8518 S. San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90003 |
map |
Opened: This Florence-Graham area house opened in 1924, on the east side of the street one lot north of Manchester. Thanks to Brad Smith for this 1926 photo of the Castle taken by George Mann of the comedy dance team Barto and Mann. It's on Flickr. For a real treat, browse through the extraordinary Theatre Marquees album of 136 photos taken by Mr. Mann. Brad comments:
"This was before George Mann and Dewey Barto were a comedic dance team. The person in the photograph is Lester Clark. They billed themselves as Mann & Clark. George wrote this in his diary: '$10 less 10%, i.e., $4.50 for George. Ten dollars is our salary for this date. Take off 10% and split the remainder gives my salary $4.50. I spend my mornings and days off pestering the offices for work. Right to start with we are one of the best acts on this small time. We have hit darned few that get more hands than we do.'"
Joe Vogel located an item about the project from the March 21, 1924 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor. It was noted that the theatre was built by a Mr. U.G. Hubbs and initially operated by him as well.
Seats: 575, according to Cinema Treasures. Presumably the number is from a Film Daily Yearbook.
Architect: Unknown
A July 4, 1936 ad for the Castle and some of its South Central neighbors. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this ad and the others below for his thread about the theatre on the
Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
The Castle was one of a number of independent
southend theatres participating in a "Cash Nite Club" promotion in
January 1940. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for sharing this article from the
neighborhood paper Southwest Wave in a 2025 post for
the
Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.
An October 31, 1946 ad.
A November 1949 ad for a reissue run of "Gone With the Wind."
Closing: The Castle Theatre closed in 1950. Ken McIntyre notes that the ads stop that year. By 1954 it had become a church. See a Facebook thread from Ken about the theatre on
Ken's Movie Page.
Auditions for an amateur program. But no movies. It's a 1954 ad.
Status: The building survives, still used as a church.
The building in 2007. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for sharing his photo on a thread about the theatre on the
Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.
The building in 2015. On the right is a view east on Manchester. Photo: Google Maps
On Manchester looking at the south side of the building. On the left we're looking north on San Pedro St. Photo: Google Maps - 2018
More Information: See the
Cinema Treasures page on the Castle.
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As a kid of 7 in 1950 we went to this show. We collected soda bottles to get cash. Cost $.09 cents. Next door was a very small snack bar. If you left the show to get a snack you needed to keep your ticket stub or not get back in.
ReplyDeleteWatched many movies there in the late 40’s. Seems as though it closed down about 1948. I attended South Park elementary school one block to the east.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments! Well, it was running at least into 1949. See the ad here on the page.
Delete> Presumably that's Mr. Barto in front.
ReplyDeleteThis was before George Mann and Dewey Barto were a comedic dance team. The person in the photograph is Lester Clark. They billed themselves as Mann & Clark. George wrote this in his diary: "$10 less 10%, i.e., $4.50 for George. “Ten dollars is our salary for this date. Take off 10% and split the remainder gives my salary $4.50. I spend my mornings and days off pestering the offices for work. Right to start with we are one of the best acts on this small time. We have hit darned few that get more hands than we do.”
Thanks for all the data, Brad. And for sharing the wonderful photos. Much appreciated. I'll update the text. Cheers!
Delete