Los Angeles Theatres: Gateway Theatre

3731 San Fernando Rd. Glendale, CA 91204 | map |

Opening: July 2, 1923. It was on the west side of the street about a block north of Brand Blvd. This 1923 "Watch For Opening" photo from Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives appears on page 105 of the terrific 2008 Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres in Los Angeles" by Suzanne Tarbell Cooper, Amy Ronnebeck Hall and Mr. Wanamaker. There's a preview of the book on Google Books.

The theatre was initially an operation of Fred Miller, who at the time also had the California and Miller's Theatre on Main St. and the Alhambra on Hill St. Later he would operate the Figueroa Theatre on S. Figueroa, the Carthay Circle on San Vicente, and the Elmiro Theatre in Santa Monica.

Seating: 912, according to Ken Roe's investigation in Film Daily Yearbooks. It was announced as a 1,000 seat house in the June 30, 1923 L.A. Record.

Screen: It was glass. The Record had the news:

"The screen is of crystal glass, weighing over a ton and is said to eliminate eye strain and give a perfect picture from any angle of the auditorium."

Organ: It was a Robert Morton installation.

Architect: Unknown.

Thanks to Joe Vogel for locating a card in the Los Angeles Public Library's California Index with some data. He reports:

"A Southwest Builder and Contractor article in the issue of November 17th, 1922 had announced that the one story and part two story brick building would be built by the Winter Construction Company, and that the owner of the building was F.A. Miller. The building was 80x160 feet, and would cost an estimated $55,000."

The new theatre's impending opening was covered in the June 30, 1923 issue of the Los Angeles Record. Many thanks to Jim Lewis for locating the article.

Joe Vogel comments that the July 20, 1923 issue of the Glendale Press had noted the theatre's July 2 opening date and also mentioned the Egyptian style of the theatre's interior.

The Gateway is listed in the 1930, 31, 32 Glendale city directories as at 1711 S. San Fernando Rd. Evidently we had some renumbering. An L.A. Times ad from 1935 lists the address as 3713 S. San Fernando Rd. The city directories from 1936 onward list the address as 3731 San Fernando Rd.

In the 40s and 50s the theatre was operated by Fox West Coast.

Closing: The Gateway closed in 1956, according to information from Bill Gabel.

Status: It's been demolished with an auto body shop now on the site.

Lobby signage advertising their Owl Shows in the 40s. Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the photo. It was a post of his on Cinema Treasures.

A 1942 view showing off their upgraded marquee. Thanks to Bill Gabel for locating the photo for a post on Cinema Treasures.

Gateway Theatre

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