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 a block and a half 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."

A June 1923 roundup of construction work in Glendale included the Gateway. Ken McIntyre located the article.

A 1923 story about the new theatre that was located by Ken McIntyre.

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.

A December 1937 promotion by the Famous Department Store involved a screening of the Shirley Temple film "Heidi." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it.

The other side of the Shirley Temple promo card.

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 robbery netted $156 in 1946. It's a story located by Ken McIntyre.

An item about a church rental in 1949 that was located by Ken McIntyre.

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

A June 1955 ad for "Mr. Hulot's Holiday" along with "The Little Kidnappers." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it.

A March 12, 1956 story in the Los Angeles News-Herald about a four wall rental for a Christ-based film that promised to "renew interest in his teachings as well as entertain." Ken McIntyre found the story.

A July 20, 1956 item about a run of "Crime in the Streets" and "The Naked Hills." It was located by Ken McIntyre who notes that this may have been the last booking for the theatre.

Closing: The Gateway evidently closed in 1956.

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

More exterior views:

1937 - They were running "Personal Property" with Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor along with "Call It a Day," starring Olivia de Havilland. Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo from his collection on Flickr. We're looking south on San Fernando Rd.

For a real treat, browse through Eric's L.A. Theatres album on Flickr-- over 800 great shots. There's also his Downtown Los Angeles album. Check out "Spectacular Illumination - Neon Los Angeles, 1925-1965," the superb Angel City Press book he co-wrote with Tom Zimmerman. Eric is also the author of "Signs of Life: Los Angeles Is the City of Neon."