Los Angeles Theatres: Meralta Theatre

10912 Downey Ave. Downey, CA 90241 | map |

Opened: 1926. It was on the east side of the street between 3rd St. and 4th St. The 20s photo is in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The Downey Conservancy has also included it with their collection on Flickr.

The theatre generally played first run films and was the class place to go for those living in Paramount, Norwalk, Lakewood or Downey. There was a cry room upstairs for the babies and loge seats at the rear if you wanted to splurge.

Seating: 853 after the 1961 reseating.

Architect: Evan Jones of Hollywood was the original architect. Thanks to Joe Vogel for doing the research. He notes:

"Southwest Builder and Contractor, issue of 5/15/1925, says that architect Evan Jones, 5158 Hollywood Boulevard, had prepared plans for a 2 story, class C theater and shops to be built on North Crawford Avenue in Downey, between 3rd and 4th Streets. The owner of the theater was Mrs. Ada B. Adams, and the theater was to be leased to Pearl Merrill and Laura Peralta of Culver City."

Crawford was later renamed Downey Ave. Mrs. Adams had also built the Downey Theatre, a house a block away that was later renamed the Victory and then became the Avenue Theatre. When it opened it had a different lessee than the Meralta. By the 40s both houses ended up under the same management after the initial operators left. There were two other Meralta theatres operated by the ladies. See the pages on the Meralta Theatre in Culver City and the Meralta Theatre in East L.A.

A lantern slide from 1947 used to advertise the "Cash Nite" payouts at the Meralta and Victory theatres. Thanks to the Ronald W. Mahan Collection for sharing this image of their slide.

The Meralta got a remodel in 1949 designed by Clarence Smale and he gave it another re-do in 1961. The 1961 remodel included more work on the facade (but retained the 1947 signage) plus new auditorium wall treatment and seating.

A 1928 ad for "Wings" in Maganacope with "Marvelous Synchronized Atmospheric Sound Effects" at the Meralta. It's on Flickr from the Downey Conservancy.

In the 40s through the 60s the Meralta was operated E.R. Cummings Theatres. Mr. Cummings also had the Victory/Avenue as well as the Norwalk Theatre on Firestone Blvd. in Norwalk.

A 1946 ad from the Downey Historical Society. Thanks to Predator for spotting it for a post on Cinema Treasures.

A proposed remodeling in 1947. Thanks to Deanna Bayless for spotting it on Flickr from the Downey Conservancy. It had appeared in the February 27 issue of the Downey paper with this caption:

"Completely Remodeled - Inside and outside, as indicated in the above artists conception is the program already in progress for Evert R. Cummings' Meralta Theatre in Downey. Actual work on construction will be started soon. Designer of the classically beautiful and ultra-modern theatre project is Clarence Smale, nationally known theatre architect." The project didn't happen in 1947 and when it finally did the facade didn't look anything like this design.

Joe Vogel located an item in the April 16, 1949 issue of Boxoffice noting that the Cummings circuit would spend $200,000 on remodeling its Victory and Meralta Theatres. The Victory emerged as the Avenue after the remodel.

A Wagner ad featuring the Meralta that ran in the December 3, 1949 issue of Boxoffice.

The theatre got another upgrade in 1961 designed by Clarence Smale with the Heinsbergen Co. as decorators. It was outlined in "Cummings Invests $100,000 In Updating Meralta Theatre," an article in the August 7 issue of Boxoffice. Also see the continuation on page W-3.

Closing: The Meralta closed in the mid-1970s.

Status: It was demolished in 1978. It's now a parking lot.

Interior views:

Ready to serve you at the snackbar in 1955. The photo was part of an ad in the Downey High School Yearbook. Thanks to Chris B for posting it on Cinema Treasures.

A lobby photo that appeared with "Cummings Invests $100,000 In Updating Meralta Theatre," an article that was in the August 7, 1961 issue of Boxoffice. Also see the continuation on page W-3. "The foyer beginning immediately inside glass entrance doors has walls of vinyl fabric, a ceiling of off-white acoustic tile. At the entrance to auditorium aisles are pre-finished cherry panels and black ebony fins. A large snack bar is on the right side of the foyer. Deep-pile carpeting is used throughout the new Meralta."

An auditorium view that appeared with the 1961 Boxoffice article. "The auditorium is seated with Heywood-Wakefield padded-back chairs, except the loge, where rocking chair models are used. Walls of the auditorium are finished in Limpett acoustical material, which is decorated in deep tones of coral and bleached gold. The dado is painted charcoal gray. Screen drapery includes a cascade curtain of hammered satin in a peanut color. The New Meralta features a family room where parents with small children may view the picture without disturbing others and a smoking room." Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the Boxoffice article.

