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Mission Theatre

127 E. Olive Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016 | map |

Opened: 1910, evidently by a Mr. H. Widosky and his wife. The location was on the north side of the street a half block east of Myrtle Ave. It's in the 1911 and 1923 through 1927 city directories.

Seating: Unknown

A transaction involving the Mission appeared in a March 12, 1914 L.A. Times article that was located by Ken McIntyre: 

"A.E. Cornell, of Postville, Iowa, today closed the deal purchasing the Mission Theater, Monrovia’s largest moving picture house, from Mr. and Mrs. H. Widosky. Mr. Cornell has owned and operated hotels and apartment houses in Iowa and Los Angeles for twenty years, but has decided to go into the theater business here and expects to make Monrovia his home."

Either the transaction with Cornell wasn't consummated or he flipped it. Joe Vogel found a reference in the July 18, 1914 issue of Southwest Contractor & Manufacturer announcing the purchase of the Mission by a J.C. Kuert. The new owner was doing a remodeling project that included a renovated, modern, projection booth and addition of a 150 seat balcony.

Closing: The date is unknown. It made it into the late 20s at least. 

Status: It's unknown whether or not the building survives. There's a funky building on the site now housing the Center Stage Dance Academy that might have been the theatre. It looks a bit low to have had a balcony. 
 

A view east on Olive. The black awning marks the location of the Mission Theatre. Photo: Google Maps - 2016

More Information: See the Cinema Treasures page on the Mission Theatre. Thanks to Joe Vogel for his research.

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