Opened: March 29, 1950. It was on the south side of the street a bit east of Concourse Ave. The Garmar Theatre was named for the two sons, Gary and Mark, of the owner Al Olander. Olander also owned the Vogue in Montebello.
The 1979 photo is by Ave Pildas. Thanks to Stacey Kaye for posting it on Flickr, although not credited. It also appears, again uncredited, with Al Desmadre's "Memories of a Lost Boulevard: The Garmar Theatre," a 2008 post for LA Eastside. Al comments:
"The Garmar was indeed, the 'ritziest' of the Whittier Boulevard 'Shows' (as we called them). For sheer luxurious comfort, perfect sightlines and cool comfortable temperatures, this was the 'Tops.' You always found ample, conveniently adjacent parking, moderate and civilized crowds and top-notch projection values, and of course, the glass walled 'Crying Room' for your movie viewing convenience."
Seating: 998
Architect: S. Charles Lee. His design used a self supporting Lamella-style arched wood roof for the auditorium.
A rendering on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers collection. Morris & Monroe get a credit for photographing it. Over 600 photos from the collection have been scanned and are on Calisphere. They can also be viewed on the UCLA Library Digital Collections website. For help locating the many items in the collection that haven't been digitized, see the Finding Aid for the S. Charles Lee Papers on the Online Archive of California site.
The rendering was used for an item on page 9 of the July 22, 1950 issue of Boxoffice. Thanks to Mike Hume for finding the article on the site Yumpu. The caption called the Garmar an "example of the deluxe type of theatre" being opened that year and noted that its cost was around $250,000.
The rendering, as well as a proscenium view, appeared again on page 39 of the Modern Theatre section of the August 5, 1950 issue of Boxoffice. Thanks to Joe Vogel for spotting this. They noted that the theatre had a 400 space parking lot and mentioned that "A screen of the Cycloramic type has been installed with special perforations to add depth to the picture image."
An article about the new theatre from the L.A. Times. The rendering seen above also appeared, but with its marquee copy whited out. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the story for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. Thanks to Bill Gabel for finding this description in a trade magazine:
"The front is trimmed in copper and stainless steel with green and coral circular neon on the facade above the double marquee. The walls of the lobby and foyer are done in pastel colors with tone on tone carpeting covering the floor and indirect lighting.
"The front of the candy counter and doors leading to the green terrazzo restrooms are paneled in redwood. The walls of the auditorium are also done in pastel shades with combed plywood sides. A special smoking room and a crying room add to patron convenience."
Pacific Theatres took over the operation around 1958. The transition was noted in an October 19, 1959 article in Boxoffice.
Closing: Presumably it closed in fall 1982. The actual date is unknown. Pacific was still operating it at the time.
Status: It was demolished for a strip mall, the Garmar Plaza.
Interior views:
A lobby photo that appeared in the December 2, 1950 issue of Boxoffice. It was the cover of their Modern Theatre section for that issue, all about "Refreshment Service." Thanks to Joe Vogel for spotting the photo. The caption:
"The luxurious appearance of the lobby and refreshment service unit in the Garmar Theatre, Montebello, Calif., illustrates graphically what can be done to make effective a sales location. Tilted display shelves afford a maximum of visibility to the tops and sides of bars displayed.
"The Manley popper is in a position for the actual popping of corn to be the most effective sales stimulant. An interesting treatment is the slatted canopy above the stand. Recessed downlights in the ceiling provide illumination."
A later snackbar view from "Vending Ups Sales 100%," a three page article
about Olander's strategies using machines to boost concession sales. The article noted that youngsters "will spend money more for the fun of pulling a lever than anything else." The
article begins on page 34 of the Modern Theatre section of the October 19, 1959 issue of Boxoffice. The issue is on the site Yumpu. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating the article.
A proscenium view. Thanks to Benny Ballejo for locating the photo for a post on Facebook and also to Steven Otto for spotting it.
