Opened: July 1, 1920 as the California Theatre on the water side of Ocean Front Walk. It was constructed on what had been the site of the scenic railway. The location was between Windward Ave. and Market St. (formerly called Zephyr). In the 1923-24 directory the address is listed as 1506 Ocean Front Walk.
In this December 1937 photo we're looking north with The Plunge just beyond and the beach off to the left behind the theatre. Thanks to David Doherty for finding this
great shot in the Warner archives for a post on the Venice, Ocean Park and Santa Monica
Facebook page. The theatre is playing "High, Wide and
Handsome," an October release along with "Bad Guy," an August release with Bruce Cabot and Virginia Grey.
Seating: 960 is a later number. 1,100 is a number used on Cinema
Treasures, without listing a source. The capacity touted when the
project was announced was 1,500 - most likely a bit of puffery.
Architect: David D. Smith. Thanks to Joe Vogel for doing the detective work. His report:
"The Regional History section of the California Index at the L.A. Public Library web site contains a card referencing an article in the July 1, 1920 issue of The Venice Vanguard which names a Mr. Melvin P. Ogden as the 'Opening manager of the new California Theater at Venice.' Additionally, the same index contains cards indicating that the California was designed by David D. Smith. A card referencing Southwest Builder & Contractor issue of 1/23/1920 says that 'D.D. Smith, Venice, has a contract… for the erection of a brick theater building… corner of Ocean Front Walk at Zepher Avenue (sic)….'
At some point West Coast Theatres/Fox West Coast took over the operation. In 1941 or 1942 it got renamed the Venice Theatre and got a new angled marquee.
Not worth saving, says the man from the City Recreation Department. Thanks to Ken for locating this June 1951 article.
Still dithering over the demolition in June 1952. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the Evening Vanguard article.
More exterior views:
[Sorry, there don't seem to be any interior ones.]
1920 - The staff doing a tableau to promoter the Charles Ray film "Peaceful Valley." Thanks to Dallas Movie Theaters for finding the trade magazine photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.
c.1921 - A great postcard view looking north on Ocean Front Walk from Windward. That green thing sticking out on the left just beyond the "Billiards Bowling" sign is the marquee of the California Theatre. You can see a bit of the big white arch of the facade. The large structure just beyond the theatre is the Plunge, once advertised as the largest indoor saltwater pool in the world.
On our right it's the St. Mark's Hotel at Windward and Ocean Front. Down in the next block on the right there's a glimpse of the arches of the facade and the protruding signage at the Neptune Theatre. It's a card that appeared on the Venice Line page of the now-vanished Uncanny.net site of Tom Wetzel that lovingly chronicled the history of L.A.'s urban railways. A version of the card also appears on the site Card Cow.
c.1921 - A postcard view looking south toward Windward Ave. That's the California Theatre on the right, here still without an electric sign. Thanks to Jeffrey Stanton for the image of the card from his collection, one appearing on his terrific Venice History Site that's hosted on Westland.net. Also see site's additional Venice History section that's been compiled by others.
Stanton is the author of "Venice California - Coney Island of the Pacific," available directly from the author by check or money order for $59.57 including tax. He's at 12525 Allin St. Los Angeles 90066. His email: jeffreystanton@yahoo.com
1938 - A view of the theatre from the MGM Art Department. It's now in the collection of the Los Angeles Public Library.
1938 - Another shot that's in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note the art glass visible in the arch above the marquee.
1939 - A Mardi Gras parade photo from the Ernest Marquez collection appearing on the Huntington Library website. The California is running "Undercover Doctor" and "They All Came Out." Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for finding the photo to include among many Venice views on his Noirish post # 41819.
1941 - The California running "Time out For Rhythm," a June
Columbia release with Rudy Valee, Ann Miller and Rosemary Lane. The
bottom of the bill was "Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime," an August
Columbia release with Ralph Bellamy, Margaret Lindsay and Spring
Byington. Thanks to David Doherty for the photo. Dennis Mapes notes that the Horseshoe over on the
right was later the Fortune Bridgo game and finally the Gas House in the late
fifties.
