11709 Long Beach Blvd. Lynwood, CA 90262 | map |
Opened: Tuesday March 4, 1947 with a gala sneak of "Suddenly It's Spring" starring Paulette Goddard and Fred MacMurray. The Arden was on the west side of Long Beach Blvd., a couple blocks south of where the 105 now crosses. The opening was graced by numerous stars including Claire Trevor, Dale Evans and Alexis Smith. Bill Marshall, star of "Calendar Girl," was the MC. The only thing marring the event was "the slashing of several seats by vandalistic children." The screening was followed by management taking over a local restaurant for a party.
In this 1947 shot by Photo Enterprise they were running "The Verdict" with Peter Lorre, a November 1946 release. The co-feature, "The Return of Monte Cristo" with Louis Hayward, was out in December 1946. The photo is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection. Note the driveway leading under the marquee to the parking lot out in back.
When the house opened it was running split weeks. "Humoresque" and "Wicked Lady" played Wesnesday March 5 through March 8. "Till the Clouds Roll By" with June Allyson and Van
Johnson played along with Warner Baxter in "Crime Doctor's Man Hunt" beginning Sunday March 9. Thanks to theatre historian Kurt Wahlner for the research. Visit his site about the Chinese: GraumansChinese.org
The theatre was operated by W.J. Zimmerman and Albert Hanson of South-Lyn Theatres. They also had the Lynwood Theatre in Lynwood (nearly across the street) and the Allen and Vogue in South Gate. Later the company added the Nubel and Circle
theatres in Bellflower. After Zimmerman was gone Al's son Wayne was involved in the company.
Seating: 940
Architect: S. Charles Lee. Over 600 photos from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection have been scanned and are on Calisphere. They can also be viewed on the UCLA Library Digital Collections website.
The project was announced in 1941 but wartime restrictions didn't allow it to proceed. Thanks to Mark Brandl for locating this article in the December 5, 1941 issue of the Lynwood Press:
That Tower Bowl mentioned in the article had a facade not unlike what we see in the Arden illustration with this article.
On February 28, 1947 the Lynwood Press ran a story about the upcoming opening that was located by Kurt Wahlner. The page also included many congratulatory ads:
Thanks to Mark Brandl for locating this item. The "fire resistant construction throughout" that was noted here didn't save the theatre from damage after it had closed. On the marquee in this shot it was "Till the Clouds Roll By" and "Crime Doctor's Man Hunt," the program that played beginning March 9. See a sharper version from another publication lower on the page.
There was a sale to a new company called Allied Theatres in 1962. Thanks to Mark Brandl for locating this story in the May 15 issue of the Lynwood Press:
Closing: The Arden closed in March 1974.
Status: It's gone. One of our contributors notes that there was a fire sometime before 1980 that caused a roof collapse:
"I grew up in South Gate on San Juan Ave. just north of Abbott Rd. When I was in jr. high, my friends and I would sneak in and play around inside. That was in 1979 or 1980. I remember how cool it was inside. The snack bar was in good shape. I even took a sign that said 'Popcorn' or something like that and had it in my garage. There were signs of transients or druggies in there and made it scary, but that made it more fun.
"The trippy part though was that when we would walk into the
theater from the lobby doors, the roof was caved in on top of the seats
exposing the sky. It was rather sad to see... there was a fire that caused
the roof to cave in 1980 at the latest and perhaps earlier. I remember
the inside looking really cool and felt like we were going back in time
as so much was still intact including signs and counters."
In 1988 there was another fire that finished it off. There's now a used car lot on the site.
Interior views:
Looking toward the snackbar and the entrance doors. The photo by Hoffman-Luckhaus Studio is on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
An etched panel in the lobby. It's a photo by Hoffman-Luckhaus Studio on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
A fine look at the auditorium from the Ronald W. Mahan Collection. It's a photo taken by Western Photo Service for Grosh Scenic Studios. Thanks, Ron!
More exterior views:
1947 - The theatre running "Till the Clouds Roll By" and "Crime Doctor's Man Hunt," the program that opened March 9. Thanks to
Elmorovivo for finding this trade magazine photo for a post on Cinema Treasures. The photo appeared with this caption:
1947 - A detail from the Hoffman-Luckhaus "Topper" photo. It's on Calisphere. They had some great product coming up. In the display cases to the left of the boxoffice labeled "coming soon" were posters for "Slave Girl," a July 1947 release with Yvonne De Carlo and George Brent, and "Kiss of Death," a September 1947 release with Victor Mature, Coleen Gray and Richard Widmark.
1974 - Thanks to Matt Spero for sharing this photo he took of the recently closed theatre. Don't believe that "Open" sign below the readerboard.
c.1980 - A view south toward the closed theatre. Thanks to Sean Ault for locating the photo.
2020 - A fine car lot is on the site of the theatre. We're looking north on Long Beach Blvd. with the 105 in the distance. The Lynwood Theatre was once off to the right. Photo: Google Maps
More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Arden. Cinema Tour has a page with a 1947 photo.
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Would walk to there in the early 60s to see a movie!! it was so beautiful inside!!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in South Gate on San Juan Ave just north of Abbott Rd. When I was in jr. high, my friends and I would sneak in and play around inside. That was in 1979 or 1980. I remember how cool it was inside. The snack bar was in good shape. I even took a sign that said “Popcorn” or something like that and had it in my garage. There were signs of transients or druggies in there and made it scary, but that made it more fun. The trippy part though was that when we would walk into the theater from the lobby doors, the roof was caved in on top of the seats exposing the sky. It was rather sad to see. The post here lists that The Arden burned down in 1988. However, there was a fire that caused the roof to cave in 1980 at the latest and perhaps earlier. I remember the inside looking really cool and felt like we were going back in time as so much was still intact including signs and counters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments and the data. Well, I have nothing to back up that 1988 date. It came from a listing on Cinema Treasures. A second fire? Unknown. We obviously need more research. I added your comments up in the text. Perhaps more information will pop up.
DeleteI would like to know if the extra art deco art on the walls was destroyed in the fire or if it was auctioned off.
ReplyDeleteWell, I for one certainly don't know. Sounds like a good research topic. Want to hit the old newspapers to see what you can learn about any salvage operations or auctions? Usually this stuff just gets either vandalized or goes down with the building. Let me know if you learn anything!
Delete