." Bruce Kimmel comments: "Here's what I can guess - 'Triple Horror Show' is right. It's Halloween, October 31. Not 1961 or either year on either side of that. None of the titles playing that day match the layout on the marquee."

1979 - The theatre is up there on the right, just beyond the "Drugs" sign. Thanks to John Nelson for sharing this one on the private Facebook group Southern California Nostalgia.

1979 - The closed theatre on the left. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the photo, a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

c.1979 - A photo taken by Chris Shaw. Thanks to his son Robert Gould Shaw for sharing it on the Facebook group South Bay/Los Angeles Days of Old California. Also see a later post. It's the cover shot for the 2024 book "West of Sepulveda: Manhattan Brach to Playa Del Ray in the 1970s to 1990s" with photos by Chris and text by Robert.

"In the summer, we would ride through Manhattan Beach to Marina Del Rey and back, through Dockweiler State Beach. We would walk to downtown Manhattan Beach, have a slice of pizza, get some candy at Joe's Candy Cottage, drink at Ercoles, see a movie at the La Mar, walk to the end of the pier, and swim or surf in the ocean.

"There was no life east of Sepulveda, the saying went. Perhaps that was never true, especially for those who thought they lived at the beach but lived to the east. The Manhattan Beach of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s remain fond memories. With this book, we can see it once again."

1981 - A demolition photo from the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. Thanks to Jim McGowan for posting it on the Manhattan Beach Haunts Facebook group. Ken McIntyre also has a version of it in a Photobucket album.

1981 - A photo of a seaside mural in the theatre that was taken during the demolition. The waterskiing sprite is being pulled by a dolphin. Thanks to Tom Ludes for finding the photo for a post on the Manhattan Beach Haunts private Facebook group. There was also a re-post by Jim Jackson Rahn and it appeared yet again as a comment on a post of another version of the 1940 photo that's seen at the top of the page.

c.1982 - New construction on the site, over on the left. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for the photo, added as a comment to a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook group.

2019 - The building now on the site. Photo: Bill Counter

Los Angeles Theatres

La Mar Theatre

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