Los Angeles Theatres: Arroyo Theatre

3236 N. Figueroa St. Cypress Park (Los Angeles), CA 90065 | map |

Opened: 1928 as the Arroyo Theatre, initially operated by Pacific Coast Theatres. The building is on the east side of the street just south of Cypress Ave. At the time of the openening this stretch of Figueroa was called Dayton Ave. Photo: Bill Counter - 2018

Cinema Treasures contributor Dallas Movie Theatres researched the opening and notes that it was on December 28 with Lon Chaney in "While the City Sleeps." Walter Freed was the organist on the theatre's Robert Morton.

The theatre doesn't appear to be in the 1928 or 1929 city directories.

Architect: Unknown. The City's Zimas database gives a 1928 construction date for the building.

Seating: 963

"Where The Talkies Talk The Best." In this June 1931 ad they note that the theatre was operated by Paramount Theatres, Inc. It's unknown if this firm had any relation to Paramount Pictures. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad for a thread about the area's theatres on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

A July 1931 flyer for the Arroyo. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding this on eBay.

"Refrigeration Now!" The inside of the flyer.

A column of 1931 ads that included the Arroyo. "Three Who Loved" was a July release with Betty Compson and Conrad Nagel. "Too Young To Marry" was also out in July. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting the ad.

The theatre is in the 1932 directory as the Arroyo at 3236 Dayton Ave. In the 1933 directory the address has become 3236 N. Figueroa St. In 1935 the address is 3232. In the 1937 through 1939 directories it was listed as the Arroyo Seco Theatre. There's no listing for it in the 1940, 1941 or 1942 directories.

Closing: The end came in 1957. Cinema Treasures contributor Dallas Movie Theaters has the report:

"Closed as a movie theatre on May 19, 1957 with a great double-feature of 'Zombies of Mora Tau' and 'The Man Who Turned to Stone.'"

Status: It has mostly been used for storage. There had been a restaurant in the lobby, the Cozy Corner, since at least 2008. In 2021 RickB reported that it was then a caterer called Heirloom LA.

Interior views:

A 40s lobby view with a early cabinet-style snack bar. Thanks to Bill Gabel for finding it for a post on Cinema Treasures. And that's it for vintage interior views so far.

The upper part of the auditorium back wall. Photo: Escott O. Norton - 2017

A detail of the ornament below projection booth level from the previous photo.

A closer look at the molding up near the rafters. Photo: Escott O. Norton - 2017

Another ornamented area on the back wall. Photo: Escott O. Norton - 2017.

Thanks, Escott! He notes that there's nothing ornamental remaining, or at least nothing visible, in the restaurant area that once was the lobby.

More exterior views:

2005 - Thanks to Ken Roe for this facade detail, a post on Cinema Treasures.

c.2008 - A fine view from Martin that once appeared on his now-vanished site You-Are-Here.com.

2010 - Fixed up a bit and with a restaurant in the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter

2012 - A Google Maps view included by Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality on his Noirish post #13935 where he muses about the building.