More exterior views:

1926 - A photo of the Meralta taken by George Mann, of the comedy dance team of Barto and Mann. Thanks to Brad Smith for posting the photo on Flickr. For a real treat, browse through the amazing album of over a hundred Theatre Marquees by George Mann.

1929 - The theatre is running Buster Keaton's "The Cameraman." On the right here it's a Buick dealer, replacing the Hudson dealer that had been there earlier. It's a photo from the collection of the Downey Conservancy appearing on Flickr.

A cropped version of the photo appears on page 73 of the 2010 Arcadia Publishing book "Downey" by Larry Latimer and the Downey Historical Society. The page with the photo is part of the preview on Google Books. The book is available from Amazon or your local bookseller.

1929 - "Say It With Songs" with Al Jolson, Davey Lee and Marian Nixon was the feature. The film was distributed in both silent and sound versions. Thanks to Michael Poulin for sharing this postcard on Flickr. Also see a tinted version.

late 1930s - We're looking northwest along Downey Ave. with Firestone Blvd. being the second horizontal street up from the bottom. The Avenue Theatre at 11022 Downey Ave. is visible and, beyond it with the taller white stagehouse, is the Meralta at 10912 Downey Ave. Thanks to Joe Vogel for spotting this one on Flickr from the Downey Conservancy.

late 1930s - A detail from the Conservancy's photo. Downey Ave. is on the left with the very light-colored Meralta Theatre perpendicular to the street. There's a white building this side of the Meralta, and then we get the stage end of the Avenue backing onto 3rd St. The top of the Avenue's stagehouse was later removed. The Avenue's lobby and entrance are to the left of the auditorium.

1940s - A view looking southwest with the Meralta in the lower third toward the right and the stage end of the two-toned Avenue Theatre up a block backing onto 3rd St. Thanks to Larry Latimer and the Downey Historical Society for the photo. The organization also has a Facebook page.

1950 - The Meralta running "Ma and Pa Kettle Go To Town" and "The Great Rupert" with Jimmy Durante. The photo is on Flickr from the Downey Conservancy. It had appeared in an ad from E.R. Cummings Theatres that also included Mr. Cummings' nearby Avenue Theatre.

1953 - Advertising an upcoming "Halloween Jalopy Revue" in conjunction with the local Pontiac dealer. They were running "The Caddy" with Martin and Lewis along with "Thunder Bay" with James Stewart and Joanne Dru. The photo appears on page 73 of "Downey" by Larry Latimer and the Downey Historical Society. The page with this photo is part of the preview on Google Books. There's a slightly less cropped version on Flickr from the Downey Conservancy.

1955 - Students getting their tickets for a matinee. The photo was part of an ad in the Downey High School Yearbook. Thanks to Chris B for posting it on Cinema Treasures.

1957 - "Barbara Hamilton, Mary Lou Duffy and Beverly Erwin say 'Why spend your Friday and Saturday nights at home? Spend them at ... the Meralta Theatre.'" The photo from a Cummings Theatres ad is on Flickr from the Downey Conservancy.

c.1960 - The Meralta Square shops and a look at the theatre's stagehouse. Thanks to Michael Poulin for locating this shot and sharing it on Flickr. It also made an appearance on a 2010 page from Downey Daily Photos where they credit it to the Downey Historical Society Archives.

1961 - A view north on Downey Ave. from Firestone Blvd. with the Avenue and Meralta theatres visible in the distance on the right. It's a photo appearing on page 87 of the 2010 Arcadia Publishing book "Downey" by Larry Latimer and the Downey Historical Society. The page with this photo is part of the preview on Google Books.

1961 - "A striking effect on the front of the building was reached through the use of travertine marble to the height of the marquee. The upper portion of the front was modernized through the use of Aluminaur antique gold decking and Cameo white rhombic porcelain. The box office becomes a feature with a generous display of crystal glass, anodized gold metal trim, vinyl wall covering, and a modern lighting treatment." The photo and copy appeared with "Cummings Invests $100,000 In Updating Meralta Theatre," an article that was spotted by Bill Gabel in the August 7, 1961 issue of Boxoffice. Also see the continuation on page W-3.

c.1962 - "Breakfast at Tiffany's" at the Meralta. Thanks to Michael Poulin for locating this photo for a post on Flickr.

1973 - The Meralta vertical is in the distance in this view north on Downey Ave. The Avenue had "Cabaret" and "Sterile Cuckoo." Thanks to Louie Linares for sharing the photo on the Southern California Nostalgia Facebook page.

1970s - A lovely but lonely early morning view looking along Downey Ave. Thanks to Larry Latimer and the Downey Historical Society for the photo.

1 comment:

AnonymousApril 17, 2023 at 8:50 AM
Loved working at the Meralta & Avenue theatres in the late 70’s through my senior year of high school & college years. Really missed them … wish the Meralta could have been saved! It was the best of both, sad to see it as a parking lot. Great story, thanks for the history & photos!