Jewel Theatre

3817 Whittier Blvd. East Los Angeles, CA 90023 | map |

Opened: 1921. It was on the north side of the street a half block east of Indiana St. "Take This Car to Bullock's Downtown." Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this image when it was for sale online. The Jewel, on the left, was running the 1956 release "The Revolt of Mamie Stover" starring Jane Russell and Richard Egan.

In the 1922 city directory the theatre is listed as at 3829 Stephenson. The street was soon renamed Whittier Blvd. In a 1923 Paramount ad it's listed as being at 3829 Whittier Blvd. Jeff  Bridges has the ad on Flickr. The 1923 city directory uses the same address. In the 1929 directory it's listed at 3817 Whittier.

Architect: Unknown

Seating: 770

 

A lobby view appearing with "Carpeting for Modern Theatre Walls and Floors," an article in the January 9, 1938 issue of Boxoffice. Thanks to Joe Vogel for locating the article. The caption: "The foyer of the Jewel Theatre, in Los Angeles, where velvet carpeting is featured with fine furnishings." 

 

In the early 40s Harry Popkin's Eastland Theatres was running the Jewel. 

 

 

A March 28, 1940 ad located by Ken McIntyre. 

 

 

 

 Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this April 1942 ad from the L.A. Times. 

 

By 1945 Harry Vinnicof was running the Jewel.

 

A 1945 listing for the Vinnicof Theatre Circuit in the film Daily Yearbook.  

 

 

A 1945 listing for the other company associated with Vinnicof. Note Jimmy Edwards working as the secretary-treasurer. He would later run some of these theatres under his own banner including the Tumbleweed and the Monterey. 

 

By 1947 it had become part of the "Encore Theatres" / "Academies of Proven Hits" booking combine: 

 

 A 1947 ad for the Jewel. 

Another 1947 ad. 

A 1948 ad including the Jewel. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the ad.

 

The 1949 Film Daily Yearbook listed "Academies of Proven Hits" as a company run by Saul Mahler and James Nicholson. The theatres listed as being under their control at the time included the Arlington, Cinema, Jewel, Picfair and Vermont. Joe Moritz was also a part of the company.

A 1949 ad. It was a find by Comfortably Cool for Cinema Treasures.

Bill Housos notes that by 1957 it was being operated by Aladdin Enterprises and adds that it was known for the neon jewel on the marquee.  

 

 

Still running in 1958. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for these January 27 listings included in a thread about the theatre on the Ken's Movie Page Facebook group.  

Closing: 1958 might have been the end.

Status: It's now a garment workshop.

 

 

More exterior views:

c.1948 - Running "Mare nostrom," a 1948 release with Maria Felix. The co-feature, "Se acabaron los mujeres," was out in 1946. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this photo as well as the two below for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group. 

 

1952 - A look behind the boxoffice. "Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair" and Brando in "Viva Zapata" in the display cases.

 

 

 

1952 - Another ticket lobby view. Thanks, Ken!

2019 - The building as a garment manufacturing location. We're looking east on Whittier Blvd. toward Alma St. Photo: Google Maps

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Jewel Theatre.

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