Opening: 1922. It's in the 1923 L.A. city directory. The building is on the west side of the street a block and a half south of Slauson Ave. Thanks to Mister Comics for finding the 1962 newspaper photo for a post on Cinema Treasures. As the marquee notes, the Mummy himself was making an appearance in addition to the films "The Mummy" and "Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy."
In the 1929 city directory the Temple appears with an address of 5865 S. Vermont.
Architect: Harry C. Deckbar. Thanks to Joe Vogel for the research. He notes that in 1914 Deckbar, teamed up with Thornton Fitzhugh and Frank G. Krucker, had designed the Trinity Auditorium downtown on S. Grand.
Joe found a card in the Los Angeles Public Library's California Index that contained this item about the Temple that had appeared in the October 21, 1921 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor:
"Theatre -- Al Nelson...has been awarded the general contract for the theater and store building on Vermont Avenue near Slauson Avenue for F.W. Braun. The building will be 240 x 124, will contain a theater and 15 stores. The theater will be 2-story class B construction...H.C. Dockbar [sic], is the architect."
From at least the mid-1940s until the late 1960s the theatre was operated by the Vinnicof circuit. Joe Vogel comments:
"The Vinnicof Theatre Circuit was around for a long time. They owned a half interest in the Garfield Theatre in Alhambra in the 1950s, the other half being silently owned by the Edwards Theatre Circuit. Vinnicof also operated the Grove Theatre in Garden Grove at that time. At least as far back as the 1930s they operated some theatres in the Eagle Rock-Highland Park area. In 1941, Harry Vinnicof bought the Congress Theatre a couple of miles down Vermont from the Temple."
Status: The building still stands but has been remodeled for retail use.
More exterior views:
1983 - A lovely view from the now-vanished American Classic Images collection. Note "Temple" signage still in place on the side of the building and above the readerboard on the far side of the marquee.
2010 - A new paint job but minus the marquee. We're looking south toward 59th St. Photo: Google Maps
2012 - A view of the rear of the building from 59th St. Photo: Google Maps
2019 - Still surviving, with a new tenant mix. Photo: Google Maps
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the Temple Theatre.
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I think the theater closed in the 70's we lived down the st and have memories of going to this movie theater
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteMy first job was across the street from the Temple Theater at Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1951.
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