1942 - A new marquee and a re-branding as the Venice Theatre. It's a photo from the Bill Beebe collection at the Santa Monica History Museum. The website comments: "A large group of patriotic children stands in front of the Venice Theatre waving war bond receipts. The children have purchased war bonds in exchange for free admission to a film." The photo also made an appearance on the SMHM Facebook page where they noted that the Santa Monica Outlook had noted on the back that the location was in Venice.
1949 - Looking north toward the theatre, here seen with its new name, the Venice. By the time of this photo the Plunge had been demolished. The building the Neptune was in is hiding over there on the right, minus its front 15' with the colonnade as well as the upper floor. It's a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The Library also has a second version of the photo, in their Herald Examiner collection. The theatre was running "Slattery's Hurricane" with Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell and Veronica Lake along with "Once More, My Darling" with Robert Montgomery and Ann Blythe.
c.1949 - A sad view toward Windward in the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection that was taken by Herman Schultheis. The Venice Theatre is lurking in the shadows to the right. The cross street is Market, called Zephyr until 1925. The late Chrys Atwood found the photo in the Library's collection for a post on the Venice, Ocean Park & Santa Monica Facebook page, adding it to the wonderful set of 52 photos titled "Trams Through The Years."
Chrys noted: "That Bridgo bldg. became the Gas House, where Beat poet Big Daddy Nord held forth." Dean M. Roberts commented: "The building marked, 'Photography/ Film' became the first 'Head Shop' in Venice. The Beats were at the end of their times and the new hippie culture was just taking hold. I remember buying incense and strobe candles there." Everything seen here was later demolished.
1980 - A panoramic view north taken by Chris Shaw. Thanks to his son Robert
Shaw for sharing the shot as part of a 21 photo Venice and Santa Monica
set on the South Bay/Los Angeles Days of Old California Facebook page.
2019 - A view south from Market St. The theatre would have been a half block down on the right. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - Looking north from Windward Ave. The theatre was once over on the left. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - Rotating 90 degrees to the east for a look up Windward Ave. The St. Mark's Hotel was once on the corner at the left edge of the image. Photo: Bill Counter
2019 - And, as long as we're here and the sun is out: a view from Pacific Ave. back down Windward to the beach. Pacific used to be called Trolleyway. Photo: Bill Counter
Thanks to Jeffrey Stanton for this 1920 Abbot Kinney Pier map appearing on the site Westland.net. In the upper left the California Theatre is #3. The version on the site has links that once went to many photos from his collection. They still go to some text but all the photos have vanished.
Map Key
1. Venice Plunge
2. Sea Swings
3. California Theater
4. Bandstand
5. Billiard Hall & Bowling Alleys
6. Cafeteria
7. Dance Hall
8. Virgina Reel
9. Whip
10. Great American Racing Derby
11. Auditorium
12. Aquarium
13. Flying Seaplanes
14. Tea Garden & Zoo
15. Over the Falls
16. Hellarity Hall
17. Captive Aeroplanes
18. Clay Pidgeon Gallery
19. Roller Skating Rink
20. Ferris Wheel
21. Ship Cafe
22. Ocean Inn
23. Merry-go-round (Dentzel)
24. Noah's Ark
25. Mill Chutes
26. Big Dipper roller coaster
Mr. Stanton is the author of "Venice California - Coney Island of the Pacific," available from the author by check or money order for $59.57, including tax. He's at 12525 Allin St. Los Angeles 90066. His email: jeffreystanton@yahoo.com. Visit his terrific Venice History Site hosted on Westland.net. Also see a separate Venice History section on the site that was compiled by others.
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the California Theatre.
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The Horseshoe/Fortune building was the site of the Gas House for the Beatnik crowd. Torn down in 1962.
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