A view looking down the long auditorium toward the booth. The wall paneling is combed plywood stained a deep coral. It's an L.A. Todd photo on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
In the smoking room on the main floor house left. With, of course, a vending machine for your convenience. A cry room was located house right. It's an L.A. Todd photo on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
A booth view. Motiograph AAA projectors, Motiograph SH-7500 soundheads, Motiograph amplifiers, Strong Mogul lamps. It's an L.A. Todd photo on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers Collection.
A lobby photo taken during the c.1983 demolition from the collection of Sylvia Cuellar. Thanks to David Zornig for posting it on Cinema Treasures.
A lobby photo taken during the c.1983 demolition from the collection of Sylvia Cuellar. Thanks to David Zornig for posting it on Cinema Treasures.
More exterior views:
1950 - The Garmar running "The Red Shoes' and "Four Days Leave." Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.
1950 - An entrance detail by L.A. Todd on Calisphere from the UCLA S. Charles Lee Papers collection.
1981 - A fine view of the theatre from the now-vanished American Classic Images website.
1982 - A last look at the theatre when it was still operating. "The Beastmaster" was an August 1982 release. Thanks to Richard DuVal for locating the photo for a post on the Cinema Treasures Facebook page.
c.1983 - Approaching the east side of the theatre with demolition underway. Many thanks to Jim Staub for copying six photos taken by his late friend Greg Rodriguez and sharing them in a Facebook post. He comments:
"If you grew up in Montebello, California or an adjacent suburban city in the 50s, 60s, 70s, the Garmar Theatre on Whittier Blvd. holds a place in your 'walk-in' movie memories. I must have seen every Jerry Lewis movie made throughout the 60s at the Garmar! Summer matinees. You had the public plunges and the movie theaters to cool down in those years without air conditioned houses.
"My buddy from Montebello, Greg Rodriquez, took a series of photos from bus rides to and from work sometime in the early to mid 80s. The envelope and proof-sheet these film negatives came from, which I am digitizing, had no date. The 'Garmar' though was immediately recognizable on the proofs. The physical cityscapes of one's youth are immune to the nostalgia of a long life. There is no perfection in these hasty passing camera attempts to hold on to the Garmar, in its dull demolition... yet there is just enough."
c.1983 - An entrance view from the collection of Sylvia Cuellar. Thanks to David Zornig for posting it on Cinema Treasures.
c.1983 - The west side of the entrance. Photo: Greg Rodriguez
c.1983 - Note the Lamella framing structure revealed after the roofing had been stripped off. Thanks to Slvia Cuellar for sharing this photo. And again thanks to David Zornig for posting this on Cinema Treasures.
c.1983 - Another view of the building's west side with the roof framing still in place. Photo: Greg Rodriguez
c.1983 - The east wall after removal of the roof. Photo: Greg Rodriguez
c.1983 - The west side after demolition of the entrance structure and part of the side wall. Photo: Greg Rodriguez. Thanks to Jim Staub for sharing Greg's photos.
2019 - Looking east on Whittier Blvd. from Concourse Ave. toward the exciting expanse of Garmar Plaza. Photo: Google Maps
More information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Garmar for a nice description of the building as well as recollections by many contributors about great times at the theatre.
See "Memories of a Lost Boulevard: The Garmar Theatre," Al Desmadre's 2008 post on LA Eastside for lots of comments about moviegoing in Montebello.
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I remember driving by another theater in the same area back in the 90s. I thought maybe this was it, I recall it had a large, elaborate, lobby that was visible from the street. By that time, it was closed as a theater and was being used for retail. Does this sound familiar, or am I losing what's left of my mind?
ReplyDeleteWell, the only likely one in Montebello would have been the Vogue. But neither the words large or elaborate would apply. https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2020/08/vogue-montebello.html
DeleteNow you're not thinking about something closer in like the Golden Gate are you? Big forecourt visible from the street but wouldn't have been retail in the 90s. You might want to head to this page where something familiar might jump out at you: https://losangelestheatres.blogspot.com/2020/08/north-and-eastside.html