World Theatre

7228 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA  90003  | map |

Opening: It debuted as the Florence Theatre in 1921 or 1922. It's listed in the 1922 through 1926 city directories with a 7228 S. Moneta Ave. address, a block south of Florence Ave. The street, now called S. Broadway, is about two blocks east of the 110. The building is on the northeast corner of Broadway and 73rd. St. 

Joe Vogel did the research on the theatre's beginnings: 

"A Southwest Builder & Contractor article of March 4, 1921, announced the letting of the letting of the construction contract to L.E. Campbell, and described the planned building as a one-story brick theatre and store building, 42x129 feet. The owner was named as F.A. Richey, and the projected cost was $15,000....The L.A. city planning department’s zoning information system says the building at 7228 S. Broadway was built in 1922."

Seating: 500

Organ: A 2 manual 3 rank Reuter organ, opus 236, was installed in 1927 at a cost of $3,500. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Lost Memory for the data.

By the 1927 city directory the address had been changed to 7228 S. Broadway. 

 

A 1936 ad as the New Florence. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a thread about the theatre on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. 

Beginning with the 1938 directory it's called the World Theatre. In the 1938 directory the theatre at 1830 E. Florence Ave. was listed as the Florence. But that was just a typo as it should have read Florencita. Also in the southend was the S. Charles Lee designed Fox Florence at 1536 E. Florence Ave., a theatre that had opened in 1932. 

 

A July 1940 ad located by Ken McIntyre. 

 

A 1951 Listing in the L.A. Times.

Closing: The World Theatre closed in the mid-1950s according to Bill Gabel.

Status: The remodeled building is still there on S. Broadway. It has been used for years as a market. 

The theatre building as a market. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting this photo when the property was listed on Loopnet. He added it as a comment to a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

The market in June 2007. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for sharing his photo.  

 

 

The building in 2021. That's 73rd St. on the right.  

 

 

The screen end of the building. Photo: Google - 2021

More information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the World Theatre.

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