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.

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.

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

The theatre later was part of the Laemmle circuit.

"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.

It's unknown when the Laemmles gave up the Park. It got new operators in early 1963 with a takeover by Geoff Eccleston, formerly of the Monica, and Stuart Levin, from the Hawaii Theatre.

Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating this February 14 article.

Closing: The theatre was closed by May 1963 and the space was turned into retail use.

This photo appeared with "Trolleys and Park Theatre; now they are both gone," the article in the May 19, 1963 issue of the Highland Park News-Herald that's reproduced below. The photo's caption:

"COMING ATTRACTION - Film titles no longer grace the marquee of the Park Theater in Highland Park which is to become part of Peoples' Department Store. The theatre opened in 1936 and symbolized the faith of a country recovering from the depression."

Thanks to Joe Vogel for locating the article. It can be seen as a PDF from the Los Angeles Public Library.

Status: In 1990 there was an arson fire in the repurposed theatre. The structure was rebuilt but only a wall or two of the original building remains. For years it was a Dollar Tree store, until that company's 2024 decision to close about a thousand stores. It's now a thrift store called Bridge Thrift.