Los Angeles Theatres: Santa Anita Theatre

135 Colorado Pl. Arcadia, CA 91007 | map |

Opened: May 14, 1942 as the Edwards Santa Anita. The city did a lot of address switching. It was listed in the 1948 and 1950 city directories as being at at 131 W. Huntington Dr. In the 1950 and 1952 Film Daily Yearbooks Ken Roe reports that the address was given as 135 Colorado Ave.

The image is from the nine minute 1948 short "Let's Go To The Movies," available on the Internet Archive. It was produced by RKO for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for shots of a number of other theatres seen very briefly in the film. Joe Vogel notes that although "Santa Anita" was the lettering above the readerboards, the theatre's vertical said "Edwards."

The project had been announced in January 10, 1942 issue of the L.A. Times. Jeff Bridges found this item:

"Arcadia Theater Planned -- Arcadia, Jan. 9 - Construction is expected to start within the next two weeks on a $100,000 theater to be located at the north-east corner of Huntington Drive and Colorado Place."

Architect: W. M. Bostock was the structural engineer for the project. It's unknown if he was also the architect. Bostock was similarly listed for the El Sereno/Mazatlan Theatre.

Joe Vogel found a card in the Los Angeles Public Library's California Index referencing an item in the February 27, 1942 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor:

"It says that Steed Brothers Construction of Alhambra had been awarded the contract for the Edwards Santa Anita Theatre. No architect was named, but the structural engineer was W.M. Bostock. It was described as a class 'D' theatre building, and was to seat 750 patrons. The cost was estimated at $50,000."

Seating: 743 was an early number. Ken Roe reports that 830 was the number that showed up in the 1950 and 1952 Film Daily Yearbooks.

The opening was noted in the May 23, 1942 issue of Boxoffice:

"Jimmy Edwards opened his new Santa Anita, near Arcadia, May 14. The 743-seater charges 40 cents admission and boasts a crying room and a parking lot accommodating 450 cars. The Edwards circuit, with this addition, numbers 20 houses."

Thanks to Joe Vogel for locating the item. Kelli Shapiro notes that the opening included a parade and the appearance of Hollywood stars.

A 1966 ad located by Texas 2 Step for a post on Cinema Treasures.

It closed in November 1966 for a remodeling and reopened in 1967 as Edwards Cinemaland. Thanks to Dsedman for his research.

Final closing: The Cinemaland ran its last shows on December 31, 1975.

Status: It was demolished in 1977.

A 1977 demo shot from the Arcadia Public Library collection. Thanks to Kelli Shapiro for locating it. She includes it on page 88 of her fine 2024 Arcadia Publishing book "Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley Movie Theatres."

The site, across from the east end of the Santa Anita racetrack, has been redeveloped with office buildings.