Los Angeles Theatres: Park Theatre

5825 N. Figueroa St. Highland Park (Los Angeles), CA 90042 | map |

Opened: May 29, 1936 with "These Three" and "The Return of Jimmy Valentine." When the theatre opened, this stretch of Figueroa was called Pasadena Ave. It was on the west side of the street at Avenue 59.

"First Run in Highland Park" says the banner. The easel notes that there's a Holiday Matinee for Decoration Day, the holiday now known as Memorial Day. The 1952 photo is one displayed on the wall of the lobby at Laemmle's Royal Theatre. "Singin' in the Rain" was an April release. "Flesh and Fury," a story with Tony Curtis about a deaf boxer, was out in March.

Architect: Unknown

Seating: 620

The Park was built by David L. Cantor who had recently moved to Highland Park after selling his theatres in Washington State. The cost was $50,000. The name was picked via a "name-the-theatre" contest that received over 1,000 entries. The name "Park" was submitted by 17 entrants. Joanna Bartley, the first to suggest it, got a lifetime pass. The theatre later was part of the Laemmle circuit.

A ticket for the Jackpot at the Park. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this on eBay.

Closing: The theatre closed in 1963 and the space was turned into retail use. The closure of the Park was discussed in "Trolleys and Park Theatre; now they are both gone," an article in the May 19, 1963 issue of the Highland Park News-Herald. Thanks to Joe Vogel for locating the article, which gives a fine history of the theatre and mentions the other theatres nearby. The article can be seen as a PDF from the Los Angeles Public Library. It's also reproduced below.

Status: There was an arson fire in 1990. The structure was rebuilt but only a wall or two of the original building remains. It's now a Dollar Tree store.