Opened: 1914 or earlier as the Keystone Theatre. Its first city directory listing was 1914. It was on the south side of the street between Clarence St. and Gless St. That's about five blocks east of the L.A. River, an area once known as "The Flats." It's now called Aliso Village.
Seating: 280 is the number used by Cinema Treasures, presumably from a Film Daily Yearbook. 652 was a number the site had been using earlier.
"Mutual Programs and Pacific Features." The Keystone's listing in a 1914 L.A. Times directory ad that also featured 30 other theatres. Thanks to Jeff Bridges for posting the full ad on Flickr.
A 1918 ad for the Keystone in the L.A. Express. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it. That Merryland Theatre was later known as the Dorkel. The street the Ivy Theatre was on was soon renamed Whittier Blvd.
In early city directories the Keystone was shown with a 1522 address. It's not in the 1934 directory. By 1935 they start listing it with a 1520 address. Bill Gabel notes that the 1936 Film Daily Yearbook indicated it was closed that year. It's still listed as the Keystone in city directories through 1941. It's not in the 1942 city directory.
It reopened as the Aliso Theatre on March 27, 1946 with Preston Foster in "Guadalcanal Diary" along with Laurel and Hardy in "Bullfighters." Eastland Theatres was still the operator. Thanks to Mike Rivest for the research.
Closing: It was evidently running into the mid-1970s. Gus Ornelas remembers it only open part of the time in the 70s and running Japanese films. The closing date is unknown but presumably the 1974 earthquake was the end for it.
Status: It's been demolished.
Looking west toward downtown on 1st St. The tracks are for the Gold Line. The building on the far left is at 1526 E 1st. The newer building set back from the street is on the theatre site, using a 1522-1520 address. Photo: Google Maps - 2020
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Aliso.
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I grew up in Aliso Village during the '70's, I remember that theater was not always open, but when it was, it was showing strictly Japanese samurai type movies. On Sunday evenings you would see well dressed Japanese folks leaving the theater. After the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the theater was condemned and eventually torn down. I don't remember, but I think the theater had a Japanese name, I may be wrong. -- Gus Ornelas
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gus! Nice to get a bit more history on this one.
DeleteI also remember this Japanese theater in the 1960s we lived in Boyle Heights and (I think) the 26 bus line ran by to Little Tokyo. but I can't remember it's name.
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