El Sereno Theatre

Huntington Dr. El Sereno (Los Angeles), CA 90032 | map - approximate |

Opening: The guess is 1922 although information is spotty.

The home page of the El Sereno Historical Society has one sentence about the theatre: "A one-story theatre and brick store building, erected on Huntington Drive in 1922, was designed by architect A. Godfrey Bailey." They're not confusing it with the Cameo as they also mention that theatre as a 1924 vintage house designed by J.T. Payne. The page is worth a look as it has many vintage photos of the neighborhood.

Bailey was doing a remodel in 1924, perhaps so the theatre could keep up with its new competition, the Cameo. The California Index of the Los Angeles Public Library has a card noting an item that was in the July 4, 1924 issue of Southwest Builder & Contractor. They have it indexed as relating to the Cameo but it's the wrong architect and also a time that makes no sense for that theatre. The card notes: "architect A. Godfrey Bailey prepares plans for remodeling of foyer, etc. of theatre." 

There are reports on various Cinema Treasures pages of an organ getting installed in the El Sereno Theatre in 1924. It's unknown if by that it's meant this particular theatre or just a theatre in the El Sereno neighborhood. 

Closing: Sorry, no data about that. 

More Information: Also see the page about the Mazatlan Theatre on Eastern Ave. It was called the El Sereno when it opened in 1940.

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