Los Angeles Theatres: Family Theatre

7024 Greenleaf Ave. Whittier, CA 90602 | map |

Opened: 1909. This was second location for Whittier's first theatre -- its original location is unknown. The address before street renumbering was 124 S. Greenleaf Ave. It's listed with that address in the 1911 city directory. There were only two theatres listed that year. The other was the Optic.

Seats: 300

An entrance detail. Thanks to Nicholas Edmeier for sharing the photo in his 2023 article "History of Whittier Movie Theaters" on the Whittier Museum blog. He notes: "You can make out the large 'Family Theatre' banner next to the ticket counter."

That "Vanity" sign might have been for the January 1917 release starring Emmy Wehlen. There was also a 1914 film titled "The Price of Vanity."

Ron Pierce commented on Cinema Treasures:

"The Family Theater, evidently Whittier’s first movie theater, became listed in the Whittier News in June of 1909 with no location noted. On September 18, 1909, the Keipp family opened it at a newer and roomier location, with 300-seats, at this address (then 124 South). The Family Theater dropped out of the listings in June of 1916, around the time of the opening of the new Gale Theatre. The building was later demolished."

The site was on the east side of the street a half block south of Philadelphia St. It was a busy block with other early theatres on the other side of the street including the Optic Theatre and, a bit later, the Gale Theatre. In 1932 the Wardman (now the Whittier Village Cinemas) would open south of the Family's location.

Status: It's been demolished.

Looking south on Greenleaf Ave. That gray and white faux-Colonial structure in the center is on the site of the Family Theatre. Beyond is the turquiose of the Whittier Village Cinemas. Photo: Google Maps - 2019

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page about the Family Theatre. Thanks to Ron Pierce for the research.

A mystery theatre in Whittier: There was a Majestic Theatre running in 1911. It's not in that year's city directory nor in the 1910, 1911 or 1912 phone books. At this point it's unknown wether or not it was a name used for a short period at the Optic or the Family. Or an entirely different venue.