Opened: 1913 as the Arlington Theatre. It was on the south side of the street just east of Arlington in the Arlington Heights neighborhood. In this c.1925 photo of the theatre after it was renamed the United we're looking east with Arlington St. this side of the theatre. The photo is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.
Architect: Frank L. Stiff. Thanks to Joe Vogel for the research. He found a reference to an item in the May 31, 1913 issue of Southwest Contractor and Manufacturer that announced the letting of the general contract for the house and that Stiff was the architect for the $15,000 project.
Seating: 567 at some point, according to Cinema Treasures.
This theatre, as the Arlington, is listed in this March 1914 ad. Thanks to Jeff Bridges for locating it for a post on Flickr. The theatre appears in the 1914 through 1922 city directories as the Arlington.
When a newer, larger theatre across the street at 2517 W. Washington Blvd. was built in 1922 that one became the Arlington Theatre and this older house was renamed the United Theatre. Ken McIntyre found a 1922 Times article about a benefit for the Shriners Christmas Relief Fund where they were calling this older house the United.
In the 1923 directory it's listed as the United and as the United Arlington in its newspaper ads to distinguish it from the other United houses. Ken McIntyre notes that United at the time also had the Anaheim, the Eagle Rock (later called the Sierra), the Colonial (at 5421 S. Vermont) and the Strand on Catalina Island, later renamed the Riviera.
A 1926 Times ad for the theatre while it was part of the United mini-circuit.
In the 1929 city directory it's listed as the Gem Theatre. The owner was trying to unload it in 1929. Ken McIntyre found this item
in the June 5 issue of the L.A. Times: "TALKIE THEATER - Will sell ½
interest in beautiful 600 seat house to honest, reliable person for
$1,500 cash. Call at theater 7 to 9 pm 2488 W. Washington St."
Times theatre listings in 1931 included the Gem.
It became the Maynard Theatre in 1936, named after Maynard Sloate. The first L.A. Times ad under the new name appeared on September 23 according to Mike Rivest. Ronna Schulkin notes that Sloate was a first cousin of her father, veteran theatreman Morris A. Schulkin. Shululkin owned many theatres and was once partners with Joseph Corwin (née Cohen). Their first theatre in L.A. was the Broadway. The two families had operated theatres together in Sioux City, Iowa and moved west together.
Ronna comments about Maynard Sloate: "He was a very interesting player in jazz and comedy clubs in L.A. during the 40s and 50s. It seems he gave Lenny Bruce his start in L.A. and managed many famous jazz musicians. Before all that, Maynard's family was involved in my family’s theatre business. This theatre was named after him."
This selection of 1948 L.A. Times theatre listings included the Maynard. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ads for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page where he also included many other Maynard items in the comments.
Joe Vogel found an item in the Boxoffice issue of May 6, 1950 reporting that Joe Vinnicof, who was running the theatre at the time, had closed it due to poor business.
Closing: It was running again as late as 1958, evidently on and off.
Status: It's been demolished.
1951 - "Hollywood Slump" was the title of the story. It's a photo of the then-vacant theatre taken in May by Edward Clark for Life magazine. It's in the Google / Life Images collection. Also see another view from the west.
1951 - Another facade view by Clark, this time from the east. It's on Google / Life Images.
1951 - The Maynard is across the street in this Edward Clark photo, part of the same set on Google/Life Images. Also see another similar shot. We're under the marquee of the Arlington Theatre, 2517 W. Washington Blvd.
1950s - Looking east on Washington toward Arlington St. On the marquee it's perhaps "LA Premiere - Return To Life." That film was a 1949 French release starring Bernard Blier, Louis Jouvet and Noël-Noël. Thanks to Sean Ault for sharing the photo from his collection.
1956 - A fine view looking east on Washington Blvd. That's the Russian film "The Grasshopper" that they're advertising. It's a photo from the Sean Ault collection.
1956 - A detail from Sean's photo. Thanks, Sean!
2020 - Another view east on Washington after a few changes. The theatre's site is now an auto repair and tire emporium. That's Arlington heading south on the right. Photo: Google Maps.
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Maynard for fine research by Joe Vogel, Ken McIntyre and other contributors.
See the page here on this site for information about the newer Arlington Theatre across the street from the Maynard.
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