Redondo Theatre / Art Theatre

103 W. Diamond St. Redondo Beach, CA 90277 | map |

Opened: 1911, at the corner of Diamond and Pacific Ave., right on the beach. Originally it was known as the Redondo Theatre. The 4+ year master lease was originally held by some guy based in downtown L.A. with the initial operator being a legit presenter called the Frank Rich Co. 

 

An August 5, 1911 article about the guy who controlled the theatre being unhappy with his tenant. Frank Rich wasn't paying his staff and would be replaced with a movie and vaudeville bill until a musical comedy opened. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this as well as other items appearing on this page for a post about the theatre for the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.  

 

New managers were Mssrs. Moynahan and Warren, offering pictures plus vaudeville acts that were "clean, classy and wholesome." There were two program changes weekly. It's a December 9, 1911 article that was located by Ken.   

 

A rave review that appeared on December 16, 1911. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. 

Closing as the Redondo: Evidently the house closed in mid-December, 1911. 

 

A quick rebuild: It got a remodel and reopened in January 1912 as the Art Theatre. The operators at the time of the renovations were F.R. Fancher and Art Phillips. A belated item on page 27 in the January 20, 1912 issue of Motion Picture News: 

"Redondo Beach, Cal. -- F.R. Fancher has purchased the Redondo Theatre and will remodel same."  

Fancher had previously owned a theatre in Los Angeles, sold in early 1911. Phillips had been managing that one for him. A January 28, 1911 item located by Ken McIntyre:  

Architects: The Los Angeles firm of Hunt and Burns (Sumner P. Hunt and Silas Reese Burns) designed the 1912 rebuild. The team also did College Theatre and the Alhambra Theatre, both on Hill St. in downtown Los Angeles. Later they did the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

After the remodel the Art had a 20' deep stage with fly capability. The proscenium was  40' wide. 

Seating: 600 after the 1912 rebuild. 

 

They were planning a January 1, 1912 reopening but didn't make that date. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this December 1911 story. 

An item in the January 31, 1912 issue of the L.A. Times that was located by Ken McIntyre:

"Redondo Beach – The new Art Theater will be opened tomorrow night with a benefit performance given by the local order of the Fraternal Brotherhood of Eagles. Special arrangements have been made for the members of the Eagles from Los Angeles and Santa Monica to reach Redondo and it is supposed that two special cars will arrive from each place. Two shows will be given, the first performance beginning at 7 and the second at 9."

 

 

 

A less-than-favorable review in February 1912. Phillips vows to go legit and not book any more vaudeville. Well, maybe a few acts that would perform between the acts of the plays the Butler Theatre Co. would be doing. Ken McIntyre found the article.   

 

 

An illustration of the Art Stock Company's leading lady, Cleo Madison, that appeared with February 24, 1912 coverage about the theatre that was located by Ken McIntyre. The article with it:  

No mention of the Butler Company but here we got the news that the Art Stock Co. would "put this city before the theatrical world" with its offerings. The first play would be "The Boss of Avenue Z."     

 

 

Already by April 1912 we hear the Art Stock Co. referred to as "ever popular." Thanks to Ken for locating this.

 

 

Big news in July 1913. We learn that Fancher, "in a class of big filmland men," was also operating the Pavilion Theatre, a nickelodeon on the ground floor of the Redondo Pavilion building.  The author of this article that Ken McIntyre located was excited to see the films that Fancher booked of the Ritchie-Rivers championship fight.  

 

 

The Art running the feature "Heliotrope" along with the one reel Burton Holmes travelogue "Nature's Contrasts," both late 1920 Paramount releases. The signage below the boxoffice window notes: "Art Theatre - Opens 6:45 - Night Shows continuous from 7:00 - Matinees as Announced." It's a photo from the California Historical Society that appears on the USC Digital Library website.

 

This combination film and vaudeville house was acquired by West Coast Theatres in 1921.  

 

 

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this July 29, 1921 article. The Capitol Theatre that West Coast already had was a rebuild of the old Casino Building. Fancher's other house, the Pavilion, was in the Redondo Pavilion building. The Dome in Ocean Park really was a big dome, made of concrete.   

 

A September 1923 change of program note located by Ken McIntyre. 

 

 An ad reflecting the 1923 booking change. 

 

An ad for an April 1927 run of "The Lady of the Harem" with Greta Nissen. Also see a promotional article that Ken located about the booking.  

 

A film you're probably sorry you missed: "When a Dog Loves" with Ranger, the Wonder Dog. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the May 1927 ad. 

Closing: Evidently July 1927 was the end for the Art.   

 

A July 27, 1927 ad. Ken McIntyre notes that this was the last one he could locate for the theatre.  

Status: The Art was demolished for the construction of the West Coast Redondo. They had intended to get that new theatre open by June 1928, for the summer amusement season. By February 1929 when it actually got open West Coast Theatres had become that Fox West Coast and the theatre was branded as the Fox Redondo. 

Other early Redondo beach theatres: The Pavilion Theatre, located on the ground floor of the Redondo Pavilion, opened around 1907. The Capitol Theatre, in a building just south of the pavilion that had been constructed in 1907 as the Casino, opened in 1912.

The Airdome and the Elite Theatre were also in the amusement area along the beach. Both were listed as being at The Midway in the 1912/13 city directory. Their locations and history are unknown. A later theatre was the Strand, a house  on Catalina Ave. that ended up as the Marina 1-2-3.

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Art Theatre. Thanks to Ken Roe and Ken McIntyre for the research.

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